N. V. N. Somu: Difference between revisions

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| birth_name = Natarajan Somasundaram
| birth_name = Natarajan Somasundaram
| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|5|11|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|5|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Gnayiru]], [[Chingleput District (Madras Presidency)|Chingleput District]], [[Madras Province]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now [[Tiruvallur district]],<br/>[[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| birth_place = [[Gnayiru]], [[Chingleput District (Madras Presidency)|Chingleput District]], [[Madras Province]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now [[Tiruvallur district]],<br/>[[Tamil Nadu]], India)
| death_date = {{death date and age|1997|11|14|1937|5|11|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1997|11|14|1937|5|11|df=y}}
| death_place = Between '''Mago''' and '''[[Tawang]]''', [[Arunachal Pradesh]], India
| death_place = Between '''Mago''' and '''[[Tawang]]''', [[Arunachal Pradesh]], India
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| primeminister2 = [[H. D. Deve Gowda]]
| primeminister2 = [[H. D. Deve Gowda]]
| minister2 = [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]]
| minister2 = [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]]
| predecessor2 = [[Mallikarjun Goud]]&lt;br /&gt;([[Rao ministry|September 1995-May 1996]])
| predecessor2 = [[Mallikarjun Goud]]<br />([[Rao ministry|September 1995-May 1996]])
| successor2 = ''Himself''
| successor2 = ''Himself''
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member]] of the [[Indian Parliament]]&lt;br/&gt;([[Lok Sabha]])
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member]] of the [[Indian Parliament]]<br/>([[Lok Sabha]])
| constituency3 = [[Chennai North (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai North]]
| constituency3 = [[Chennai North (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai North]]
| term_start3 = 10 May 1996
| term_start3 = 10 May 1996
| term_end3 = 14 November 1997
| term_end3 = 14 November 1997
| predecessor3 = [[D. Pandian]]
| predecessor3 = [[D. Pandian]]
| successor3 = [[C. Kuppusami]]&lt;br /&gt;([[1998 Indian general election|1998]]-[[2009 Indian general election|2009]])
| successor3 = [[C. Kuppusami]]<br />([[1998 Indian general election|1998]]-[[2009 Indian general election|2009]])
| constituency4 = [[Chennai North (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai North]]
| constituency4 = [[Chennai North (Lok Sabha constituency)|Chennai North]]
| term_start4 = December 1984
| term_start4 = December 1984
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| predecessor4 = [[G. Lakshmanan]]
| predecessor4 = [[G. Lakshmanan]]
| successor4 = [[D. Pandian]]
| successor4 = [[D. Pandian]]
| office5 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of&lt;br/&gt;[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
| office5 = [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of<br/>[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
| constituency5 = [[Park Town (state assembly constituency)|Park Town]]
| constituency5 = [[Park Town (state assembly constituency)|Park Town]]
| term_start5 = 19 June 1980
| term_start5 = 19 June 1980
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}}
}}


'''Natarajan Somasundaram''' (11 May 1937 – 14 November 1997),&lt;ref name=":0"&gt;{{cite news |title=Somu killed in helicopter crash |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/nov/14somu.htm |accessdate=31 October 2018 |work=Rediff.com |date=14 November 1997}}&lt;/ref&gt; popularly known as '''N. V. N. Somu''', was a [[Politics of Tamil Nadu|politician]], journalist, lawyer, and trade unionist from [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. He was a veteran of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK).
'''Natarajan Somasundaram''' (11 May 1937 – 14 November 1997),<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Somu killed in helicopter crash |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/nov/14somu.htm |accessdate=31 October 2018 |work=Rediff.com |date=14 November 1997}}</ref> popularly known as '''N. V. N. Somu''', was a [[Politics of Tamil Nadu|politician]], journalist, lawyer, and trade unionist from [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. He was a veteran of the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK).


