Chennai: Senior Congress leader and renowned Tamil literary figure Kumari Ananthan passed away at a private hospital in Chennai on Tuesday night. He was 93 and died due to an age-related illness. Kumari Ananthan was the father of former Telangana Governor and BJP leader Tamilisai Soundarajan. Born in Kanyakumari, Ananthan added ‘Kumari’ to his name out of love for his birth place. His body will be kept for homage at his daughter's residence in Saligramam, Chennai.
Who Was Kumari Ananthan?
Kumari Ananthan was a member of the Tamil Nadu Assembly five times and a Congress Lok Sabha MP from the Nagarkoil constituency in 1977. Apart from politics, he was interested in literature and was known for his oratorical skills, along with prowess in Tamil. Notably, Ananthan was the first leader to insist on and secure the right to ask questions in Tamil in Parliament. He was honoured with Tamil Nadu government’s highest honour of Thagaisal the Thamizhar award in 2024. He was also conferred the Kamarajar Award by the Tamil Nadu government in 2021. He started his own party 'Gandhi Kamaraj Desiya Congress' in 1980, but the stint was not successful. Ananthan founded the Thondar Congress party in 2001, but after an electoral defeat, he merged the party with the Congress.
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BJP Leader Tamilisai Soundararajan Pays Tribute
Ananthan's daughter and BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan expressed grief over the demise of her father in a heartfelt note posted on X. She called him a flawless politician with an unwavering devotion to Tamil.
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In her emotional tribute, she wrote, "I did not speak Tamil because I learned Tamil... I speak Tamil because I was born in Tamil proudly. My father, Mr. Kumari Ananthan, who made me speak, has today passed away with my mother... Born in a village in Kumari... With all his efforts... As a flawless politician... With an unwavering devotion to Tamil... With the name Tamilisai. My father's... Kanir voice, who used to call me music, music... Today, it has mixed with music in the air... He who lived a balanced life... Today, seeing all those he raised... living a balanced life... Proudly... Congratulating... and leaving us... His name will remain forever."
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