A Dravidian King!
"The final hours of the Dravidian King" is a photo essay on the former chief minister Kalainger Dr.M.Karunanidhi’s last journey from Kauvery Hospital towards his home and his funeral procession through the streets of Mount Road. it's about how people reacted when they heard the news that he is "no more"
The most symbolic picture from the entire essay. Fort St.George 1.9 Km. In his illustrious career spanning 55 years, he never lost a single election - probably the only time in the he wont be making the full distance to Fort.St.George.
My initial intention was to take a few shots of people anxiously waiting outside the hospital and to come back, it was more to shoot the eco-system that was rapidly happening outside the hospital than what I ended up shooting - because this was my first time I had covered anything of this magnitude.
Only a handful of rulers in the world have ever ruled a province for more than 50 years even during monarchy and to repeat such a feat in democratic country is a herculean task. This is one from a long list of achievements among many criticisms that was thrown at him during his highly highly illustrious career. Love him or hate him, Tamil Nadu politics revolved around him since early 70's. Kalainger Karunanidhi's contribution to the state, especially to the city of Madras was invaluable. The culturally rich state will surely his presence.
A Photo essay by Sujith.
Dated: Aug 7th 2018, Madras.