Somu served as a [[councillor]] in the [[Greater Chennai Corporation|Madras Corporation]] (1968-73), Deputy [[Mayor of Madras]] (1971-72) [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] from [[Park Town Assembly constituency|Park Town]] (1980-84), and [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of the Indian Parliament]] ([[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha]]) from [[Chennai North Lok Sabha constituency|Chennai North]] (1984-89; 1996-97). In his second tenure as MP, he also served as  [[Minister of Defence (India)#List of ministers of state|Minister of State for Defence]] under two successive [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Ministers]] - [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] and [[Inder Kumar Gujral]]. The later tenure was cut short by his death in a helicopter crash, when he was on an official tour of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] in November 1997.
Somu served as a [[councillor]] in the [[Greater Chennai Corporation|Madras Corporation]] (1968-73), Deputy [[Mayor of Madras]] (1971-72) [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] from [[Park Town Assembly constituency|Park Town]] (1980-84), and [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of the Indian Parliament]] ([[Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha]]) from [[Chennai North Lok Sabha constituency|Chennai North]] (1984-89; 1996-97). In his second tenure as MP, he also served as  [[Minister of Defence (India)#List of ministers of state|Minister of State for Defence]] under two successive [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Ministers]] - [[H. D. Deve Gowda]] and [[Inder Kumar Gujral]]. The later tenure was cut short by his death in a helicopter crash, when he was on an official tour of [[Arunachal Pradesh]] in November 1997.
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== Early life ==
== Early life ==
He was born to a Mudaliar family on 11 May 1937 in [[Gnayiru]]&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/DrKanimozhiSomu/posts/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B4%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4-%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%95-%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9F-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B1/1522232052669672/|title=|authorlink=என். எஸ். கனிமொழி}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/mukesh06DMK/status/1984440335381250094?s=20|title=}}&lt;/ref&gt; (a [[List of neighbourhoods of Chennai|suburb]] in present-day [[Tiruvallur district]], Tamil Nadu) to [[Dravidian movement]] veterans Bhuvaneshwari and [[N. V. Natarajan]]{{Efn|Natarajan initially supported the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) before joining the [[Dravidian movement]]. He later served as the DMK's organisation secretary (1959-72), and Tamil Nadu's [[Department of Labour and Employment (Tamil Nadu)|Minister of Labour and]] [[Department of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare (Tamil Nadu)|Backward Classes]] (1969-71) in the [[first Karunanidhi ministry]].
He was born to a Mudaliar family on 11 May 1937 in [[Gnayiru]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/DrKanimozhiSomu/posts/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B4%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4-%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%95-%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9F-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B1/1522232052669672/|title=|authorlink=என். எஸ். கனிமொழி}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/mukesh06DMK/status/1984440335381250094?s=20|title=}}</ref> (a [[List of neighbourhoods of Chennai|suburb]] in present-day [[Tiruvallur district]], Tamil Nadu) to [[Dravidian movement]] veterans Bhuvaneshwari and [[N. V. Natarajan]]{{Efn|Natarajan initially supported the [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) before joining the [[Dravidian movement]]. He later served as the DMK's organisation secretary (1959-72), and Tamil Nadu's [[Department of Labour and Employment (Tamil Nadu)|Minister of Labour and]] [[Department of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare (Tamil Nadu)|Backward Classes]] (1969-71) in the [[first Karunanidhi ministry]].
|group=notelist}}. In late 1938, at 18 months, Somu accompanied his mother to [[Vellore Central Prison]], owing to the latter's participation in the [[Anti-Hindi agitation of 1937–1940|Anti-Hindi agitation]] launched by [[Periyar E. V. Ramasamy|'Periyar' E. V. Ramasamy]], then leader of the [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]] and the [[Self-Respect Movement]]&lt;ref name=":0" /&gt;
|group=notelist}}. In late 1938, at 18 months, Somu accompanied his mother to [[Vellore Central Prison]], owing to the latter's participation in the [[Anti-Hindi agitation of 1937–1940|Anti-Hindi agitation]] launched by [[Periyar E. V. Ramasamy|'Periyar' E. V. Ramasamy]], then leader of the [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]] and the [[Self-Respect Movement]]<ref name=":0" />


== Career ==
== Career ==
Somu joined the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK){{Efn|At this point, the party was led by [[C. N. Annadurai]].|group=notelist}} during his student days. After training as a lawyer, he began his career as a reporter in the [[List of Tamil-language newspapers|Tamil-language newspaper]] ''[[Dina Thanthi]].''&lt;ref name=":0" /&gt; During 1953-66, he was the sub-editor of ''Dravidan''&lt;ref name=":1"&gt;{{Cite book|title=LOK SABHA DEBATES (English Version): Sixth Session (ParT I) (Eleventh Lok Sabha)|date=1997|publisher=LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI|pages=3|url=https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/3464/1/lsd_11_6_19-11-1997.pdf}}&lt;/ref&gt; a Tamil weekly published by his father.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web |title=இதழ் விவரங்கள் : ''திராவிடன்'' |url=https://tamildigitallibrary.in/periodicals-details/TVRVeU1EUT1BdG9aYXRvejB0bzk-/TVRBPUF0b1phdG96MHRvOQ--/TWpFPUF0b1phdG96MHRvOQ--}}&lt;/ref&gt;
Somu joined the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK){{Efn|At this point, the party was led by [[C. N. Annadurai]].|group=notelist}} during his student days. After training as a lawyer, he began his career as a reporter in the [[List of Tamil-language newspapers|Tamil-language newspaper]] ''[[Dina Thanthi]].''<ref name=":0" /> During 1953-66, he was the sub-editor of ''Dravidan''<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=LOK SABHA DEBATES (English Version): Sixth Session (ParT I) (Eleventh Lok Sabha)|date=1997|publisher=LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI|pages=3|url=https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/3464/1/lsd_11_6_19-11-1997.pdf}}</ref> a Tamil weekly published by his father.<ref>{{Cite web |title=இதழ் விவரங்கள் : ''திராவிடன்'' |url=https://tamildigitallibrary.in/periodicals-details/TVRVeU1EUT1BdG9aYXRvejB0bzk-/TVRBPUF0b1phdG96MHRvOQ--/TWpFPUF0b1phdG96MHRvOQ--}}</ref>


He also headed the DMK's legal wing for several years.&lt;ref name=":0" /&gt;  
He also headed the DMK's legal wing for several years.<ref name=":0" />  


