The late DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Kalaignar M Karunanidhi, in his nine-decade long rollercoaster political career had solidly stood for upholding ‘Secularism’ as enshrined in our Constitution, though at times as the leader of the DMK he may have nuanced on the issue.

Even when the DMK was part of the BJP-led NDA led by late Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (1999 to early 2004), Kalaignar M Karunanidhi kept reminding them about the importance of ‘Secularism’.

Kalaignar would even argue that it was the presence of the DMK in the NDA that ensured the ‘protection’ of Secularism. After the post-Godhra communal violence, though, in Gujarat in 2002, the DMK began to untangle itself from the NDA. But he remained dogged and consistent on saving ‘Secularism’.

We present here from the text of two of Kalaignar M Karunanidhi’s speeches on the value of ‘Secularism’, made on two occasions separated by nearly 20 years. This first is an interview he gave in English to Doordarshan (DD) in New Delhi and telecast in their news bulletin on June 27, 1990 when V.P. Singh was the Prime Minister of the National Front (NF) Government of which the DMK was a constituent.

The second are excerpts from Kalaignar’s brilliant speech made in Chennai on June 3, 2009, to mark his 86th birthday, shortly after the Dr. Manmohan Singh-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won a second term in the Lok Sabha polls that year. Delhi papers captioned it, ‘Singh is King again’, while the DMK, a key ally of the UPA, was also celebrating that victory in Tamil Nadu on that occasion.

The grand stage put up on Island Grounds in Chennai by the DMK then, in fact, resembled a redbrick structure, a collage of the Parliament building towering over the ‘Red Fort’, for people to see the significance of a UPA win. Both these speeches by Kalaignar are an unfailing testimony to his commitment to Secularism till the very end of his life. His words are even more relevant today. Here they go:

‘RELIGION SHOULD BE STRICTLY KEPT OUT OF POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT’

Kalaignar M Karunanidhi's interview to Delhi DD as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on June 27, 1990: (Transcribed from DD tape telecast that night):

Muthuvel Karunanidhi’s interview was in English: - (Apparently it was recorded the previous day)

"The Secular Principle, which is enshrined in the Constitution, has important implications. Basically, it means that religion should be strictly kept out of both politics and government. The State cannot discriminate in favour or against any particular religion.

On the part of political parties, it implies that no issue of religious nature can be allowed to become a political issue. This means that no political party should be allowed to adopt a religious issue as part of its programme of political activity.

In a Democracy, political power and flowing from the State power, is based on the wishes of the Majority. If the 'Majority' tries to impose its will purely on the grounds of religious persuasion, then Secularism is undermined. In such circumstances, religious minorities cannot be assured of their religious freedoms.

This is the Centenary Year of Dr Ambedkar. Dr Ambedkar said the meaning of freedom is that the Government should run with the consent and concurrence of the Minorities. India must remain a garden in which many flowers of fringe colours should flourish. This is the wish of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Anna, which we must resolve to uphold. "

In the same DD Newscast in Tamil that day, the news reader (Iniyan Sampath), leads with the story that the then Prime Minister V P Singh had nominated the DMK leader M Karunanidhi to the Reception Committee to receive the South African leader Nelson Mandela. This was disclosed by the Union Housing and Urban Development Minister, Murasoli Maran at Tiruchy, the report said.

Mr. Karunanidhi also later called on Dr Channa Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai, in a courtesy call. He presented Dr Reddy a Thanjavur Copper Plate with the image of 'Valluvar Kottam' embossed on it, the newscast said in another news that day.

‘NO PLACE FOR RELIGIOUS HATRED IN INDIA’

‘Kalaignar is another Periyar amidst us,” declared the then DMK General Secretary, Perasiriyar K Anbazhagan at the party’s huge rally in Chennai on June 3, 2009 to celebrate Muthuvel Karunanidhi’s 86th birthday that day, in the presence of M.K. Stalin, Duraimurugan and other senior functionaries. “The (political) fight continues between ‘Varnashrama Dharma’ and Dravidian Culture,” added Perasiriyar as he wound up his felicitation.

KARUNANIDHI AT THE RALLY

Kalaignar M Karunanidhi, who began speaking at 8-55 pm, was in an unusually reflective mood, as he began with thanking the people for “establishing a Secular government at the Centre,” while recalling the many schemes the UPA-I government had sanctioned for Tamil Nadu.

Commenting on the big win for the DMK-led UPA in the state in the Lok Sabha polls, contrary to media reports, which he said sought to “confuse the minds of the people”, Karunanidhi was at his vintage best that day.

“Communalism will not rear its head again; there is no place in India for religious hatred. We shall drive away Communalism. You (voters) have given an opportunity for India to hold her head high again with majesty; Newspapers wrote that DMK will not return, but results are different.”

“What harm have we done to society? Nothing. This is an imagined fear. The DMK has never had any intent to ruin any section of society, any community or any race; for we have been trained like that.”

“A week after the elections was over, when I was in hospital (even before that), when the pay hike for Central Government staff was announced, on those lines, I announced a pay hike for State Government employees also from the hospital. Just as we have fulfilled this (pay revision for government staff) after the elections, we will fulfil all other assurances.”

“From May 13, 2006 (when the DMK Ministry took over in the State) to February 21, 2009, the State Government has appointed 26,159 persons through the Public Service Commission, besides recruiting 92,303 persons through the Employment Exchanges. As many as 1,56,718 persons on consolidated pay were regularised to time-scale pay, and 7,365 persons were appointed on compassionate grounds. In all, 2,82,545 persons have been appointed by the DMK government (during that period).” “This is a sweet to be relished on this occasion.”

“In 1991 (elections), when I contested from Harbour constituency, Rajiv Gandhi was killed in Sriperumbudur in the midst of the election campaign; the electoral field in Tamil Nadu was in tatters then. ‘Murasoli’ office was set on fire. Houses (Including of DMK were attacked and after all these catastrophic events, except in Harbour where I won, the DMK lost all seats; for that reason, I did not say that an electoral fraud had taken place. I accepted the people’s verdict as God’s verdict and appealed that we need to work harder.”

“Our work has to be better and we have to conduct Democracy with Dignity. Arignar Anna had said, ‘Democracy is like lamp in a house, dictatorship is like forest fire’. So, we need to foster democracy in that Spirit. This is my birthday message. We must correct the mistakes on the path we trod and all political parties should now strengthen the country.”

It was 9-20 pm when he completed his speech.