R. Nallakannu

2021-07-15T03:17:57Z

2409:4072:8E92:8490:ED87:785:D455:4F12:

{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{POV|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = R. Nallakannu
| native_name = ஆர். நல்லக்கண்ணு
| birth_name =
| image = File:R.Nallakannu-cropped.jpg
| caption =
| occupation = [[Politician]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1925|12|26}}
| birth_place = [[India]]
| residence =
| spouse = Ranjitham Ammal
| religion =
| party = [[Communist Party of India]]
| awards =
}}

'''R. Nallakannu''' (born 26 December 1925) is an Indian politician. He is a senior leader of the [[Communist Party of India]] (CPI). He was the former State Secretary of the [[Communist Party of India]] of [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hindu.com/fline/fl1612/16121220.htm |title=Fronts and challenges |publisher=Hindu.com |date= |access-date=2012-07-23}}</ref>

==Early life==
Nallakannu was born in the temple town of [[Srivaikuntam]], Thoothukudi district. Born in an affluent family, he was patriotic from a young age and participated in the freedom struggle.

==Career==
At age 15, Nallakannu joined the [[communist]] movement. He belonged to the action force and was sentenced to over 14 years in jail. He was released after 7 years, as a pact was signed by the communist leaders and the chief minister of [[Tamil Nadu]]. Highly respected even by opposition parties, he uses restraint when he voices concerns about issues and events. Nallakannu is respected as one of the last surviving leaders who founded the Communist movement in India.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

He is also valued as a learned speaker and a great social reformer, and all his life he fought for equal opportunities for the most socially suffered communities. He stayed with them, had food with them and taught them how to fight for their own rights from the upper classes. He also made considerable progress in lifting the living conditions of poor people in Nanguneri Taluk and neighboring villages, mostly during the period when he was spending his time underground. He is known as an individual ready to make any sacrifice to uphold the principles of a casteless society.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

In 2018 he individually fought a court case in Madurai, and won at the High court which ordered a ban on digging sands from the [[Thamirabarani River]] of his native place. On 2 December 2010, the court banned the taking of sand from this river for 5 years.<ref>Thaamiraparani vazhakkil R.N.K;NCBH publication;January 2013;page 25</ref> He undertook many hunger strikes, some lasting more than 20 days. Once, the government built a dam because of his hunger strike. He was honored by the Vice President of the People's Republic of China during his visit to Beijing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.quaidemillethtrust.com/award2015.html|title=Quaide Milleth Trust|website=www.quaidemillethtrust.com|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>

In 1999, Nallakannu stood for [[Coimbatore]] constituency on [[loksabha]] elections. Even though he secured 43.21 percent of total votes, he was defeated by CP Radhakrishnan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1999/Vol_I_LS_99.pdf|title=STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1999 TO THE THIRTEENTH LOK SABHA|date=|access-date=2012-07-23}}</ref>

== Writer ==
As a writer, Nallakannu wrote many books based on social problems, river interaction possibilities in India, agricultural reforms and about communist-based articles..{{cn|date=February 2021}}

== Recognition ==

* Sahayogi Puraskar award from Governor [[Surjit Singh Barnala]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] (14 August 2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/15/stories/2007081561360900.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021021653/http://hindu.com/2007/08/15/stories/2007081561360900.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-10-21 |title=Tamil Nadu News : Gandhi represented vitality of Indian culture, history, says Barnala |date=2007-08-15 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2012-07-23}}</ref>
* Ambedkar Award for his contribution to public life (2007) [[Tamil Nadu]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/10/stories/2008011054350400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113152554/http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/10/stories/2008011054350400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-01-13 |title=Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Ambedkar Award for Nallakannu |date=2008-01-10 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2012-07-23}}</ref>
* Gandhian award for social service from All India Mahatma Gandhi Social Welfare Forum (3 October 2008)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/04/stories/2008100450720200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008001650/http://www.hindu.com/2008/10/04/stories/2008100450720200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-10-08 |title=Tamil Nadu News : "Spread Gandhian ideals" |date=2008-10-04 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2012-07-23}}</ref>
* Jeeva Award from District Writers Association (21 January 2009) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/22/stories/2009012258000200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125034152/http://hindu.com/2009/01/22/stories/2009012258000200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-01-25 |title=Tamil Nadu / Tiruchi News : Jeeva Award conferred on R. Nallakannu |date=2009-01-22 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2012-07-23}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Nallakannu married Ranjitham Ammal, a retired school headmistress from [[Srivaikuntam]] in [[Thoothukudi district|Tuticorin district]], with whom he had two daughters. Ranjitham passed away in Chennai in 2016 at age 82.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/CPI-leader-Nallakannus-wife-Ranjitham-dead/articleshow/55723128.cms|title=CPI leader Nallakannu's wife Ranjitham dead|date=1 December 2016|first=B.|last=Sivakumar|newspaper=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>

In 2019, Nallakannu and his family were asked to vacate the house they were living in, which was allotted to them as a tribute to his contributions in the political field. Multiple political leaders expressed their indignation with this decision. DMK President MK Stalin stated that, as a political leader who has been held in high regard, Nallakannu should be allotted another house.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/cpi-leader-nallakannu-ex-min-kakkan-s-family-be-allocated-new-houses-after-outrage-101674|title=CPI leader Nallakannu, ex-min Kakkan's family to be allocated new houses after outrage|date=12 May 2019|website=www.thenewsminute.com|access-date=2019-07-22}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nallakannu}}
[[Category:Communist Party of India politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Thoothukudi district]]
[[Category:1925 births]]

Bharatpedia - User contributions [en]

R. Nallakannu