=== At the Madras Corporation (1968-73) ===
=== At the Madras Corporation (1968-73) ===
In 1968, he was elected as a DMK [[councillor]] (Kondiyampathi Division) to the [[Greater Chennai Corporation|Madras Corporation]]. The next year (1969), owing to his [[Trade unions in India|trade unionist]] credentials, he became the President of ''[[The Hindu Group|The Hindu]]'' Office and National Press Employees' Union.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web|title=Today in Indian History - N. V. N. Somu, Union Minister of State for Defence and president of The Hindu Office and National Press Employees Union from 1969, died in Army Helicopter crash at Tezpur in Arunachal Pradesh.|url=https://www.baltimoreindian.com/desi/historicaleventdetails.asp?id=576|website=www.baltimoreindian.com|access-date=2026-01-31}}&lt;/ref&gt;
In 1968, he was elected as a DMK [[councillor]] (Kondiyampathi Division) to the [[Greater Chennai Corporation|Madras Corporation]]. The next year (1969), owing to his [[Trade unions in India|trade unionist]] credentials, he became the President of ''[[The Hindu Group|The Hindu]]'' Office and National Press Employees' Union.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Today in Indian History - N. V. N. Somu, Union Minister of State for Defence and president of The Hindu Office and National Press Employees Union from 1969, died in Army Helicopter crash at Tezpur in Arunachal Pradesh.|url=https://www.baltimoreindian.com/desi/historicaleventdetails.asp?id=576|website=www.baltimoreindian.com|access-date=2026-01-31}}</ref>


On 29 November 1971, he defeated M. Bhaktavatsalam [of the [[Indian National Congress (O)]]] by 32 votes to become Deputy to [[Mayor of Chennai|Mayor]] [[Kamakshi Jayaraman]].{{Efn|Kamakshi Jayaraman herself was elected Mayor earlier on the same day.|group=notelist}} He remained in that position till 1972.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite news|title=How a Brahmin woman was elected the Mayor of Madras on DMK ticket in 1971|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/how-a-brahmin-woman-was-elected-the-mayor-of-madras-ondmkticket-in-1971/article70302472.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=2026-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216093040/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/how-a-brahmin-woman-was-elected-the-mayor-of-madras-ondmkticket-in-1971/article70302472.ece|archive-date=2025-12-16|language=en}}&lt;/ref&gt;
On 29 November 1971, he defeated M. Bhaktavatsalam [of the [[Indian National Congress (O)]]] by 32 votes to become Deputy to [[Mayor of Chennai|Mayor]] [[Kamakshi Jayaraman]].{{Efn|Kamakshi Jayaraman herself was elected Mayor earlier on the same day.|group=notelist}} He remained in that position till 1972.<ref>{{Cite news|title=How a Brahmin woman was elected the Mayor of Madras on DMK ticket in 1971|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/how-a-brahmin-woman-was-elected-the-mayor-of-madras-ondmkticket-in-1971/article70302472.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=2026-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216093040/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/how-a-brahmin-woman-was-elected-the-mayor-of-madras-ondmkticket-in-1971/article70302472.ece|archive-date=2025-12-16|language=en}}</ref>


===Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (1980-84)===
===Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (1980-84)===
He was elected as [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) from [[Park Town Assembly constituency|Park Town constituency]] in [[1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1980]].{{Election box begin|title=[[1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]]: Park Town&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web | last = Election Commission of India | title = Statistical Report on General Election 1980 | url = http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1980/StatisticalReportTamil%20Nadu%201980.pdf | access-date = 19 April 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101006231656/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1980/StatisticalReportTamil%20Nadu%201980.pdf | archive-date = 6 October 2010}}&lt;/ref&gt;}}
He was elected as [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) from [[Park Town Assembly constituency|Park Town constituency]] in [[1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|1980]].{{Election box begin|title=[[1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]]: Park Town<ref>{{cite web | last = Election Commission of India | title = Statistical Report on General Election 1980 | url = http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1980/StatisticalReportTamil%20Nadu%201980.pdf | access-date = 19 April 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101006231656/http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/SE_1980/StatisticalReportTamil%20Nadu%201980.pdf | archive-date = 6 October 2010}}</ref>}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|candidate=N. V. N. Somu|party=Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|votes=38,095|percentage=55.94%|change=23.16%}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|candidate=N. V. N. Somu|party=Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|votes=38,095|percentage=55.94%|change=23.16%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Gandhi Kamaraj National Congress|candidate=S. Lalchand Daga|votes=23,197|percentage=34.06%|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Gandhi Kamaraj National Congress|candidate=S. Lalchand Daga|votes=23,197|percentage=34.06%|change=}}
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{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}
===Member of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) (1984-89; 1996-97)===
===Member of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) (1984-89; 1996-97)===
He was elected as a [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of the Indian Parliament]] (MP) from [[Chennai North Lok Sabha constituency]] twice - in [[1984 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu|1984]] and [[1996 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu|1996]].&lt;ref&gt;[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf Volume I, 1984 Indian general election, 8th Lok Sabha]&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1996/Vol_I_LS_96.pdf Volume I, 1996 Indian Lok Sabha election, 11th Lok Sabha]&lt;/ref&gt;{{Election box begin|title=[[1984 Indian general election]]: Chennai North}}
He was elected as a [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of the Indian Parliament]] (MP) from [[Chennai North Lok Sabha constituency]] twice - in [[1984 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu|1984]] and [[1996 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu|1996]].<ref>[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1984/Vol_I_LS_84.pdf Volume I, 1984 Indian general election, 8th Lok Sabha]</ref><ref>[http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/StatisticalReports/LS_1996/Vol_I_LS_96.pdf Volume I, 1996 Indian Lok Sabha election, 11th Lok Sabha]</ref>{{Election box begin|title=[[1984 Indian general election]]: Chennai North}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link| |candidate=N. V. N. Somu|party=Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|votes=2,61,941|percentage=52.20%|change=-5.13%}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link| |candidate=N. V. N. Somu|party=Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|votes=2,61,941|percentage=52.20%|change=-5.13%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Indian National Congress|candidate=[[G. Lakshmanan]]|votes=2,25,491|percentage=44.93%|change=|}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Indian National Congress|candidate=[[G. Lakshmanan]]|votes=2,25,491|percentage=44.93%|change=|}}
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=== Background ===
=== Background ===
On 13 November 1997, Somu toured [[Arunachal Pradesh]]'s [[Sino-Indian border dispute|areas bordering China]] as part of a two-day official visit to the [[Northeast India|northeastern States]]. The next day (November 14), he was scheduled to address the [[Indian Army]]'s senior officials, including the [[General officer commanding#Usage in the Indian Army|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (GoC) of the [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] at [[Tezpur]], [[Assam]].&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt; After that, he was intending to fly back to Chennai via [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]] the same night. His subsequent plans included participation as chief guest in the [[National Library Week]] celebrations on 15 November, and to formally request [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister]] and DMK president M. Karunanidhi for a foreword for a proposed publication on N.V. Natarajan.&lt;ref name=":3"&gt;{{Cite news|title=When a Union Minister of State from Tamil Nadu died in a chopper crash in Arunachal Pradesh|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/when-a-union-minister-of-state-from-tamil-nadu-died-in-a-chopper-crash-in-arunachal-pradesh/article70559933.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=2026-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128075252/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/when-a-union-minister-of-state-from-tamil-nadu-died-in-a-chopper-crash-in-arunachal-pradesh/article70559933.ece|archive-date=2026-01-28|language=en}}&lt;/ref&gt;
On 13 November 1997, Somu toured [[Arunachal Pradesh]]'s [[Sino-Indian border dispute|areas bordering China]] as part of a two-day official visit to the [[Northeast India|northeastern States]]. The next day (November 14), he was scheduled to address the [[Indian Army]]'s senior officials, including the [[General officer commanding#Usage in the Indian Army|General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (GoC) of the [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] at [[Tezpur]], [[Assam]].<ref name=":2" /> After that, he was intending to fly back to Chennai via [[Calcutta]], [[West Bengal]] the same night. His subsequent plans included participation as chief guest in the [[National Library Week]] celebrations on 15 November, and to formally request [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu|Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister]] and DMK president M. Karunanidhi for a foreword for a proposed publication on N.V. Natarajan.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|title=When a Union Minister of State from Tamil Nadu died in a chopper crash in Arunachal Pradesh|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/when-a-union-minister-of-state-from-tamil-nadu-died-in-a-chopper-crash-in-arunachal-pradesh/article70559933.ece|work=The Hindu|access-date=2026-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260128075252/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/when-a-union-minister-of-state-from-tamil-nadu-died-in-a-chopper-crash-in-arunachal-pradesh/article70559933.ece|archive-date=2026-01-28|language=en}}</ref>


=== The crash ===
=== The crash ===
On November 14 morning, after a telephone conversation with his wife,&lt;ref name=":3" /&gt; Somu boarded a  [[Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama|Cheetah helicopter]] stationed north of Mago village, Lungar Sector in [[Tawang district]]. He was accompanied by [[Major general|Major General]] Ramesh Chandra Nagpal (GoC of the Four Mountain Division).&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt; The helicopter (driven by pilot majors PK Agarwal and PC Sharma) took off at around 9:00 am [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]. Shortly afterwards, at 9:10 am, radio contact with the helicopter was lost. Around 9:20 am, the helicopter crashed at a nearby remote area at an altitude of more than 4000 metres,&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt; killing all four occupants.{{Efn|The report carried by ''[[Business Standard]]'' claims that "A fifth victim of the tragedy, that occurred a little after 9 am at a spot one-and-a-half km from Tawang in Lungar sector was yet to be identified". However, all other sources identify only four victims.}} Five army choppers, sent to rescue probable survivors, could only locate the wreckage with the bodies at 12:10 pm.&lt;ref name=":0" /&gt; Official sources said the crash was apparently caused due to poor visibility caused by mist in the early hours.&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt;
On November 14 morning, after a telephone conversation with his wife,<ref name=":3" /> Somu boarded a  [[Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama|Cheetah helicopter]] stationed north of Mago village, Lungar Sector in [[Tawang district]]. He was accompanied by [[Major general|Major General]] Ramesh Chandra Nagpal (GoC of the Four Mountain Division).<ref name=":2" /> The helicopter (driven by pilot majors PK Agarwal and PC Sharma) took off at around 9:00 am [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]. Shortly afterwards, at 9:10 am, radio contact with the helicopter was lost. Around 9:20 am, the helicopter crashed at a nearby remote area at an altitude of more than 4000 metres,<ref name=":2" /> killing all four occupants.{{Efn|The report carried by ''[[Business Standard]]'' claims that "A fifth victim of the tragedy, that occurred a little after 9 am at a spot one-and-a-half km from Tawang in Lungar sector was yet to be identified". However, all other sources identify only four victims.}} Five army choppers, sent to rescue probable survivors, could only locate the wreckage with the bodies at 12:10 pm.<ref name=":0" /> Official sources said the crash was apparently caused due to poor visibility caused by mist in the early hours.<ref name=":2" />


