நெருக்கடி நிலையில் கலைஞரின் உதவி :ஜார்ஜ் பெர்னாண்டஸ் நந்திவர்மனுக்கு எழுதிய கடிதம்

MY POLITICAL MENTOR COMRADE GEORGE FERNANDES

GEORGE FERNANDES AND DRAVIDA PERAVAI

 

 

The picture above taken at Socialist Conference held at Tuticurin reminds me of his greatness. I went as observer to the conference. George Fernandes  called me to stage and asked me to translate his speech. In that speech he announced the launch of Sethu Samudram project, a dream of 138 years unrealized till that date. At the concluding time, he started introducing me to the audience saying my friend Comrade Nandhivarman who translated my speech is running a progressive political party in Pondicherry and showered praise for 5 minutes. I stopped translating his speech and told since it is praises on me I find it difficult to translate. His replies to all my letters will be published in the proposed book which is being planned to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the launch of Dravida Peravai since 30.10.1996. All our work during this decade will be recorded in two books titled " Arikaigal Aiyiram Arasiyal Payiram" and "Puthuvai Varalatrin Pugazh Mighu suvadugal".

Now looking down the memory lane, I wrote a letter to George Fernandes on 27 th September 1984. For which George Fernandes replied on 19 th October 1984. The reason to reproduce few lines from that letter is to record the regard George Fernandes had and has for DMK President Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi. in that letter George Fernandes states " I can never forget the help and support given to me by Mr.Karunanithi during the dark days of Emergency. Our friendship had survived all the vicissitudes of political turns and twists".

In 25th January 1985 he was admitted in a hospital in Bombay. From there he replied to my letter. " Dear Nandhivarman... Thank you for your beautiful letter. With men like you around, we shall win our struggle, no matter what price we have to pay.

India sent IPKF to Srilanka. I wrote a letter condemning Rajiv Gandhi. In that letter I wrote " The curse of our race will see the dawn of your doom". A copy of the letter sent to Rajiv Gandhi was sent to George Fernandes. He replied "It is a shame for India that Mr.Gandhi should have chosen to do the dirty job for the President of Srilanka. That he is doing this at the behest of America makes it all the more dirty." This is George Fernandes comment on IPKF episode.

Dravida Peravai was publishing a news letter titled Green Politics. George Fernandes reproduced one interview which came in our news letter in THE OTHERSIDE [1.10.1997] issue. The Other Side was edited by George Fernandes. He wrote an introductory note for the interview titled 'AUROBINDO ASHRAM TAKE OVER BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT DEMANDED....... Dravida Peravai General Secretary N.Nandhivarman speaks"

He wrote " There has been a persistent demand for the takeover of the Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry by various individuals and institutions. In the forefront of this campaign is the general secretary of the Dravida Peravai N.Nandhivarman. Nandhivarman has over years been exposing for public view the unsavoury goings in the Ashram, which have brought this once hallowed place into disrepute. We are publishing hereby a question-answer report which is an interview with Nandhivarman. We hope the authorities will take note of this report and take action in the matter before it is too late to stem the rot."

On 1998 25 th September Union Defence Minister George Fernandes wrote an official letter to Home Minister L.K.Advani seeking protection for me when I was heading a 15 party struggle committee against land house grabbing in Pondicherry. He could have just sought protection. But his affection for me comes to the fore when he uses extra lines to introduce me. " I have known Mr.Nandhivarman as an indefatigable fighter against corruption in all its manifestations. He has been engaged in a long standing campaign against corruption at various levels of administration in Pondicherry" so goes on his letter.

In Union Territory of Pondicherry three nominated MLA's could be nominated. Usually men of letters and scholars alone could be nominated. But in practice party men were filling these posts. Opposing this I wrote to Attorney General, President of India, Prime Minister etc. I suggested Former Chennai High Court Justice David Annousamy,Tamil scholar Dr.Era.Thirumurugan and Vasudevaraju I.A.S [retd]. Forwarding my letter to Union Home Minister L.K.advani, Comrade George saab wrote " Mr.Nandhivarman is the General Secretary of the Dravida Peravai and in the many years I have known him, he has been a selfless public worker taking up public issues, apart from fighting corruption in Pondicherry. The names he had suggested in his letter to Attorney General provide proof of his public concerns"

Well all these are recorded here not for self boast. I do not belong to his party. Lifelong I am a DMK follower. Even DP though a splinter of DMK is run as true DMK. I had fought emergency with my pen. But all these years not even once my leader Dr.Kalaignar acknowledged me or gave me my due recognition. If Aringnar Anna would have been alive my position within DMK would have been different. By monetary yardstick a man will not be evaluated by Anna. In George Fernandes I saw the nobility of Aringnar Anna. Nearly four decades we had been friends. I never joined his party. But for his Samata Party, I was a special invitee to its National Executive. Could you imagine this in Indian politics. Another party invited to National Executive. George Fernandes in public and private acknowledged me. I am ever grateful to him. In my life George Fernandes has a unique position equal to that of Aringnar Anna.

