Karunanidhi to be buried at Chennai's Marina Beach, PM Modi pays tribute to Dravidian political icon

Karunanidhi, a five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu  who was popularly referred to as Kalaignar or the artist in Tamil, had switched to politics from screenwriting, and since then had no looking back as his political stakes rose and made him a stalwart in Indian politics.

The Madras High Court's judgement paved the way for Karunanidhi's burial at Marina Beach as the DMK's proposal to cover the mortal remains at the particular location was objected by the AIAMDK-led state government on Tuesday.

Following the denial, the DMK had moved the high court.

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers- CM Annadurai, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa- were all buried at Marina Beach, which is considered to be the world's second longest beach.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Chennai on Wednesday morning and headed straight to Rajaji Hall, where the mortal remains of the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister are kept.

Later, Modi tweeted, "In Chennai, I paid tributes to an extraordinary leader and a veteran administrator whose life was devoted to public welfare and social justice."
"Kalaignar Karunanidhi will live on in the hearts and minds of the millions of people whose lives were transformed by him," the PM said.

Actor-turned politician Rajinikanth also paid his last tribute to Karunanidhi at Rajaji Hall.

Other significant political leaders like Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan are likely to be present during the last rites.

The country is observing the day as the national mourning day.

During Karunanidhi's political life in the last few decades, his formidable opposition was AIADMK's J Jayalalithaa, who passed away in late 2016.

Karunanidhi's political career was not free of controversies as several corruption charges were leveled against him and his party and family members, many of whom joined politics.

His son M K Stalin is his political successor.

M Karunanidhi: A screenwriter turned politician

Born in 1924, in Thirukkuvalai village in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi was inclined to creative fields showing an avid interest in drama, poetry, and literature during his schooling.

In his career, Karunanidhi served as the chief minister of the state of Tamil Nadu for five separate terms between 1969 and 2011.

Before entering politics Karunanidhi worked in the Tamil film industry as a screenwriter. He has also made contributions to Tamil literature, having written stories, plays, novels, and a multiple-volume memoir.

Karunanidhi's political initiation began as early as at the age of 14, when he was moved by a speech of Alagiriswamii of the Justice Party, and participated in Anti-Hindi agitations.

He first became an MLA at the age of 33 when he entered the Tamil Nadu assembly by winning the Kulithalai seat in the 1957 election. He became the DMK treasurer in 1961 and deputy leader of opposition in the state assembly in the year 1962 and when the DMK came to power in 1967, he became the Minister for Public Works.

In 1969 he became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time.

He had opposed the Emergency imposed by late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 and had to face the wrath of Gandhi as his government was dismissed by her.

Personal Life

He was married thrice and had four sons and two daughters from the marriages. His first wife Padmavathi is no more. His two other wives are Dayalu Ammal and Rajathiammal.

His first son is M K Muthu from his first wife. His three sons from his second wife Dayalu are M K Alagiri, Thamizharasu and M K Stalin, the last being his chosen political successor. His daughter from the second marriage is Selvi.

His daughter Kanimozhi, who is a power centre in DMK politics as well, is from his third marriage.