Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi greets Sarvodaya couple

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Friday greeted Krishnammal and Sankaralingam Jagannathan, Sarvodaya couple based in Nagapattinam district, on getting the 2008 Right Livelihood Award, known as the ‘alternative Nobel.’

In a statement, Mr. Karunanidhi said despite belonging to a poor Dalit family, Ms. Krishnammal Jagannathan obtained university-level education and was soon committed to Gandhiji’s Sarvodaya movement. Mr. Jagannathan joined the non-cooperation movement and gave up his college studies to become a full-time Gandhian worker. They decided to get married only after the country got independence and, accordingly, tied the knot in 1950. The couple played an active role in the Bhoodan movement of Vinoba Bhave.

Mr. Karunanidhi recalled his government’s decision to provide exemption from registration charges for 1,014 acres that were to be given to Dalits, following an appeal made by the organisation that was founded by the couple. The matter had been pending with the previous regime of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. He also recollected his support to the agitations launched by Mr. Jagannathan for securing residential plots for Dalits affected by the Keezhvenmani incident and providing a temple land, which was under the control of some individuals, at Valivalam to the poor.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu