Frontline launched its maiden Tamil book, “Oru Manidhan, Oru Iyakkam” (A Man, A Movement), on the life and work of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M. Karunanidhi (1924-2018), at a function in Chennai on August 6, the eve of his first death anniversary.
When the magazine brought out a commemorative issue as a tribute to Karunanidhi after his demise last year, with the title “A man and a movement”(August 31, 2018), it became a huge hit with readers for its dispassionate portrayal of a leader who had dominated the State’s political scene for about six decades.
The issue triggered requests from the general public for the same to be published in Tamil. A demand for a Tamil book from the stables of an English magazine such as Frontline seemed quite strange and, initially, was not taken seriously since the magazine had no previous experience in Tamil publication.
But as the demand for a Tamil version grew stronger, the assignment was taken up. Besides translations of all the articles in the commemorative Frontline issue, Frontline commissioned new articles from writers in Tamil and leaders for the book. The writers, translators, proofreaders and designers worked studiously to ensure that the content was authentic and engaging.
It took almost 12 months of exhausting work to complete the Tamil book. Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani launched it, and the first copy was received by DMK organising secretary and Rajya Sabha member R.S. Bharathi at the launch function.
In his message greeting the event, DMK president M.K. Stalin pointed out that at a time when the country’s secular fabric was under strain and democratic principles were facing a serious threat, the book was “timely and fitting”. This book, from The Hindu Group of Publications, he said, would convey to future generations how a man could become a movement. “It brings out Kalaignar’s achievements, work and his multifaceted personality,” his message noted. Veeramani said the performance of the Dravidian leader both as an administrator and as a politician was presented objectively in the book, which he said was a historical work. He said that it was a record of what Karunanidhi had done and how it impacted a society, socially, economically and culturally. The book, he said, was about a leader who stood for social justice and State autonomy. “This is not just a book but a weapon in the hands of people who fight for the Dravidian movement’s ideals such as social justice, linguistic rights and State autonomy,” he said.
N. Ram, Chairman, THG Publishing Private Ltd, presiding over the launch function, recalled his long association with the late leader. One of the admirable attributes of Karunanidhi, he said, was that he was accessible to everyone. “His rhetorical skills marked by eloquence and a sense of history were his major assets.” He had initiated wholesome development plan for the State, creating infrastructure for industrial, economic and social development. Karunanidhi, he said, allowed a flourishing political culture to emerge and that made him an effective leader both at the State and national levels.
R. Vijaya Sankar, Editor, Frontline, said the book allowed the reader to get a true-life sense of a tall leader who headed the DMK for more than half a century and who spent about eight decades in public life as an extraordinary writer, poet, playwright and politician. The book, he said, featured an exclusive tribute by M.K. Stalin to his father and the article that Karunanidhi himself wrote for Frontline’s special issue celebrating Indian cinema’s centenary, which came out in October 2013. R.K. Radhakrishnan, Associate Editor, Frontline, proposed a vote of thanks at the function.
The 192-page book, priced at Rs.200, is available online at
https://publications.the hindugroup.com/bookstore/ It is also available at The Hindu Lounge, Express Avenue, Chennai.
By Ilangovan Rajasekaran
COMMents
COMMents
SHARE