Aringar Anna - Milestone

1909

Sept. 15. Born in Kancheepuram to Mr. Natarajan and Bangaramma.

1914

Admitted in Pachaiappa’s elementary school.

1927

Worked for some time as clerk in the Kancheepuram Municipality.

1928

Admitted to the Intermediate class in the Madras Pachaiappa’s College.

1930

Admitted to B.A., (Hons.) Economics group, in the same college.

Married Rani Ammal.

Joined the Self-Respect Youth League.

1931

Contributed articles to ‘Tamil Arasu’.

Elected Secretary to the College Union, Bagged many prizes in the inter-collegiate oratorical contests.

1933

Chairman of the College Economics Association.

1934

Passed the B.A. (Hons.) examination.

1935

Admitted to the M.A. degree.

Worked as teacher in the Govindu Naicker Secondary School.

Met Periyar in Tiruppur.

Contested to the Corporation election from Peddunaickenpet as Justice Party candidate and lost.

Took part in the symposium in the Y.M.C.A, on the ‘Wardha scheme’ in Rajaji’s presence.

1937

Editor of ‘Navayugam’ weekly.

Campaigned for the Raja of Bobbili along with Mr. P, Balasubramaniam and T.A.V. Nathan.

Presided over the Thuraiyur Self-Respect Conference.

1938

Editor, Viduthalai, Tamil Daily from Erode. Convicted for four months and sent to jail in the anti-Hindi agitation.

1939

Elected Secretary of the South Indian Liberal Federation (JusticeParty).

Call for ‘Tamilnad for Tamilians’ given by Periyar.

1940

Seconded ‘Dravidanadu for Dravidians’ Resolution in the Justice Party conference in Tiruvarur.

1942

Published own weekly ‘Dravida Nadu’ from Kancheepuram.

1943

Staged ‘Chandrodayam’, social drama with comrades. Took the role of hero Durairaj himself.

1944

Proposed resolution in the Salem conference changing the name of the Justice Party into the Dravida Kazhakam.

Kumbakonam Dravidian Students’ Conference. Anna converts students

1945

Periyar introduces Black shirts. Anna’s disagreement.

1947

Aug. 15, Independence day. Periyar calls it a day of mourning Anna disagrees.

1948

Compulsory Hindi intioduced again Picketing resumed. Anna jailed. Presided over the Erode Dravida Kazhakam provincial conference convened by Periyar.

1949

Periyar marries Mani Ammai. Anna parts company with Periyar. Sept. 17, The Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam is launched in the Robinson Park in pouring rain. Anna is elected first General Secretary.

1950

Sept. 18. Anna jailed for his writing ‘Ariya Mayai’. Oct. Agitation for communal G.O.

1951

Anna presides over the first provincial D.M.K. Conference in Madras.

1953

July 15. Three-pronged agitation.
1. Black flag demonstration against Pandit Nehru.
2. For changing name of ‘Dalmiapuram’ into ‘Kallakudi’.
3. Again-.t the new education scheme of Rajaji. Anna jailed for three months.

1956

May 17-20. D.M.K. Provincial Conference in Trichy, presided over by Navalar Nedunchezhiyan. The D.M.K. decides to contest elections.

1957

Anna elected to the State Legislature from Kancheepuram Constituency.

1959

The D.M.K. captures the Madras City Corporation.

1961

Third D.M.K. special conference in Madurai.

1962

Anna lost the Kancheepuram assembly seat. Elected to the Rajya Sabha.

May 1. Anna’s marathon speech in the Rajya Sabha. Makes a fine impression on Delhi.

July 19. Anti-price rise agitation. Anna jailed.

Oct. 24, Anna released. Pledges support to India’s war efforts.

1965

Hindi becomes the official language. Anna declares it a day of mourning and calls upon his followers to hoist black flags over their houses. Anna and Thousands jailed

July, Tours Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

1967

Virugambakkam conference. Anna forges the United Front tofight the Congress.

Feb. D.M.K. sweeps the polls.

March, 6. Anna sworn in as first D.M.K. Chief Minister.

July, 18. The resolution, changing the name of Madras to ‘Tamilnadu’ passed by the assembly.

1968

Jan. 3. The Second World Tamil Conference in Madras.

April 15. Anna leaves for the United States getting the Chubb Fellow- ship of Yale University.

Sept. 10. Anna again leaves for the United States to get treatment in the Miller hospital.

Sept. 15, Anna’s 60th birthday celebrated with great enthusiasm,

Dec. 1. Spoke in “Tamilnad’ day.

Spoke in english in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Justice party

1969

Jan. 14. Unveiled the statue of Mr. N, 5. Krishnan. Anna’s last public function.

Jan. 20. Admitted in the Adayar cancer institute,

Feb. 2. 12-22 Anna passes away.

Feb. 4. Laid to rest in the Marina sands,