=== Condolences ===
=== Condolences ===


* [[President of India|President]] '''[[K. R. Narayanan]]''' praised Somu as "a diligent and conscientious member of the council of ministers and an able parliamentarian", adding that his demise removed "a personality of prominence and great promise to the country".&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt;
* [[President of India|President]] '''[[K. R. Narayanan]]''' praised Somu as "a diligent and conscientious member of the council of ministers and an able parliamentarian", adding that his demise removed "a personality of prominence and great promise to the country".<ref name=":2" />
* Prime Minister '''I. K. Gujral''', on hearing the news, cancelled his scheduled two-day visit to Bombay, where he was to commission the warship [[INS Delhi (D61)|INS ''Delhi'' (D61)]].&lt;ref name=":0" /&gt;{{Efn|The warship was commissioned as scheduled on 15 November. |group=notelist}} He called Karunanidhi to convey his condolences to Somu's family.&lt;ref name=":3" /&gt; Praising Somu as "a warm and gentle person"&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt; in his condolence message, Gujral added “His views were always constructive and were expressed in the larger interest of the country. I shall miss his wise counsel in the Council of Ministers.”&lt;ref name=":3" /&gt;
* Prime Minister '''I. K. Gujral''', on hearing the news, cancelled his scheduled two-day visit to Bombay, where he was to commission the warship [[INS Delhi (D61)|INS ''Delhi'' (D61)]].<ref name=":0" />{{Efn|The warship was commissioned as scheduled on 15 November. |group=notelist}} He called Karunanidhi to convey his condolences to Somu's family.<ref name=":3" /> Praising Somu as "a warm and gentle person"<ref name=":2" /> in his condolence message, Gujral added “His views were always constructive and were expressed in the larger interest of the country. I shall miss his wise counsel in the Council of Ministers.”<ref name=":3" />


* Defence Minister '''Mulayam Singh Yadav''' described Somu as an honest and upright minister whose untimely death was an irreparable loss to the DMK and the [[United Front (India, 1996)|United Front]] government.&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt;
* Defence Minister '''Mulayam Singh Yadav''' described Somu as an honest and upright minister whose untimely death was an irreparable loss to the DMK and the [[United Front (India, 1996)|United Front]] government.<ref name=":2" />
* [[Speaker of the Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha Speaker]] '''[[P. A. Sangma]]''' said that he had lost "a valued friend and parliamentary colleague" and that the country "a young administrator of considerable promise".&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt;
* [[Speaker of the Lok Sabha|Lok Sabha Speaker]] '''[[P. A. Sangma]]''' said that he had lost "a valued friend and parliamentary colleague" and that the country "a young administrator of considerable promise".<ref name=":2" />
* [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|'''Atal Behari Vajpayee''']] (former PM) said "the tragic death of NVN Somu is a loss for which we will all grieve".&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt;
* [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee|'''Atal Behari Vajpayee''']] (former PM) said "the tragic death of NVN Somu is a loss for which we will all grieve".<ref name=":2" />
* The central secretariat of the [[Communist Party of India]] (CPI) expressed its "deep shock and sorrow" at Somu's death.&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt;
* The central secretariat of the [[Communist Party of India]] (CPI) expressed its "deep shock and sorrow" at Somu's death.<ref name=":2" />
* '''Karunanidhi''' said that the service rendered by Somu “as the artery of the Dravidian movement" could not be forgotten. He added "[Somu] was the personification of love and compassion, a model of simplicity and he moved with everyone with brotherly affection. Death had suddenly engulfed such a kind-hearted person.&lt;ref name=":3" /&gt;
* '''Karunanidhi''' said that the service rendered by Somu “as the artery of the Dravidian movement" could not be forgotten. He added "[Somu] was the personification of love and compassion, a model of simplicity and he moved with everyone with brotherly affection. Death had suddenly engulfed such a kind-hearted person.<ref name=":3" />


