Chennai :
AIADMK organising secretary EVK Sulochana Sampath, mother of TNCC chief EVKS Elangovan, died on Saturday morning. She was 86. She is survived by four sons, EVKS Elangovan, EVKS Gowthaman, Iniyan Sampath and Mathivanan, and a daughter, Anbezhil. Another daughter had died earlier. She was under treatment for age-related ailments for the past few months.
“She was discharged from hospital yesterday after undergoing treatment for 10 days. She breathed her last on Saturday morning around 6.30am,” one of the relatives of Sampath said. She was living alone in her Vepery residence.
Her husband EVK Sampath was one of the senior leaders of Dravidian movement and a close associate of DMK founder C N Annadurai.
He left DMK and formed Tamil National Party and later merged it with Tamil Nadu Congress. He was a nephew of rationalist leader E V Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar. Sulochana Sampath was awarded Periyar award by the Tamil Nadu government last year.
She joined AIADMK after her husband Sampath’s death in 1977. “She had been maintaining a good rapport with Amma (Jayalalithaa). Even when EVKS Elangovan criticized Amma, his mother Sulochana used to issue counter statements. Amma treated her like an elder sister,” a senior AIADMK leader recalled.
Chief minister J Jayalalithaa visited Sulochana’s residence and offered condolences to the family members. Elangovan was among those who received her.
“Her death is a huge loss for me and AIADMK to which she dedicated herself fully. She worked for women’s equal rights,” Jayalalithaa said in her condolence message. She has held various positions in AIADMK including that of women’s wing secretary. Also, she had held several positions in state-run bodies like Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation.
In his condolence message to Elangovan, Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah said she had dedicated herself to the cause of the poor and upliftment of women. “I convey my sincere condolences to you and to the bereaved members of the family,” he said.
In a release, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) expressed grief and said Congress president Sonia Gandhi, vice-president Rahul Gandhi and senior leader Mukul Wasnik have conveyed their condolences.
DMK treasurer M K Stalin also paid homage. DMK chief M Karunanidhi, MDMK general secretary Vaiko and PMK chief Ramadoss were among others who condoled the death of the veteran AIADMK leader. Her family members said the final rites would take place on Sunday morning.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / June 07th, 2015