Chennai: At 11 years old, he was one of the most courageous boys among those of his age.
When he was denied admission to the first forum (now equivalent to the sixth standard), he threatened the school headmaster that he would commit suicide by jumping into the pond opposite the school.
Precisely, it was the moment when the fighter in late M. Karunanidhi was born. From then on he had to fight for every inch in his life till he breathed his last on August 7 and even after that for a burial place in Marina.
“The school headmaster has denied him admission citing his social background. He immediately threatened that he would jump into the pond and commit suicide if he was denied admission. Taken aback, the headmaster asked him to sit and offered admission,” recollects M.Vaduganathan, correspondent of V.S. Boys Higher Secondary School.
The board high school in Tiruvarur where he studied up to the third forum (eighth standard) has kindled his interest in Tamil literature and politics. He also brought out the handwritten magazine “Manava Nesan” while studying in the school.
The government school was handed over to a private management now it is called as V.S. Boys Higher Secondary School.
According to Vaduganathan, Karunanidhi had no bad habits during his school days.
“Dandapani Desikar, his Tamil teacher, played a major role in developing his interest in the Tamil language. When he became the Chief Minister in 1970s he saw his teacher accidentally in Chennai and stopped his car. He took him to his house to introduce him to his family members and later arranged a big function at Tiruvarur to felicitate him,” Mr Vaduganathan said.
“He got first prize for his speech on "friendship" while studying in the eighth standard. He later went on to become one of the best orators and became Chief Minister,” he added. After the third forum, he dropped out from the school and later, moved with his sister to Chennai. As a student, he organised anti-Hindi protests while studying in the school.
Karunanidhi also was very fond of his school during his visits to his hometown Thirukkuvalai.
“If he has time, he would drop in with his ministers to show them his school and classrooms. He also donated '20 lakh from MLAs fund to construct five classrooms in the school. He also promised us that he would help us to construct two more classrooms. Unfortunately, he has fallen ill and departed,” he said.
He went to Thirukkuvalai Panchayat Union School before joining the board high school in Tiruvarur.
