Role of the communists

I write this letter as Polit Bureau Member, CPI(M). There are facts that need to be highlighted in connection with the article, “The less talked-about change of nomenclature — from Madras State to Tamil Nadu in 1961” (‘Tamil Nadu InFocus’ page, March 28). First, it was mainly the Communist Party which fought for the formation of linguistic States. Accordingly, States such as Visala Andhra, Kerala and Madras State (1956) came into existence in the 1950s. These developments led to the demand for the naming of Madras State as Tamil Nadu. The seventh paragraph of the article refers to an indefinite hunger fast, led by K.P. Sankaralinganar Nadar in 1956 at Virudhunagar. The Communist Party of India wholeheartedly supported his demand and requested him to give up his fast. It also assured him that the CPI would take up this issue. Before his passing, Sankaralinganar Nadar had, in a letter to the revenue authorities, wanted his body to be handed over to the communists for last rites. This has been reported in Janasakthi, October 14, 1956.

In pursuance of the assurance, P.Ramamurthi, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), moved a Bill in the early 1960s demanding a change of nomenclature from Madras State to Tamil Nadu. Since P. Ramamurthi was arrested by the Madras State under the Defense of India (Rules), Bhupesh Gupta, a CPI MP from Bengal, moved the Bill and spoke on it. C.N. Annadurai, MP from Tamil Nadu, also spoke in support of the Bill.

It is unfortunate that the Union government refused to pass the Bill. When the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam came to power in 1967, the Assembly adopted a resolution — as stated in the article — to rename the State as Tamil Nadu. The role of the communists needs to be highlighted.

G. Ramakrishnan,

Chennai