C. N. Annadurai, popularly known as Anna, was a prominent Indian politician, writer, and orator who played a major role in shaping modern Tamil Nadu. Born on September 15, 1909, in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, he was a key figure in the Dravidian movement and the founder of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party. He championed social justice, rationalism, and Tamil identity, challenging the dominance of Hindi and promoting Tamil as a classical language.
Annadurai became the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (then Madras State) from the DMK in 1967. His tenure was marked by progressive reforms, including introducing free education, renaming Madras State as Tamil Nadu, and promoting the two-language policy (Tamil and English). A powerful orator and prolific writer, Anna used literature and cinema to spread his political ideas. He passed away on February 3, 1969, but remains a respected leader whose ideas deeply influenced Tamil society and politics.