Chennai: Rathnambal, 85, came all the way from her native Thirukkuvalai in Tiruvarur district, changing buses and clutching her small cloth bag carrying just a little money, to personally visit the DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi at his residence and convey her prayers for his speedy recovery.
A kind soul at Madhya Kailash near Adyar spotted the brave woman Friday morning as she was trying to find her way to Gopalapuram. When she explained that her bus had dropped her at the spot and she had no clue how to reach Kalaignar’s house, the man helped her with directions and a couple of hours later, she landed at Gopalapuram, still clueless on how she would be able to get into the house through all that huge crowd of DMK followers and the VIP visitors.
That’s when someone whispered to Stalin inside the house that an old woman from his father’s village was waiting outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the ailing leader. The son at once sent the DMK legislator P. K. Sekar Babu to fetch Rathnambal and received the old woman with warmth and some much-needed refreshments.
“Thalapathi was moved when the old lady told him she was Kalaignar’s diehard fan, and that he had presided over her marriage in Thirukkuvalai decades ago”, said an eyewitness, requesting anonymity. He said Stalin gave Rathnamal some money to help her return home, safe and comfortable, and also deputed a party member to put her in the bus at Koyambedu.
“People like Rathnambal have ensured that Kalaignar and the DMK remained a big force in Tamil Nadu through all these years, whatever be the electoral results”, said a DMK MLA.
