In a significant move honoring the literary contributions of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, the Tamil Nadu government officially nationalized his works, handing over the Government Order (GO) to his wife, Rajathi Ammal, on Sunday.The GO was presented by State Minister for Information, Publicity, and Tamil Development, MP Saminathan, at a ceremony held at Rajathi Ammal’s residence in CIT Colony, Chennai. The event was attended by Karunanidhi’s daughter and DMK deputy general secretary, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, along with other dignitaries.
This decision stems from Chief Minister MK Stalin’s earlier announcement to make the late leader’s books accessible to the public without any compensation to the family. It reflects the government’s commitment to preserving and propagating the invaluable contributions of Karunanidhi to Tamil literature and politics.
Minister Saminathan, addressing the media, highlighted the significance of this initiative. “So far, 179 works of Tamil scholars have been nationalized, and Rs 14.42 crore has been provided as compensation to their heirs. However, Kalaignar’s (Karunanidhi’s) books have been nationalized without any compensation,” he said.
The minister expressed gratitude to Karunanidhi’s family on behalf of the state government, the Tamil Development Department, and the literary community.
With the nationalization of Karunanidhi’s works, his literary contributions will soon be available on the Tamil Virtual Academy’s web portal. This digital repository already houses the works of several eminent Tamil leaders and scholars. By integrating Karunanidhi’s writings into this platform, the government aims to ensure that his ideas and literary legacy reach a wider audience, especially the younger generation.
M Karunanidhi, fondly known as Kalaignar, was not just a political stalwart but also a prolific writer, poet, and playwright. His works reflect his deep love for Tamil and his unwavering commitment to social justice, making him a towering figure in Tamil Nadu’s cultural and political history.