Commonalities of people’s favourite CMs

Even now they are quoted often and their contributions are considered milestones in the history of the state. They are K Kamaraj, C N Annadurai and M G Ramachandran. 

In the case of K Kamaraj (1903-1975), it was the outstanding schemes he introduced such as free education and noon meal that brought him closer to people. K Kamaraj changed the ‘elite’ nature of the Congress party to take it closer to ordinary people. 

Whereas, C N Annadurai (1908 – 1968) was a powerful orator and with his writings and speeches, he created a new political culture in Tamil Nadu. After his political apprenticeship in Dravidar Kazhakam (DK) under the EV Ramasamy, the 1965 anti-Hindi agitation catapulted him as a leader of the masses particularly the youth of TN. He ended the Congress’ rule in the state by winning the general election in 1967. C N Annadurai carved out a constituency for himself by advocating strongly for State autonomy and his stand in the passing of Official Language Bill in 1967. 

Then came M G Ramachandran, whose celluloid image of being good, honest, helping and always on the side of the marginalised, captured the imagination of the people of Tamil Nadu. People realised later it was an ‘image trap’ (Read Image Trap by historian MSS Pandian). Even when he introduced draconian  laws, people’s perception of him as a ‘friend of the poor’ never changed. 

One can also see the commonalties in the leadership of the three. They were from humble background. All three worked hard their way up, and actively participated in the political processes of their times. 

Understanding the problems of the common people was not difficult for them. In other words, they were the subaltern leaders. Access, availability and accountability brought them closer to people. They never betrayed the hope of the poor. 

Also, the credit for taking politics to people goes to all three leaders. When an American journalist was asked to sum up his country in one word, he immediately said ‘access’. These three leaders of TN created that ‘access’ to politics for the people of TN. The dream of anyone becoming a political leader was initiated by them. Their availability to their own cadre and people demonstrated their leadership. The transparency in their dealings with the party as well as with the public endeared them a name. 

Decision making in the political leadership is of two types  synoptic and incremental. Synoptic is to act in a bold and sweeping fashion and to introduce new practices, policies, institutions and discontinue others. Incremental is to act in a cautious, probing and experimental fashion, following the trial and error approach. The three former CMs are of the second category. Kamaraj slowly and steadily changed the image of Congress party from that of ‘elites’ to that of ordinary people. Annadurai was one of the earliest to start a regional party (DMK) and could articulate the demands of TN in particular the language issue. MGR through his movies and songs had entered every house of the marginalised, so to become their political leader was not difficult for him. 

However, the successors to these leaders were not able to achieve the goals, dreams and the outreach that of the founders.  How well and long people remember (memory) their leaders is the only indicator to measure the success of their leadership. They were politicians of all seasons and for all people.