Anna (C.N. Annadurai) - Reader

Every one knew Anna as one of the greatest personalities Tamilnadu has produced so far. His greatness lies in the wholesome popularity acknowledged by great leaders of his time in the state. His many-sidedness proving his varied dimensions as an able administrator, profound scholar, prolific writer, illustrious journalist and above all staunch humanitarian make us too spell bound to evaluate his literary creations.

Anna observed the living conditions of the Tamils of his day and endeavoured to bring about a change in them through his writings; and to influence an awakening through his speeches. Absorbed in the thoughts of Periyar and feeling proud of the glory of the Tamil race, he rose up like a wide banyan tree of reason with shoots of humanism, to protect Tamil race and work for their uplift.

Anna once cited the meaning of the citizen of the world as Shelley, Byron, Keats, Coleridge, Emerson, and Becon – they are not foreign to us in the strict sense of the term. Is Tiruvalluvar a mere Tamil? They are all world citizens – world teachers is an Anna occupies an exalted placelike them as a world citizen.

Anna is considered to be a forerunner in the field of short stories dealing with the clash between the old and the new, a tireless fighter as a journalist and torch bearer as a dramatist. This, in addition to his being an unparalleled orator and a politician with utmost sobriety, makes him a genius of the century.

In short, Anna is a phenomenon.

**Contents and Sample Pages**