When DMK flexed its muscle during Indira Gandhi’s visit to Tamil Nadu in 1977

Indira Gandhi upon her arrival at Madras airport on October 29, 1977 | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives October turned out to be a month of great significance for the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Her assassination at her residence in New Delhi on October 31, 1984, is well known. But, what is less known is the brutal attack on her in Madurai on October 29, 1977. The attack triggered violence elsewhere in Tamil Nadu that day and the following day.“Indira Gandhi’s October 29-30 visit became the first test of will between the two leaders [the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)’s president M. Karunanidhi and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) founder M.G. Ramachandran (MGR)],” according to diplomat-turned-political writer R. Kannan in his The DMK Years. Published - October 28, 2026 06:30 am IST