Kumari Ananthan was not only a politician but also a passionate Tamil scholar. He authored more than 20 books and consistently articulated the needs and aspirations of Tamil Nadu and its people.
Published Apr 09, 2025 | 10:24 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 09, 2025 | 10:24 AM
Kumari Ananthan.
Synopsis: Former Tamil Nadu Congress president Kumari Ananthan passed away due to age-related illness. Ananthan’s life was devoted to the Tamil language and Tamil Nadu — an unwavering commitment that spanned his entire life.
Former Tamil Nadu Congress president Kumari Ananthan (93) — Harikrishnan Nadar Ananthakrishnan — passed away in Chennai on Wednesday, 9 April, due to age-related illness. A four-time MLA, he also served one term in Parliament.
Despite a long and illustrious political career, and witnessing his daughter Tamilisai Soundararajan rise to the roles of Governor of Telangana and Puducherry, Kumari Ananthan lived a life of remarkable simplicity.
In his later years, without owning a home of his own, he made a request to the Tamil Nadu government and spent his final days in a house allocated by the state.
Even when his daughter invited him to live with her in Hyderabad, Ananthan chose to return to Tamil Nadu. When asked why he declined the comfort of living with his daughter, he simply said: “My dear, I must speak Tamil; I must hear Tamil. Tamil is my very life force. I am returning to Tamil Nadu. You must let me go.” Thus, he returned to the land he loved above all else.
Ananthan’s life was devoted to the Tamil language and Tamil Nadu — an unwavering commitment that spanned his entire life.
A towering political figure, he was active across generations of Tamil Nadu’s leadership, from K Kamaraj and CN Annadurai to M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa, and finally MK Stalin.
Leaders across political lines paid tributes to the leader.
Born on 19 March 1933, in Agastheeswaram (then a part of the Travancore region under British India, present Kanniyakumari), Kumari Ananthan was the son of Harikrishna Perumal and Thangammal, both staunch freedom fighters. His younger brother, the late H Vasanthakumar, was a prominent businessman and former MP from Tamil Nadu.
Ananthan and his wife Krishnakumari had a son and four daughters, one of whom is Tamilisai Soundararajan.
A postgraduate in Tamil Literature and a doctorate holder, Ananthan was a scholar deeply immersed in the richness of the Tamil language. He began his professional life as a teacher before venturing into politics, inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and K Kamaraj.
In 1977, Ananthan entered the Parliament for the first time after winning from the Nagercoil Lok Sabha constituency.
In the Parliament, he fought valiantly for the right to speak Tamil, facing expulsion over ten times for refusing to yield. Ultimately, he succeeded in securing the right to address the House in Tamil, a historic achievement.
He continued his political journey at the state level, winning elections to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Tiruvottiyur in 1980, Radhapuram in 1984, and Sathankulam in 1989 and 1991.
Over his lifetime, he served as an MLA for a remarkable 19 years.
When the Congress party suffered a major defeat in Tamil Nadu in 1967, Ananthan worked tirelessly to rebuild it. On 2 October 1968, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, he launched a historic march from Kanyakumari to Chennai alongside a band of young volunteers, igniting a resurgence in the party’s spirit.
Throughout his life, Ananthan championed the people’s causes. He undertook numerous marches for public welfare, advocated for major initiatives such as river-linking projects, and consistently raised his voice for the rights and development of Tamil Nadu.
In the 1980s, he founded the Gandhi Kamaraj National Congress but later merged the party with the Congress. In 1996, he was elected President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
Kumari Ananthan was not only a politician but also a passionate Tamil scholar. He authored more than 20 books and consistently articulated the needs and aspirations of Tamil Nadu and its people.
In 2011, he was honoured with the Senior Tamil Scholar Award by the Dina Thanthi group, recognising his contributions to Tamil scholarship and public life.
As a lasting tribute, the Tamil Nadu government named a street in his birthplace, Agastheeswaram, as “Kumari Ananthan Street.”
In 2024, the state government conferred upon him the “Thagaisal Tamilar” award, the highest honour given for outstanding contributions to the growth and pride of Tamil Nadu and the Tamil people.
Ananthan leaves behind a legacy of public service, political commitment, and advocacy for the Tamil language and culture.
Following his demise, his daughter Tamilisai Soundararajan penned an emotional note on X, “I did not speak Tamil because I learned it; I spoke Tamil because Tamil gave birth to me.”
“These proud words were shaped in me by my father, Kumari Ananthan — who today, has joined my mother in the eternal embrace. Born in a small village of Kanniyakumari, he rose with sheer will and spotless integrity, to become a shining light in politics — carrying an undying love for Tamil in every heartbeat.”
“He named me ‘Tamilisai’, and lovingly called out “Isai… Isai…”. Today, his voice, once vibrant with affection, has blended into the very winds, singing softly through the skies. He lived a life that showed us how life should be lived — steady, principled, and inspiring.”
“Today, seeing those he nurtured standing strong, he leaves, with pride and peace in his heart. His name will live on — etched forever in the political history of Tamil Nadu.”
“The first to speak Tamil in the Parliament — today, it feels like he has merged with Tamil itself, becoming one with the air, the soil, and the soul of our land.”
“Go with joy, Appa. We send you on your way with hearts full of gratitude and promises to carry forward your dreams, your spirit, and your ideals. We will live happily, just as you always wished for us — spreading joy wherever we go. “I did not speak Tamil because I learned it; I spoke Tamil because Tamil gave birth to me. Thank you, Appa. Go with joy,” she wrote.
தமிழ் கற்றதனால் நான் தமிழ் பேசவில்லை… தமிழ் என்னைப் பெற்றதனால் நான் தமிழ் பேசுகிறேன் என்று…. பெருமையாக . பேச வைத்த என் தந்தை திரு.குமரி அனந்தன் அவர்கள்… இன்று என் அம்மாவோடு.. இரண்டர கலந்து விட்டார்… குமரியில்.. ஒரு கிராமத்தில் பிறந்து.. தன் முழு முயற்சியினால்…… pic.twitter.com/MxDWOHg5OJ
— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (@DrTamilisai4BJP) April 8, 2025
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
