Tamil Nadu: Former DMK minister Rahman Khan succumbs to Covid-19

CHENNAI: Former DMK minister and five-time MLA A Rahman Khan passed away on Thursday morning in a private hospital in Chennai, where he was undergoing treatment after testing positive for Covid-19. He was 77.
DMK president M K Stalin, while expressing his condolences, recalled Rahman Khan’s contribution towards strengthening the party and safeguarding the interests of minorities.
Known as a firebrand speaker, he had served as the minister for labour and revenue for one term when M Karunanidhi was the chief minister.DMK has announced three-day mourning as a mark of respect to the leader and party flags will fly at half-mast.
Elected to the state assembly first from Chepauk assembly segment in 1977, when the AIADMK under MGR captured power in the state, Rahman Khan later won in 1980, 1984, 1989 and 1996 assembly elections. He represented Park Town and Ramanathapuram assembly segments in his last two terms as elected member.
Rahman Khan, whose family had settled in Cumbum in Theni district, did his graduation from American College, Madurai, when anti-Hindi agitation took place. He joined Chennai Law College in 1967 and became close to S Durai Murugan, now the treasurer of the DMK.
“He loved wordplay and used wide vocabulary. Since I was already close to Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi), I used to challenge him saying Kalaignar was the best. The evenings at our hostel in Kellys used to be spent on such debates. Then one day I took him to meet Kalaignar,” recalled Durai Murugan, about his long association with Rahman Khan.
Kalaignar had a long chat and inquired about people whom he knew in Cumbum, after getting to know Rahman Khan’s origin. Later, Kalaignar ordered tea and everyone also chewed beetle leaves in the end. “When we came out, Rahman Khan was very impressed with Kalaignar. I teased him for having fallen for a tea and two beetle leaves,” Durai Murugan told TOI.
More than being a speaker, Rahman Khan was a keen writer. The first time his article appeared in Murasoli, he did not even sleep that night. “When the AIADMK came to power in 1977, MGR tried his best to get him to his party. But Rahman Khan refused, saying – he was no one and it was Kalaignar who gave him the address and will remain in the DMK till his end,” Durai Murugan said.
Last year, he evinced interest to get elected to Rajya Sabha and conveyed it to party president M K Stalin, who said the latest nominations were to fulfill promises and that he will consider him the next time.