Chennai:'Annamalai.' This Tamil name will be easily recognised by people as that of the name of the popular BJP leader K Annamalai. That name, however, goes beyond the Saffron party leader's popularity as it has a deep connection to Tamil Nadu's history and socio-cultural dimensions.
During the Quit India movement, a foot soldier of Gandhiji, a young man with patriot zeal was at the forefront of the struggle in southern Tamil Nadu. Chinna Annamalai (1920-1980), a star of the freedom movement, cast a spell on people by his oratory.
"When he was arrested in 1942 during the Quit India movement, people stormed the prison at Tiruvadanai (Ramanathapuram district) and got him released," recalls S Ramachandran, noted epigraphist and historian, adding several people were killed in police firing in connected incidents.
Subsequently, Chinna Annamalai was jailed and it was C Rajagopalachari, who appeared on his behalf in court and he was eventually released from prison. Writer and a pioneering publisher, he was opposed to the Dravidian movement.
Annamalai was also the name of legendary philanthropist and industrialist, Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar (1881-1948) who founded the Annamalai University in 1929, now a state government administered varsity.
Chettiar also established the Tamil Isai Sangam in 1943 to propagate Tamil music and the imposing Raja Annamalai Mandram building in downtown Parry's corner here is noted for events aimed at promotion of Tamil music.
The name Annamalai is also an intrinsic part of the people's faith. President of Sri Vajragiri Vadivelan Girivala Kuzhu, a spiritual collective, M Saravanan quoting from Thevaram and Thiruvasagam, says the name Annamalai denotes the God's greatness, magnificence and the qualities of the Almighty being unfathomable and supreme.
Thevaram and Thiruvasagam are part of the 'Panniru Thirumurai' a collection of twelve holy scriptures of Tamil Shaivism. Saravanan says: "A hugely popular name of Lord Shiva, the name Annamalai holds special significance in Shaivism. Shiva is reverentially hailed as Annamalai in Thevaram and Thiruvasagam. Annamalai immediately brings to mind Lord Annamalayar, the Tiruvannamalai temple's presiding deity, praised as Arunachaleswara as well." Annamalayar is a more respectful reference to the name Annamalai.