Wed Apr 09 07:23:09 UTC 2025: **Veteran Congress Leader and Literary Figure Kumari Ananthan Passes Away**
CHENNAI, April 9, 2025 – Kumari Ananthan, a prominent figure in Tamil Nadu politics and a well-known literary personality, passed away in Chennai in the early hours of Wednesday. Ananthan, a former president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, was remembered for his decades-long contributions to both politics and Tamil literature.
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, with leaders from various parties expressing their condolences. AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in a message on X (formerly Twitter), highlighted Ananthan’s literary achievements. TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai described him as a “pillar of the party,” recalling Ananthan’s extensive padayatras (walking campaigns) covering over 5,548 km. BJP leaders L. Murugan and K. Annamalai also offered their condolences, praising Ananthan’s dedication to the Congress and his advocacy for causes like river linking and a Bharat Mata temple.
Other prominent figures, including MDMK general secretary Vaiko, PMK founder S. Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss, and TMC (Moopanar) president G.K. Vasan, shared their grief and highlighted Ananthan’s significant political achievements, such as his efforts to secure the right to speak in Tamil in Parliament and his advocacy for prohibition. Vaiko also noted Ananthan’s work securing Tamil language usage in postal applications.
DMK MP Kanimozhi, along with leaders from the AMMK, TVK, CPI(M), and DMDK, offered their condolences and remembered Ananthan’s impact on Tamil Nadu’s political and cultural landscape. His commitment to Tamil language and culture, along with his contributions to the Congress party, were consistently emphasized. Ananthan’s legacy extends beyond his political career, solidified by his contributions to Tamil literature and his unwavering dedication to his beliefs.
First Piper 