Chennai: MDMK general secretary Vaiko has appealed to party members and well-wishers not to celebrate his birthday, saying he wishes to remain quiet and out of public view on that day.
In a statement, Vaiko said he was born on September 22, 1944, but his SSLC certificate records his date of birth as May 22. Because of this, he noted, some people greet him on May 22.
Recalling an incident from 2002, Vaiko said then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called to wish him, and he clarified that it was not his actual birthday. He said Vajpayee responded that with 365 days in a year, one of them would be his birthday and that his wishes would reach him on that day.
Vaiko said MDMK cadres have been celebrating his birthday on September 22 in several places, sometimes without his knowledge. He added that arrangements had been made this year in Chennai’s Egmore, including booking a hall and preparing a “Vaiko 83” badge.
Stating that such preparations weighed on his mind, Vaiko said he does not want any birthday function. He said that as long as he lives, party workers should not hold celebrations on September 22, and requested that no one attempt to meet him on his birthday as he intends to spend the day quietly in an undisclosed place.