=== Funeral ===
=== Funeral ===
Somu's body was taken to Tezpur for embalming. It was then taken to Madras and was [[Lying in state|laid in state]] at Somu's house in [[Purasawalkam]].&lt;ref name=":2" /&gt; The funeral was attended by Gujral, his wife [[Sheila Gujral]], Vajpayee, Mulayam Singh, [[G. K. Moopanar]], and Karunanidhi.&lt;ref name=":3" /&gt; The chiefs of the three uniformed services were present, along with other senior officers and "thousands" of people.&lt;ref name=":0" /&gt; The body was cremated at Brick Kiln Road cremation ground, following last rites by Somu's son Thirumaran, and the army's [[21-gun salute]] succeeded by [[Reverse arms|reversed arms]]. After that, Army [[Bugle|buglers]] sounded the [[Last Post]].&lt;ref name=":3" /&gt;
Somu's body was taken to Tezpur for embalming. It was then taken to Madras and was [[Lying in state|laid in state]] at Somu's house in [[Purasawalkam]].<ref name=":2" /> The funeral was attended by Gujral, his wife [[Sheila Gujral]], Vajpayee, Mulayam Singh, [[G. K. Moopanar]], and Karunanidhi.<ref name=":3" /> The chiefs of the three uniformed services were present, along with other senior officers and "thousands" of people.<ref name=":0" /> The body was cremated at Brick Kiln Road cremation ground, following last rites by Somu's son Thirumaran, and the army's [[21-gun salute]] succeeded by [[Reverse arms|reversed arms]]. After that, Army [[Bugle|buglers]] sounded the [[Last Post]].<ref name=":3" />


=== Aftermath ===
=== Aftermath ===
An obituary reference to Somu was made in the [[Lok Sabha]] on 19 November by Sangma.&lt;ref name=":1" /&gt;
An obituary reference to Somu was made in the [[Lok Sabha]] on 19 November by Sangma.<ref name=":1" />


== Family ==
== Family ==
He was survived by his wife Uma Devi,&lt;ref name=":3" /&gt; son Thirumaran, and a daughter [[Kanimozhi NVN Somu]] - both doctors.&lt;ref name=":2"&gt;{{cite news |title= Somu Killed In Copter Crash Over Arunachal |date=15 November 1997 |work=Business Standard |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/somu-killed-in-copter-crash-over-arunachal-197111501014_1.html |accessdate=2017-05-15}}&lt;/ref&gt; Kanimozhi NVN Somu is a DMK [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|MP in the Rajya Sabha]], [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu|representing Tamil Nadu]] since September 2021.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite news |work=The Hindu |title=Descendants shine in party of rising sun |first=B. |last=Kolappan |date=21 April 2016 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/descendants-shine-in-party-of-rising-sun/article8501998.ece |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421015034/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/descendants-shine-in-party-of-rising-sun/article8501998.ece |archivedate=2016-04-21}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=":3" /&gt;
He was survived by his wife Uma Devi,<ref name=":3" /> son Thirumaran, and a daughter [[Kanimozhi NVN Somu]] - both doctors.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |title= Somu Killed In Copter Crash Over Arunachal |date=15 November 1997 |work=Business Standard |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/somu-killed-in-copter-crash-over-arunachal-197111501014_1.html |accessdate=2017-05-15}}</ref> Kanimozhi NVN Somu is a DMK [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha|MP in the Rajya Sabha]], [[List of Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu|representing Tamil Nadu]] since September 2021.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Hindu |title=Descendants shine in party of rising sun |first=B. |last=Kolappan |date=21 April 2016 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/descendants-shine-in-party-of-rising-sun/article8501998.ece |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421015034/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/descendants-shine-in-party-of-rising-sun/article8501998.ece |archivedate=2016-04-21}}</ref><ref name=":3" />


== Notes ==
== Notes ==

Latest revision as of 10:32, 22 March 2026


N. V. N. Somu
28th Union Minister of State for Defence
In office
21 April 1997 – 14 November 1997
Prime MinisterInder Kumar Gujral
MinisterMulayam Singh Yadav
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byHarin Pathak (1999-2000)
In office
6 July 1996 – 21 April 1997
Prime MinisterH. D. Deve Gowda
MinisterMulayam Singh Yadav
Preceded byMallikarjun Goud
(September 1995-May 1996)
Succeeded byHimself
Member of the Indian Parliament
(Lok Sabha)
In office
10 May 1996 – 14 November 1997
Preceded byD. Pandian
Succeeded byC. Kuppusami
(1998-2009)
ConstituencyChennai North
In office
December 1984 – November 1989
Preceded byG. Lakshmanan
Succeeded byD. Pandian
ConstituencyChennai North
Member of
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
In office
19 June 1980 – 15 November 1984
Preceded byT. S. Nallathambi
Succeeded byK. Anbazhagan
ConstituencyPark Town
Deputy Mayor of Madras
In office
29 November 1971 – 1972
Preceded byTo be ascertained
Succeeded byTo be ascertained
Personal details
Born
Natarajan Somasundaram

(1937-05-11)11 May 1937
Gnayiru, Chingleput District, Madras Province, British India (now Tiruvallur district,
Tamil Nadu, India)
Died14 November 1997(1997-11-14) (aged 60)
Between Mago and Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Cause of deathHelicopter crash
Political party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
Spouse(s)Uma Devi
Children
Parent(s)
OccupationPolitician, journalist, lawyer, trade unionist

Natarajan Somasundaram (11 May 1937 – 14 November 1997),[1] popularly known as N. V. N. Somu, was a politician, journalist, lawyer, and trade unionist from Tamil Nadu, India. He was a veteran of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Somu served as a councillor in the Madras Corporation (1968-73), Deputy Mayor of Madras (1971-72) Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from Park Town (1980-84), and Member of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) from Chennai North (1984-89; 1996-97). In his second tenure as MP, he also served as Minister of State for Defence under two successive Prime Ministers - H. D. Deve Gowda and Inder Kumar Gujral. The later tenure was cut short by his death in a helicopter crash, when he was on an official tour of Arunachal Pradesh in November 1997.

