It is a classic case of irony. It was to the credit of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi, who was once part of a secessionist political struggle that sought the establishment of a ‘Dravida Nadu’, to get the right for Chief Ministers of the States to unfurl the Tricolour on Independence Day.
Till 1973, the Governors, generally perceived as representatives of the Central government, unfurled the national flag in State capitals both on Republic Day (January 26) and Independence Day (August 15). However, this changed in 1974.
In February that year, Mr. Karunanidhi, during his second term as Chief Minister, complained that the Chief Ministers were “ignored” on Independence Day and Republic Day. At that time, he was intensifying his slogan of State autonomy in the light of the submission of a report by the Rajamannar Committee on Centre-State relations (1969-1971).
Addressing an event in Chennai to mark the launch of a publication of Murasoli Maran, then a Member of Parliament, on State autonomy, Mr. Karunanidhi wondered why the Chief Ministers should not be given the opportunity of unfurling the flag when the Prime Minister could hoist the flag on Independence Day.
In July, the Indira Gandhi government at the Centre conceded his demand and announced that Chief Ministers would hereafter hoist the flag on Independence Day while Governors would do it on Republic Day.
On August 15, 1974, Mr. Karunanidhi became the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to unfurl the national flag at the historic Fort St. George.
Later the same day, hosting a lunch for reporters, he explained that the concept of autonomy would be beneficial to all the State governments, and not to any particular party.
Mr. Karunanidhi regretted that when his party had voiced the demand, it was looked upon with misgivings because of its “separatist past.” But his party had long ago given up the demand for separation and no one need have second thoughts about his party’s “deep commitment to nationalism or national integration,” he said.
