DMK defends pen memorial for Karunanidhi off Marina beach

Press Trust of India

Chennai: The ruling DMK on Friday staunchly defended a State government proposal to build here a memorial based on the model of a pen on the Bay of Bengal for late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi saying it is the most befitting move to honour the literary genius, who was also a political colossus.

In its editorial, the governing party's Tamil mouthpiece 'Murasoli,' traced the Tamil literary career of Karunanidhi and the accolades he won for his work from a range of scholars and leaders including DMK founder, former Chief Minister CN Annadurai.

Karunanidhi, such a towering literary figure was also a political leader of great standing and he won the reputation of being the only 'king and poet.' Hence, a memorial based on pen would be the most befitting tribute to him. The editorial was titled: "That pen (symbolising Karunanidhi) is a guarding fortress.'

Referring to some activists and people who say that they do not oppose the memorial but only the initiative to build it inside the sea, the DMK Tamil daily said they do not understand the Tamil cultural values. The Tamil culture shaped up on the seashore and river banks and a memorial would not affect the sea or its wealth. "All the ports of Tamil kings were built on sea and not on sky."

The DMK organ also cited the ancient Mamallapuram (also known as Mahabalipuram) shore temple and its monuments. The pen memorial is not proposed to be built several miles into the sea, but it is only 360 meters inside.

Mocking at those who oppose the project as 'intellectuals,' the editorial said that going by their logic there cannot be ports at all and the existing ones have to be closed down. Also, there cannot be fishing villages on the seashore. "They (those against the project) may even say tomorrow that the ocean wealth will be affected if fishermen go for fishing."

Those who oppose the memorial were the people who had no guts to fight against the Centre's draft Indian Marine Fisheries Bill which 'crushes the fishermen,' and the 'Kalaignar's government' (late Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's regime led by M K Stalin, the CM) is more committed to environment protection than them.

On February 1, a public hearing on the proposed pen memorial witnessed noisy arguments and verbal duel between those who support and oppose the government initiative.