“Just once shall I address you as appa [father]?” asked DMK working president M K Stalin in a moving poem in memory of his late father and party chief M Karunanidhi, as he noted that he used to call him as ‘leader’ more often.
“I have addressed you as 'thalaivare thalaivare' [leader] more than 'appa appa' [father]. Therefore, just once, shall I address you as 'appa'?",” Mr. Stalin said in the poem written hours after the death of the DMK stalwart.
Mr. Stalin said 'thalaivar' used to inform him wherever he goes. “Now why did you leave without informing this time. Dear leader, who is intertwined with our thoughts and aspirations, where did you go leaving us behind.”
Mr. Stalin asked if Karunanidhi had departed with the contentment that he had done enough for the Tamil community. Seeking the “energy” of Karunanidhi, Mr. Stalin vowed to fulfil all his unfulfilled dreams.
Further, crores of party supporters yearned once to hear Karunanidhi’s famous, trademark statement, “En anbu udanpirappukkale” [my dear brothers and sisters], Mr. Stalin said. Karunanidhi used to open his public speeches with the trademark line, evoking rapturous applause and cheering by the audience.