N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai  Pondicherry 605013 India

Ever my Leader but never he gave my due

KALAIGNAR AND DRAVIDA PERAVAI

   

Ever my Leader but never he gave my due

After I was suspended by Mr.M.G.Ramachandran "for attending to my personal work", the very first suspension of the Anna DMK came in for media criticism. "Navasakthi", the Tamil daily of the Congress[O] led by Thiru.K.Kamaraj condemned my suspension from the Pondicherry State Anna DMK Convenorship in its editorial. The Statesman wrote a center page article. I will deal them in another occasion. After my suspension from Anna DMK on the advice of Thiru.Murasoli Maran, I met Dr.Kalaignar in his gopalapuram residence. It was decided that myself and my followers should return to DMK. I sought one month's time. When we rejoined DMK, the official organ of DMK, Murasoli Tamil daily said: Pondy ADMK merges with DMK. After throwing me out, Mr.M.G.Ramachandran  could not nominate a State Convener for one year. Immediately he sent a Cinema Director Gopala krishnan as Convener on deputation from Chennai. For another six months Anagaputhur Ramalingam was sent from Tamil Nadu on deputation to lead the party in Pondicherry. I returned to DMK much before Dindigul by election. Since I walked out of MGR and never went back to him, in spite of his repenting my suspension and extending invitation, Dr.Kalaignar has unique regard for me.

Pondicherry Assembly polls 1974 came. Mr.M.O.H.Farook Maricar was the State Convener of DMK. I was made Propaganda Secretary for that polls.Panruti S.Ramachandran, a Minister under Kalaignar's cabinet was sent by high command to coordinate election work. In the selection of candidates I had a big say. Mr.D.Ramachandran who defected from DMK just 2 months before polls had to face my nominee K.Rajaram. In Tirumalairayanpattinam constituency V.M.C.Shivashanmuganathan, my class mate was chosen to contest. During election campaign Dr.Kalaignar came to a dinner hosted by me. The picture taken with my cousin sisters was after the dinner past midnight, when he came from Lawspet public meeting. In that election I was told by Mr.M.O.H.Farook to file nomination for Parliament seat. I filed. Meanwhile PTR.Palanivelrajan who was practicing politics from Cosmopolitan club in Chennai came with a new proposal to Kalaignar. The Reddiars association had at that time decided not to contest against their own caste men. Madurapakkam Lakshminarayanan, Congress M.P from Tindivanam through PTR Palanivelrajan offered to sponsor his relative Kodathur Rajaram for Pondicherry Parliament seat. It was told that pitted against Congress Reddiar, a DMK Reddiar candidate will break the caste unity of Reddiars association. Dr.Kalaignar summoned me to Legislative Party office of the DMK in Government estate of Chennai.

Yenya, nee entha vaguppu ? is the question that came from Kalaignar.In DMK one never ask the other partymens caste, right from Anna's days we were all moving as one family and no one knew the caste of the other. This question I described as "en nenjil thaitha nerunji mull" in later days in one journal. But I have to answer, but answer without directly mentioning caste. " Naan sathi enral ennevendre teri yadavan" , this was my reply. He understood. He held my hand and told, you withdraw from contest, I will give you Rajyasabha seat. Navalar Nedunchezhian, Professor K.Anbazhagan, Minister P.U.Shanmugam,Minister Panruti S.Ramachandran, Propaganda Secretary S.Kandappan M.P, Pondicherry Chief Minister M.O.H.Farook Maricar,Professor M.Elango, Kavignar Karunanandam, Devaraj and Shanmugam, party office staff, and many others were present when Kalaignar made this promise.

DMK lost 1974 polls. Only 2 won. M.O.H.Farook and my friend Soundararangan. My another friend S.Ramasamy who went to the Anna DMK before polls formed the ministry which was toppled in 21 days. Soon after the electoral defeat I met the press.

PONDY DMK UNIT PLANNING NEW MORAL CAMPAIGN

Pondicherry April 12:1974 : Mr.N.Nandhivarman Propaganda Secretary of the DMK here told newsmen yesterday that unless the intelligentia started moulding public opinion so as to cleanse the present eroded political and electoral systems there was no way out of the moral crisis that is facing the nation.

He said most political leaders have lost the moral fibre to undertake this task. The nefarious practice of personal aggrandizement among politicians has resulted in the people losing faith in political units. Mr.Nandhivarman felt that people had to be made politically conscious and political leaders need be moralized.

He said DMK would embark upon such a campaign for the first time in Pondicherry and hoped before long Pondicherry would become a model state to others in this respect.

Referring to electoral reforms, Mr.Nandhivarman said common platforms had to be provided by the Election Commission for all contesting candidates. He wanted personal attacks on platforms to be put to an end and instead criticism leveled against only political principles or policies.

He was optimistic that DMK would be a moral force in Pondicherry irrespective of its poll achievements. [Courtesy : THE MAIL, evening daily from Chennai]

On defeat that is what I told. 1974 promises were never kept and I have no regrets. History will evaluate me.

N.Nandhivarman