AN ADIEU WITH A ROYAL SALUTE AND GRATITUDE
Tamil nadu and its people are grieving the demise of kalaingar karunanidhi, who had been the chief minister of five times and was in politics for more than 60 years. he was one of the architects of tamil nadu, who raised awareness about the rights of oppressed people.
because of the reservation policies enacted by him, many have now become graduates and professionals. his “first graduate of a family” scheme helped lakhs of poor people lead a decent life. even in his death, he fought for his burial rights, showing us the hurdles we have to face and teaching people that they have to continue to fight for rights. we, tamils, bid him adieu with a royal salute and lots of gratitude. — yousufa mohamed, abu dhabi
• A multifaceted personality and a gritty fighter, karunanidhi faced numerous challenges during his long public life and overcame hurdles with aplomb. he strove relentlessly for the development of tamil nadu and dedicated his life for the welfare of the common man. in his death, india has lost a visionary leader. his legacy will live on. — jayashree kulkarni, abu dhabi
• Indians are mourning the loss of karunanidhi. he was a grand visionary and a mass leader, who has left an indelible impact on many lives in the country. it would be difficult to enlist all his achievements in this small space here but i think he will be best remembered for the dravidian movement that helped in uplifting the backward classes. he was a multitalented personality, and had immensely contributed to the fields of politics, cinema and literature. he was an administrator, scholar, prolific thinker, accomplished script writer and an effective public speaker who had the ability to connect with the audience. a nation is always poorer when such stalwarts depart. his legacy will continue to inspire generations. — ramesh g jethwani, india
• The demise of m karunanidhi is a great loss for india. known for his stand on hindi and writing skills he was regarded as the pillar of the dravidian party. he was also instrumental in tamil nadu’s efficient public transport system. i admire him for the good administrator he was. may his soul rest in peace. — k ragavan, india