Today is Kamarajar’s 121 st birthday
An incident that happened in 1956 shows the affection Kamarajar had for
Periyar.
Periyar had been invited by people in Singapore and Malaysia to their countries.
Periyar planned to go to Myanmar first and then to Malaysia and Singapore.
They had taken Visa for Periyar and four persons who were to go with him the
next day by the ship S.S.Rajula. But they came to know at the last moment that a
‘No Objection Certificate’ from the State government was necessary to board the
ship for voyage.
It was already 6.00 in the evening. The departure of the ship was at 7.00 O’clock
next morning.
Those who arranged the travel were afraid. They thought it impossible to get the
certificate from the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu within that night. They
hesitated to tell periyar about it, as they feared that periyar will get angry and
cancel the tour programme.
They approached Maniammaiar. She said, “You immediately go and see the
Chief Minister kamarajar. He can help us. Don’t tell Periyar about this.”
They went to kamarajar;s house on Thirumalai Pillai Road at 8.00 PM and told
him about the problem.
Kamarajar thought for a while and then said, “You come at 10.00 O’clock
tomorrow morning. I will get you the letter.” Kamarajar was informed that the
ship’s departure time was 7.00 O’clock in the morning.
Kamarajar retorted, “What is this you are telling? It is Periyar who has to travel.
He is not an ordinary man. We will make the ship wait and depart in the
afternoon. You come in the morning.”
The men coulkd not believe this and stood in silence. Seeing this Kamarajar told
his assistants, “Make a call to Rajula ship Thambi Sathak Maraikayar.”
The call was made and the phone receiver was given to Kamarajar. Kamarajar
told Maraikayar with authority and affection, “Look here. Periyar is going to
Burma tomorrow. He will get the No Objection certificate only after 12 O’clock. It
will be 1 O’clock by the time Periyar reached the ship. So, make the ship depart
at 2 O’clock tomorrow.
Announce this departure time to all passengers an
advance. Let them not be disturbed. It is Periyar who has to travel. Understand?”
Now Kamarajar turned to the men from Dravidar kazhagam and said, “Are you
still afraid? Don’t worry. We will stop the ship itself!”
Kamarajar arranged for the letter to be issued next morning and made the ship
depart in the afternoon. Periyar was not told about all this!
(From the book ‘Perunthalaivar Kamarajar’, by S.K.Murugesan.)
Periyar Today 