N.S. Elango, a close friend of DMK president M. Karunanidhi during their early days in the Dravidian movement, died at a private hospital in Thanjavur on Saturday night, after a prolonged illness. He was 95.
A resident of Adirampattinam, Elango was closely associated with many Dravidian leaders, including Dravidar Kazhagam founder E.V. Ramasamy, former Chief Minister and DMK founder C.N. Annadurai, E.V.K. Sampath and ‘Navalar’ R. Nedunchezhian.
He was the first district secretary of the DMK in undivided Thanjavur district and also served as the propaganda secretary of the party.
A copy of the marriage invitation of Mr. Karunanidhi and Dayalu Ammal, which is available in Elango’s house, mentions him among the speakers at the wedding ceremony, along with Annadurai, in Tiruvarur on September 15, 1948.
Along with Annadurai and Mr. Karunanidhi, Elango had toured various parts of the State to propagate the ideals of the DMK by conducting roadshows and public meetings during the 1950s and the 1960s. Mr. Karunanidhi, in his early days, grew up in Tiruvarur and spent several days in Adirampattinam with Elango who, it is claimed, had contributed ₹100 out of the ₹300 which was required for getting the DMK registered with the Election Commission.
“My father and Mr. Karunanidhi were closely associated with each other for more than 20 years during the formative years of the DMK, and had toiled hard to sow the seeds of the party among the masses when the Congress was in power. The two were even said to have shared food on a plate,” said E. Balaji, son of Elango, who runs an advertising agency in Thanjavur.
However, in 1969, Elango parted ways with Mr. Karunanidhi owing to differences of opinion, and subsequently joined the AIADMK when M.G. Ramachandran floated the party. He had kept a low profile over the past 30 years.
Elango is survived by four sons and three daughters.