"Can I call you Appa for one last time my leader," DMK leader MK Stalin penned an emotional letter to his departed father and party supremo M Karunanidhi on Wednesday, 8 August.
Chief minister for five times and DMK party leader for 50 years, the 94-year-old Karunanidhi breathed his last in Chennai’s Kauvery hospital, owing to age-related ailments.
Rather than calling you as Appa, Appa, I have called you as Thalaivaray, Thalaivaray (my leader) more number of times. Can I call you as Appa once, Thalaivaray?MK Stalin
He further asks his departed father as to why he did not tell him where he was going this time, when his habit was always to inform his destination before starting out.
"Thirty three years back, you had said your grave should have the words...the person who had worked without rest is resting here. Have you departed with the satisfaction of having worked hard for the Tamil community," Stalin added.
Read the full letter here:
This one time, can I call you Appa, Thalaivare?
You always informed us wherever you went. Now where have you gone this time without telling us?
My Thalaiva! You are ever present in my feelings, body, blood, thought and heart. Where have you gone?
33 years ago you decided the words to be written upon your headstone, “Here lies he who worked without any rest.” Did you leave with the satisfaction of having worked for this Tamil community?
At 95 years of age, you ran without a break for 80 years for the sake of the public. Are you now hiding and waiting, thinking “Who will cross the heights we have crossed over?”
Having celebrated your 95th in Thiruvarur on June 3, I requested for you to give me half of your strength. I beg for that strength and for the heart you borrowed from Aringar Anna. Will you give it to me, Thalaivare?
With that charity, we will win over your unfulfilled wishes and dreams.
There’s only one request from the crores of your brethren… One last time…
Please utter those lines where you call us “udanpirappugale!” That will help us function for a century with a passion for language and roots.
More than “Appa, Appa”, I’ve addressed you “Thalaivare, Thalaivare”. So this one time can I call you Appa, Thalaivare?
Tearfully,
MK Stalin
(With inputs from IANS and The News Minute.)
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