In Photos: Tamil Nadu Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Kalaignar

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi passed away on Tuesday, 7 August, leaving behind a state in grieving.

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi passed away on Tuesday, 7 August, leaving behind a grieving state.

(Photo: Smitha Tarur/The Quint)

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi, the “sun” of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) passed away on Tuesday, 7 August, leaving behind a state in mourning.

The 94-year-old, who was fondly called “Kailagnar” by the people of Tamil Nadu, had been admitted in the Kauvery Hospital on 28 July, due to worsening health conditions.

From the moment he was admitted to the minute he breathed his last, and even after, his supporters remained standing resolutely in front of the hospital, anxious to catch a final glimpse of their beloved leader.

Supporters outside the Kauvery hospital, earlier on Tuesday, 7 August.

Outside Kauvery Hospital

As the hospital released the updated bulletins on the worsening conditions of Karunanidhi, his well-wishers were seen praying and crying for their “Kailagnar” to wake up.

DMK supporters waiving the party’s flags outside Kauvery hospital.   

Women seen crying at the news of Karunanidhi’s worsening condition, earlier in the day on 7 August.

A supporter of DMK’s Karunanidhi wails upon hearing the news of his demise on 7 August. 

Crowds outside Kauvery Hospital broke police barricades on 7 August. 

“Indebted to Karunanidhi”

While the state’s “Kalaignar” had thousands gathered outside the Kauvery hospital from the first day he was admitted, two individuals stood out from among them, for their self-claimed, life-long “indebtedness” to the former Chief Minister.

DMK supporters outside Kauvery Hospital on 7 August. 

One was an 80-year-old man named Sadayappan, from Oddanchatram, Tamil Nadu who said he had tattooed Karunanidhi’s name on his right hand, as he was “indebted to him for the rest of his life” for providing jobs for his children.

Sadayappan, who had tattooed Karunanidhi’s name on his right hand.

The other was a man who had waited outside the hospital, every single day since Karunanidhi had first been admitted, and who said he would spend the night on the pavement and leave only after the Marina beach was allotted as the final resting place for the DMK Chief.

The man had been waiting outside the hospital, everyday since Karunanidhi was first admitted. 

Crowds Wait to Catch Final Glimpse

Following the news of Karunanidhi’s death, the crowds outside the hospital, and later in front of his house at Gopalapuram, struggled to catch a final glimpse of their beloved “Kalaignar”.

Huge crowds waiting outside Karunanidhi’s residence in Gopalapuram. 

They even climbed trees to catch a glimpse of the DMK chief’s last journey home.

Supporters climbed atop temples as well. 

Final Journey of Karunanidhi

The body of the former Chief Minister was finally taken to the residence of his daughter, Kanimozhi in Chennai's CIT Colony, where police had to later resort to lathi charge, in order to control the sobbing crowds.

Police resorting to lathi charge to control crowds outside Kanimozhi’s residence.

Security officer on alert after after DMK President M Karunanidhi passed away on 7 August.