In the past there were at least 3 occasions when there was a rumor that Kalaingar (Mu. Karunanithi) was dead. The first one came when I was in seventh standard (or something close to those standards). I vaguely remember that it was post lunch and we all were asked to leave from the school, as there was a news (or rather rumour) that Karunanithi was dead. I started back to home, with my sisters.
The next one was when I was in 11th standard. This time the news came much earlier, in the forenoon session. We all left.
The third incident happened when I was in college. This time I was in college hostel, and the news came on the previous afternoon. In those days with no "Breaking News" or "Mobile Phones", it was difficult to confirm if that was indeed a news or just a rumor. The next day was declared holiday for the college, and I spend the whole day in hostel, eating and sleeping (and of course with a little bit of studying).
Almost 20 years passed, and again we started hearing news Kalaingar was seriously ill. Now no rumors that he is dead, as nowadyas it is easy to instantly verify whether it was a news or just a rumor. After 11 days of illness, with mixed rays of hopes and hopelessness, finally Kalaingar left all his "Udanpirapu", after an intense fight with Yama.
I bow my respects to him, and I admire the fierce brave soldier in him, who had an intense love for living and have achieved many things in life, in his long life of 95 years. I was taken aback when I got to know that much early in his life he has lost his left eye. Some say that it was due to an accident and some say that it was during the atrocities enforced on him during the Emergency period. Whatever it is, with vision in just one eye, he has been CM multiple times, contributed a lot towards literature, and also to Tamil cinema.
He was one among the person from whom I derived confidence when I started facing health issues in life, and made an intense fight to recover from them (And finally I recovered from all of them, which is a different story altogether). He was a person who did Yoga regularly (the primary reason for his good health) and went for regular morning walks, however critical his schedule was.
When he lost his mobility (a little bit) he never minded to be seated on a wheel chair, and continued his day to day tasks, and his contribution to politics and literature.
Towards the end of his life, he also lost his ability to talk. But he didn't seem to mind it. He still continued to live his full-filled life, playing with his grandchildren.
I know very well that during his last 11 days when he was hospitalized with multiple issues, with no mobility or movement all through his body, he would have still lived a lovely full-filled life in his mind, with no worry that his body is fully un-functional.
His life as an youth could have been completely different, as one can understand if they happen to read Kannadasan's Vanavasam.
He has indeed lived a long, full-filled life, doing his best to himself and to each of his family members.
My respects to Dr. Kalaingar as an individual, who proved till his last moment that he was a brave soldier. May his soul rest in peace.
- Pavala.
The next one was when I was in 11th standard. This time the news came much earlier, in the forenoon session. We all left.
The third incident happened when I was in college. This time I was in college hostel, and the news came on the previous afternoon. In those days with no "Breaking News" or "Mobile Phones", it was difficult to confirm if that was indeed a news or just a rumor. The next day was declared holiday for the college, and I spend the whole day in hostel, eating and sleeping (and of course with a little bit of studying).
Almost 20 years passed, and again we started hearing news Kalaingar was seriously ill. Now no rumors that he is dead, as nowadyas it is easy to instantly verify whether it was a news or just a rumor. After 11 days of illness, with mixed rays of hopes and hopelessness, finally Kalaingar left all his "Udanpirapu", after an intense fight with Yama.
I bow my respects to him, and I admire the fierce brave soldier in him, who had an intense love for living and have achieved many things in life, in his long life of 95 years. I was taken aback when I got to know that much early in his life he has lost his left eye. Some say that it was due to an accident and some say that it was during the atrocities enforced on him during the Emergency period. Whatever it is, with vision in just one eye, he has been CM multiple times, contributed a lot towards literature, and also to Tamil cinema.
He was one among the person from whom I derived confidence when I started facing health issues in life, and made an intense fight to recover from them (And finally I recovered from all of them, which is a different story altogether). He was a person who did Yoga regularly (the primary reason for his good health) and went for regular morning walks, however critical his schedule was.
When he lost his mobility (a little bit) he never minded to be seated on a wheel chair, and continued his day to day tasks, and his contribution to politics and literature.
Towards the end of his life, he also lost his ability to talk. But he didn't seem to mind it. He still continued to live his full-filled life, playing with his grandchildren.
I know very well that during his last 11 days when he was hospitalized with multiple issues, with no mobility or movement all through his body, he would have still lived a lovely full-filled life in his mind, with no worry that his body is fully un-functional.
His life as an youth could have been completely different, as one can understand if they happen to read Kannadasan's Vanavasam.
He has indeed lived a long, full-filled life, doing his best to himself and to each of his family members.
My respects to Dr. Kalaingar as an individual, who proved till his last moment that he was a brave soldier. May his soul rest in peace.
- Pavala.