Somu's daughter Kanimozhi NVN Somu is also a DMK MP, representing Tamil Nadu in the Rajya Sabha since 2021.

Early life[edit | edit source]

He was born to a Mudaliar family on 11 May 1937 in Gnayiru[2][3] (a suburb in present-day Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu) to Dravidian movement veterans Bhuvaneshwari and N. V. Natarajan[lower-alpha 1]. In late 1938, at 18 months, Somu accompanied his mother to Vellore Central Prison, owing to the latter's participation in the Anti-Hindi agitation launched by 'Periyar' E. V. Ramasamy, then leader of the Justice Party and the Self-Respect Movement[1]

Career[edit | edit source]

Somu joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)[lower-alpha 2] during his student days. After training as a lawyer, he began his career as a reporter in the Tamil-language newspaper Dina Thanthi.[1] During 1953-66, he was the sub-editor of Dravidan[4] a Tamil weekly published by his father.[5]

He also headed the DMK's legal wing for several years.[1]

At the Madras Corporation (1968-73)[edit | edit source]

In 1968, he was elected as a DMK councillor (Kondiyampathi Division) to the Madras Corporation. The next year (1969), owing to his trade unionist credentials, he became the President of The Hindu Office and National Press Employees' Union.[6]

On 29 November 1971, he defeated M. Bhaktavatsalam [of the Indian National Congress (O)] by 32 votes to become Deputy to Mayor Kamakshi Jayaraman.[lower-alpha 3] He remained in that position till 1972.[7]

Member of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (1980-84)[edit | edit source]

He was elected as Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Park Town constituency in 1980.

1980 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election: Park Town[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DMK N. V. N. Somu 38,095 55.94% 23.16%
GKC S. Lalchand Daga 23,197 34.06%
JP A. Arumugha Naicker 6,556 9.63%
Independent Nahar Manakchand 146 0.21%
Independent C. Jagajothi Alias Govindarajulu 104 0.15%
Margin of victory 14,898 21.88% 17.16%
Turnout 68,098 57.11% 9.58%
Registered electors 120,797
DMK hold Swing 23.16%

Member of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) (1984-89; 1996-97)[edit | edit source]

He was elected as a Member of the Indian Parliament (MP) from Chennai North Lok Sabha constituency twice - in 1984 and 1996.[9][10]

1984 Indian general election: Chennai North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DMK N. V. N. Somu 261,941 52.20% −5.13%
INC G. Lakshmanan 2,25,491 44.93%
Margin of victory 36,450 7.26% -11.89%
Turnout 5,01,827 51.33% −19.98%
Registered electors 9,91,099 34.08%
DMK hold Swing -5.13%
1996 Indian general election: Chennai North
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DMK N. V. N. Somu 559,048 66.11% 27.66%
INC D. Pandian 1,69,431 20.04% −34.58%
CPI(M) W. R. Varada Rajan 66,479 7.86%
BJP Mohan V. Bharathamatha 19,113 2.26% −0.10%
PMK G. Mahadevan 16,143 1.91%
Margin of victory 3,89,617 46.07% 29.91%
Turnout 8,45,640 55.85% 0.72%
Registered electors 15,53,112 14.31%
DMK gain from INC Swing 11.50%

Union Minister of State for Defence (1996-97)[edit | edit source]

Soon after being elected from the Chennai North constituency in 1996, Somu took oath as Union Minister of State (Defence) in the ministry under Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda on 6 July 1996. After Deve Gowda's resignation in April 1997, Somu was sworn in to the same portfolio in the succeeding ministry under Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral. In both these tenures, Somu was ministerial junior to Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Death[edit | edit source]

Background[edit | edit source]

On 13 November 1997, Somu toured Arunachal Pradesh's areas bordering China as part of a two-day official visit to the northeastern States. The next day (November 14), he was scheduled to address the Indian Army's senior officials, including the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GoC) of the IV Corps at Tezpur, Assam.[11] After that, he was intending to fly back to Chennai via Calcutta, West Bengal the same night. His subsequent plans included participation as chief guest in the National Library Week celebrations on 15 November, and to formally request Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi for a foreword for a proposed publication on N.V. Natarajan.[12]

The crash[edit | edit source]

On November 14 morning, after a telephone conversation with his wife,[12] Somu boarded a Cheetah helicopter stationed north of Mago village, Lungar Sector in Tawang district. He was accompanied by Major General Ramesh Chandra Nagpal (GoC of the Four Mountain Division).[11] The helicopter (driven by pilot majors PK Agarwal and PC Sharma) took off at around 9:00 am IST. Shortly afterwards, at 9:10 am, radio contact with the helicopter was lost. Around 9:20 am, the helicopter crashed at a nearby remote area at an altitude of more than 4000 metres,[11] killing all four occupants.[lower-alpha 4] Five army choppers, sent to rescue probable survivors, could only locate the wreckage with the bodies at 12:10 pm.[1] Official sources said the crash was apparently caused due to poor visibility caused by mist in the early hours.[11]

