It's DMK chief Karunanidhi's birthday, HBDKalaignar95 trends nationwide

Thousands took to social media to wish the political stalwart on his birthday.
It's DMK chief Karunanidhi's birthday, HBDKalaignar95 trends nationwide
It's DMK chief Karunanidhi's birthday, HBDKalaignar95 trends nationwide
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Several people took to Twitter on Sunday to wish DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi on his birthday.

In fact, #HBDKalaignar95 became the number one Twitter trend in India. 

Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924 at Thirukkuvalai in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, around 300km from state capital Chennai. He was born into a poor Isai Vellalar family who were members of a temple-dependent caste that traditionally played the Nadaswaram. While his father wanted him to propagate the family’s musical tradition, Karunanidhi was not inclined.

But it was the music classes that gave Karunanidhi his first lessons in politics, as it reflected the caste intricacies of that era. He was not allowed to cover his upper body and his learning was restricted to a few songs.

At the age of 14, Karunanidhi was inspired by a speech made by Alagiriswami of the Justice Party in 1932, which prompted him to enter politics. He became a student activist in Periyar’s Self-Respect Movement, which fought for the rights of the Dravidians against the domination of the ‘Aryan’ north Indians.

He led campaigns fighting for the rights of Dravidians and this brought him into political prominence in Tamil Nadu in the 1950s and 1960s.

Post-independence, after Periyar’s movement split in two, Karunanidhi joined the faction led by Annadurai and became the Treasurer of the DMK party, formed in 1949. 

He was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly from the Kulithalai seat of Thiruchirapalli district in 1957. He was among 13 DMK legislators elected.

His 94th birthday in 2017 saw massive celebrations. A huge list of leaders from opposition parties, including Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, TMC leader Derek O Brien and the other dignitaries, gather in Chennai for an event.

The event, held at the YMCA ground in Royapettah, was hosted by DMK working President MK Stalin.

Even as others celebrated his birthday, Karunanidhi had to sit out of the celebration owing to his poor health.

He was born in 1924, and is embarking on his 95th year. Hence, all the wishes say 95.

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