Soon after C.N. Annadurai, India’s first Chief Minister belonging to a regional party and founder of the DMK, died in office on February 3, 1969, the Tamil Nadu government decided to bury him on the sands of the Marina, the world’s second longest beach, in Madras. The decision did not go down well with the Congress, the principal Opposition party in the State. The resting place of Anna, as he was popularly called, was identified behind the statue of poet Kambar, opposite the University of Madras buildings. The funeral took place on February 4. “The mortal remains of C.N. Annadurai were to-day buried in the golden sands of the beach with full military honours, amidst moving scenes of grief and sorrow. As volleys of small arms were fired and platoons of the defence services reversed arms and the wail of the mourning multitude rent the air, the body was laid to rest,” says a report in The Hindu dated February 5, 1969.
‘Enveloped by gloom’
“Morning found the gun carriage drawn up below the 29 steps of the Rajaji Hall which Mr. Annadurai ascended 23 months ago to be sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Rajaji Hall, which then echoed to the joyous greetings of the people, was to-day enveloped by gloom, as he lay in state,” the report adds. Ministers V. R. Nedunchezhiyan, K. A. Mathiazhagan, S. Madhavan, and S. J. Sadiq Pasha were the “pall-bearers” who brought out the body draped with the national flag and the red-and-black DMK flag. “As the body was placed on the gun carriage, the crowd broke down and cries of ‘Ayoh Anna’ rent the air. The firing party presented arms, and officers in uniform saluted,” according to the report.
