The former Chief Minister and his canine friends

A dog lover to the core, Karunanidhi shared a special bond with Khanna, his favourite pet

Karunanidhi with his dog Khanna

An array of photographs featuring DMK president M. Karunanidhi with leaders like Rajaji, Kamaraj, S.S. Thennarasu (who was known as the king of short stories), and many others adorns the wall of the verandah of his Gopalapuram residence. But what no visitor would miss is the picture of the DMK leader posing with his pet dog.

Khanna, a Lhasa apso-type dog, that used to roam the house like a VIP, would always remain at the feet of Mr. Karunanidhi when he was at home.

“If Khanna rushes to the gate, one could assume

Thalaivar is returning home. He would always say a few words to the pet. It would regularly see him off,” said a close associate of Mr. Karunanidhi.

He would feed the dog biscuits twice a day. Once it even accompanied him to Kodaikanal during a writing assignment.

Poet Ilayabharathi said Khanna enjoyed a rare bond with the DMK leader, a great dog lover. “Once I met him in connection with the production of the television serial Thenpandi Singam , penned by him. Thalaivar would appear in the beginning of the serial to make an introduction about the story. The dog first closely looked at the television and stared at Thalaivar . It continued to do it a few times and Thalaivar said, “ Paaru paaru, appa da (see see, it is father),” recalled Mr Ilayabharathi.

Not just dogs

Dogs were discouraged at his home only after he became very old and could not walk. “The pets normally rushed to him and there was a danger of him tumbling over them,” said a household staff.

Besides Khanna, he kept Dachshunds while he was living on Oliver Road. In the CIT Colony house, a pug, Singham, kept by his daughter Kanimozhi’s son Adityan, became his favourite. It is not just dogs at home. A street dog befriended him during his regular walk at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam. For many years, his walk would not be complete without the dog accompanying him. He himself had fondly mentioned about this dog at some public meetings.