Condolences[edit | edit source]

  • President K. R. Narayanan praised Somu as "a diligent and conscientious member of the council of ministers and an able parliamentarian", adding that his demise removed "a personality of prominence and great promise to the country".[11]
  • Prime Minister I. K. Gujral, on hearing the news, cancelled his scheduled two-day visit to Bombay, where he was to commission the warship INS Delhi (D61).[1][lower-alpha 5] He called Karunanidhi to convey his condolences to Somu's family.[12] Praising Somu as "a warm and gentle person"[11] in his condolence message, Gujral added “His views were always constructive and were expressed in the larger interest of the country. I shall miss his wise counsel in the Council of Ministers.”[12]
  • Defence Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav described Somu as an honest and upright minister whose untimely death was an irreparable loss to the DMK and the United Front government.[11]
  • Lok Sabha Speaker P. A. Sangma said that he had lost "a valued friend and parliamentary colleague" and that the country "a young administrator of considerable promise".[11]
  • Atal Behari Vajpayee (former PM) said "the tragic death of NVN Somu is a loss for which we will all grieve".[11]
  • The central secretariat of the Communist Party of India (CPI) expressed its "deep shock and sorrow" at Somu's death.[11]
  • Karunanidhi said that the service rendered by Somu “as the artery of the Dravidian movement" could not be forgotten. He added "[Somu] was the personification of love and compassion, a model of simplicity and he moved with everyone with brotherly affection. Death had suddenly engulfed such a kind-hearted person.[12]

Funeral[edit | edit source]

Somu's body was taken to Tezpur for embalming. It was then taken to Madras and was laid in state at Somu's house in Purasawalkam.[11] The funeral was attended by Gujral, his wife Sheila Gujral, Vajpayee, Mulayam Singh, G. K. Moopanar, and Karunanidhi.[12] The chiefs of the three uniformed services were present, along with other senior officers and "thousands" of people.[1] The body was cremated at Brick Kiln Road cremation ground, following last rites by Somu's son Thirumaran, and the army's 21-gun salute succeeded by reversed arms. After that, Army buglers sounded the Last Post.[12]

Aftermath[edit | edit source]

An obituary reference to Somu was made in the Lok Sabha on 19 November by Sangma.[4]

Family[edit | edit source]

He was survived by his wife Uma Devi,[12] son Thirumaran, and a daughter Kanimozhi NVN Somu - both doctors.[11] Kanimozhi NVN Somu is a DMK MP in the Rajya Sabha, representing Tamil Nadu since September 2021.[13][12]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Natarajan initially supported the Indian National Congress (INC) before joining the Dravidian movement. He later served as the DMK's organisation secretary (1959-72), and Tamil Nadu's Minister of Labour and Backward Classes (1969-71) in the first Karunanidhi ministry.
  2. ↑ At this point, the party was led by C. N. Annadurai.
  3. ↑ Kamakshi Jayaraman herself was elected Mayor earlier on the same day.
  4. ↑ The report carried by Business Standard claims that "A fifth victim of the tragedy, that occurred a little after 9 am at a spot one-and-a-half km from Tawang in Lungar sector was yet to be identified". However, all other sources identify only four victims.
  5. ↑ The warship was commissioned as scheduled on 15 November.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Somu killed in helicopter crash". Rediff.com. 14 November 1997. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  2. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/DrKanimozhiSomu/posts/%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%B4%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%95%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A4-%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%95-%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B1%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%A8%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%88%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D-%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%8E%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81-%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%9F-%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%81%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%87%E0%AE%B1/1522232052669672/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ https://x.com/mukesh06DMK/status/1984440335381250094?s=20. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 LOK SABHA DEBATES (English Version): Sixth Session (ParT I) (Eleventh Lok Sabha) (PDF). LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT, NEW DELHI. 1997. p. 3.
  5. ↑ "இதழ் விவரங்கள் : திராவிடன்".
  6. ↑ "Today in Indian History - N. V. N. Somu, Union Minister of State for Defence and president of The Hindu Office and National Press Employees Union from 1969, died in Army Helicopter crash at Tezpur in Arunachal Pradesh". www.baltimoreindian.com. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "How a Brahmin woman was elected the Mayor of Madras on DMK ticket in 1971". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 December 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Election Commission of India. "Statistical Report on General Election 1980" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 October 2010. Retrieved 19 April 2009.
  9. ↑ Volume I, 1984 Indian general election, 8th Lok Sabha
  10. ↑ Volume I, 1996 Indian Lok Sabha election, 11th Lok Sabha
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 "Somu Killed In Copter Crash Over Arunachal". Business Standard. 15 November 1997. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 "When a Union Minister of State from Tamil Nadu died in a chopper crash in Arunachal Pradesh". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  13. ↑ Kolappan, B. (21 April 2016). "Descendants shine in party of rising sun". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016.

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