Thread by @zeneraalstuff

In 1974, Mr Swaminathan who had returned to Madras after decades away wrote a biography of then CM Mr Karunidhi. This biography used input from Mr Karunanidhi's nephew Maran. At the meeting that launched the DMK at Robinson Park, Royapuram, the book claimed that Anna rose to /1

the stage taking support on Karunanidhi's shoulders on one side and Nedunchezhiyan on the other. While there was no conclusive evidence that such a thing really happened, here is what Kannadasan, who travelled with him to the meeting had to say /2

The two of them were colleagues in Salem and went together to Madras. They stayed at a Nadar mansion near Central Station, hung around town for some time, attended the meeting and went back to Salem. All the while, the real action was happening in a house in /3

Coral Merchant Street, Mannady, where the leaders discussed how the new party was to take shape. The eventual decision and announcement of the party was made at Coral Merchant Street. Kannadasan's not mentioning Coral Merchant Street indicates that Karunanidhi /4

was not in the inner circle of decision makers at the time. This has parallels with Stalin era soviet movies which showed Stalin welcoming Lenin at Finland Station, Petrograd when he took over the Revolution and started the overthrow of Kerensky's Government. In truth /5

Stalin took over Pravda in March 1917 and suppressed Lenin's letters from abroad asking for overthrow of Kerensky. Only after Lenin prevailed at the April Party Conference did Stalin switch to Lenin's side. After that, Stalin published the letters. Given the confusion in /6

dates - Russia used a Julian calendar until 1918, the confusion was used by Stalin to rewrite history.
I will bust more such fanciful propaganda /END