7 months ago
1
October 9 marked the 128th commencement day of erstwhile Chief Minister M. Bhaktavatsalam (1897-1987), who was the past Congress Chief Minister of the State (1963-67). Known for fervent patriotism, self-effacement, dedication, the erstwhile Chief Minister was a stickler for rules. “He was an unsmiling idiosyncratic but not corrupt,” observes seasoned governmental writer and societal activistic S.V. Rajadurai.
However, Bhaktavatsalam continues to beryllium viewed adversely by sections of historians and governmental leaders for the mode helium handled the acute shortage of atom and anti-Hindi imposition agitation successful the State. He is inactive blamed for the debacle of the Congress successful the 1967 Assembly election.
Yet, 1 remark that helium made aft the declaration of results of the 1967 Assembly election, remains a taxable of aggravated statement among the governmental people and students of modern history. The reflection was this, “I spot a microorganism has dispersed each implicit Tamil Nad[u]. I commune God whitethorn prevention the people.” Actually, this formed a portion of his connection made exclusively to The Hindu, according to a study published connected February 24, 1967. Needless to say, the outgoing CM, who graciously congratulated the DMK, stated helium accepted the decision arsenic “the verdict of the radical against the Congress.”
That the canvass results stunned the Congress enactment was an understatement arsenic not lone the incumbent Chief Minister and astir of his Cabinet colleagues were defeated but besides the past all-India president of the organisation and erstwhile Chief Minister K. Kamaraj had to wound the dust. In Virudhunagar, a young student-leader P. Srinivasan of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had outsmarted Kamaraj by a borderline of a small little than 1,300 votes portion different DMK nominee, D. Rajarathnam, bushed Bhaktavatsalam astir by 9,000 votes successful Sriperumpudur.
In an hour-long enactment with reporters astatine his Nungambakkam residence, the DMK main C. N. Annadurai, who became Chief Minister connected March 6, 1967, described his predecessor’s connection arsenic “unfortunate” and sounded somewhat bitter by saying that “it is thoroughly unbecoming of him,” reported this paper connected February 25. M. Karunanidhi, who succeeded Annadurai 2 years aboriginal pursuing the latter’s death, successful his memoir, Nenjukku Neethi (Volume 1) [which helium primitively wrote successful 1975], likened Bhaktavatsalam’s reflection to “one of spewing venom.”
Two days later, the outgoing CM clarified his arguable remark, which, helium said, had been “misunderstood.” There was nary “insinuation” successful his remark against immoderate idiosyncratic oregon party. “What was uppermost successful his caput was that determination should beryllium immoderate introspection and that the Congress should look into its shortcomings and rectify them. All that helium was acrophobic astir was the obsession with which the assemblage politic was seized. He did not mean immoderate notation to the D.M.K. and that was wherefore helium utilized the look ‘a virus’ and not ‘the virus’ oregon ‘cancer’. He said that ‘God whitethorn prevention the people,’ due to the fact that helium recovered that his partymen had not been capable to woody with that obsession. He had successful caput the shortcomings successful ‘our ain organisation and organisational approach.’ In fact, helium had been mentioning it to his friends adjacent earlier the elections,” The Hindu reported connected February 28.
Three years later, successful an interrogation to fashionable Tamil periodical, Kumudam, the erstwhile Chief Minister gave different clarification astir what helium meant by the word “virus.” This interrogation was published successful December 1970, the contents of which were carried successful Bhaktavatsalam’s memoir, Enadhu Ninaivugal, which was published successful 1971. When the memoir was launched, helium was connected the broadside of the past Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who had fallen retired with elder leaders including Kamaraj. Spearheaded by Indira Gandhi, the Congress had go an state of the DMK.
In the interview, helium explained that the information that the radical had rejected the Congress, which had got state [from the British] for the radical and strove for the payment of the nationalist by formulating respective developmental schemes, had made him to ponder implicit confusion, which had engulfed the people. “I utilized the word – microorganism – lone to notation to this authorities of confusion,” helium explained.
He did not picture the DMK MLAs oregon the DMK arsenic “virus.” Had it been otherwise, this would person been “contrary to my nature,” Bhaktavatsalam pointed out, recalling helium had made wide his presumption to Annadurai, V.R. Nedunchezhian and Karunanidhi who called connected him astatine his residence earlier assuming charge. Karunanidhi, who was Public Works Minister successful the Annadurai’s Cabinet, told him that helium and his colleagues excessively were initially nether the incorrect impression. Now, they had got clarity aft the explanation.
In February 1987, Bhaktavatsalam died astatine the property of 89. At that time, the AIADMK’s laminitis M.G. Ramachandran, arsenic Chief Minister, ensured that the erstwhile CM was fixed a authorities ceremonial astatine an exclusive spot connected the premises of the Gandhi Mandapam, Guindy. Eleven years later, the DMK authorities had constructed a due memorial for him astatine a outgo of ₹25 lakh and successful 1998, declaring unfastened the memorial, the past Chief Minister Karunanidhi lauded Bhakthavatsalam for his administrative abilities. He told the assemblage that helium learnt the basics of authorities medication from his predecessor, this paper mentioned successful a study published connected March 14, 1998.
He besides recalled however Bhakthavatsalam, [as Finance Minister] inaugurated a mother-child attraction centre acceptable up by him (Karunanidhi, who was successful the Opposition then) successful his autochthonal Thirukuvalai adjacent Thiruvarur successful 1962 contempt stiff absorption from the section Congressmen, [an incidental of which was recounted successful Enadhu Ninaivugal too]. Similarly, connected his merchandise from situation successful Palayamkottai, Bhakthavatsalam had called him to his residence and explained to him wherefore helium was incarcerated. When helium (Karunanidhi) gave him a database of persons who were inactive successful prison, the latter, arsenic the Chief Minister, instantly ordered their release. These instances revealed Bhakthavatsalam’s “humane side,” the regular mentioned arsenic Karunanidhi having said.
Bhakthavatsalam’s girl and societal activist, Sarojini Varadappan, and granddaughter Jayanthi Natarajan, who was the past Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, attended the inauguration of the memorial.
