It is hard to summarise the rich, varied career of M Karunanidhi, a five-time Tamil Nadu chief minister and 49-year president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, who died on Tuesday. When Karunandhi was born in 1924, the Gateway of India – welcoming British monarchs to the colonised nation – had yet to be inaugurated. Now, 94 years later, India has changed tremendously, and Karunanidhi has played a part in how the country has evolved: First as a scintillating writer and screenwriter and then as a firebrand politician and chief minister.

This diamond jubilee year publication by the Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam, released in 1999, offers glimpses of the fascinating leader over his time in Indian politics, from illustrations of the earliest anti-Hindi agitations to meeting the United Kingdom’s Queen Elizabeth.

DMK President M Karunanidhi (second from left) with former Prime Minister VP Singh (second from right) after the implementation of the Mandal Commission recommendations.

Karunanidhi (left) and MG Ramachandran (right), a friend of Karunanidhi’s who would later become his chief political rival, with former Orissa Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.

Karunanidhi and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during an election campaign.

MG Ramachandran checking on his friend Karunanidhi after the latter was assaulted by Congress cadres during a public meeting.

CN Annadurai, (second from left) the founder of the DMK with his protege, Karunanidhi and Periyar EV Ramaswamy (right), the founder of the Dravid Kazhagam, the organisation out of which the DMK grew.

Karunanidhi with his mother Anjugam.

A depiction of Karunanidhi leading a anti-Hindi protest against Union Minister and Congress leader C Rajagopalachari in 1951.

Depiction of Periyar and Karunanidhi blacking out Hindi signs during an anti-Hindi protest in Tiruchirapalli.

Queen Elizabeth II (left) meeting Karunanidhi.