Jail was a 'torture camp' during Emergency: Stalin

March 20, 2022 19:34

Marked by a sense of detachment 'like a saint', late Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam patriarch and his father M Karunanidhi handed him over to police during the infamous Emergency period, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has reminisced in his autobiography.

Recounting his entry into the Central Prison in Chennai following arrest in 1976, Stalin in his autobiography described the jail time as a 'torture camp' that reverberated with the sounds of wailing.

Though shocking, it gave 'shakti' (strength) to an ideologically committed person to face anything, the Chief Minister said adding, "That day, I got the strength to face anything."

The Emergency was imposed by the then Indira Gandhi government in 1975 and was in place till 1977. The period was infamous for widespread arrests of opposition political leaders and curtailment of civil liberties.

Stalin's 334-page autobiography in Tamil, Ungalil Oruvan (One among you) Part I, was released here recently by Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi.

Hours after the DMK government in Tamil Nadu led by Karunanidhi was dismissed on January 31, 1976, Stalin recalled that police arrived at their Gopalapuram residence in Chennai looking for him.

However, he was at a nearby town of Mathuranthakam at the time.

When police officers said they had an order to search the house to ascertain if Stalin was available or not, Karunanidhi told them, 'by all means' and informed them that his son was out of town and would be back home the next day, according to Stalin.

Also, Karunaidhi 'offered' himself to be arrested, he stated.

The Chief Minister recalled that he and others had an apprehension that 'Thalaivar' (party chief Karunanidhi) could be arrested, but added that the 'jail breeze was blowing towards me.'

When he arrived home the following day on February 1, 1976, Stalin said his mother Dayalu Ammal and wife Durga were weeping but Thalaivar's stentorian voice advising that one should be prepared for all kinds of sacrifices in public life pacified the family members.

"Be ready, police is looking for you," Stalin quoted his father and party chief Karunanidhi as telling him. Later, police officers arrived after Karunanidhi informed them over phone about Stalin getting back home. "Stalin is here, take him," Karunanidhi told police officials.

The chief minister said since he was arrested under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), he was not sure how long the incarceration would last.

Stalin said though his father had been the chief minister of the state for years till the government's dismissal, there was not even a trace of authority when he dealt with police.

Like an ascetic, with a sense of detachment, his father Karunanidhi sent him to jail, Stalin said. Karunanidhi had absolutely no regret that his son was going to jail, the chief minister said.

Karunanidhi's face, at that moment, conveyed a sense that like many DMK members at the time, his son Stalin too was going to jail. -- PTI

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Impact Player rule has disrupted balance of game: Kohli

Virat Kohli has criticised the Impact Player substitution rule and said it is 'disrupting the balance' of the game.

Will win by a bigger margin, says Brij Bhushan's son

Karan Bhushan rejects the charges against his father, saying the "allegations are political and made up. We will challenge them in court".

IPL 2024: Captain Pandya's form mirrors MI's woes

Hardik Pandya had a below-par season in IPL 2024, scoring 216 runs at an average of 18 and taking 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.75.

Had packed my bags in April itself: Kohli on RCB's disastrous first half

Reflecting on RCB's disastrous first half of the tournament, star batter Virat Kohli admitted he had his 'bags packed in April' itself.

WB Guv molestation case: FIR against 3 Raj Bhavan officials

Under Article 361 of the Constitution, no criminal proceedings can be instituted against a governor during his term in office.