Oh no, the statue of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) founder, M. G. Ramachandran at Thothukudi has been damaged. AND before you all go running for you atlases, Thothukudi is a city and a Municipal corporation in Thoothukudi district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu (whew). The broken statue was discovered by locals who immediately notified the authorities who blocked the road after tensions rose following the discovery. Why such tensions? Well M.G.Ramachandran was a famous actor and politician (ala Ronald Reagan) who after his successful acting/directing career became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist and prominent member of the DMK (Dravidian Progressive Federation). That was until he got shot in the neck by a fellow actor M.R. Radha. The bullet remained permanently lodged in his neck causing vocal damage. He later formed the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party after a disagreement with DMK. The AIADMK then become their strongest opponent. When Ramachandran died in 1984 of kidney failure it started a full on riot in Tamil Nadu. Mass hysteria led to looting and rioting with some 100 people attempting suicide by fire (ouch!) and that was prior to his funeral. The funeral left 29 people dead and 47 police badly injured. It was reported over a million people followed his remains and 30 committed suicide. In some parts of Tamil Nadu he is still revered as a god.
So you can kinda guess the dude that did this is in really, really, big trouble. The locals are demanding the immediate arrest of the culprit and I am guessing the Thoothukudites won’t be giving him/she/them a slap on the wrist and some community service. From all reports there are two pieces broken off the statue.
Addition Info : It was alleged that in July, 2008, DMK workers and anti-social elements had vandalised the statues of late DMK founder Annadurai and AIADMK leader late M G Ramachandran at Karaikudi.
