‘Kodi Thatha’ - Great Gandhian from Coimbatore
Not a single Independence Day or Republic Day passes by in Coimbatore without Kodi Thatha’s flags. This year too, he did not break the tradition. On the eve of Republic Day, his paper-flags reached offices promptly.V.N. Jagannathan, fondly called ‘Kodi Thatha,’ has been continuing this patriotic gesture for over 60 years now. The 89-year-old former school teacher has so far distributed over 30 lakh flags. (25,000 on Independence Days and 25,000 on Republic Days).A week before the days of national importance, he personally visits as many offices as he can. Last year, however, he could not do his usual rounds owing to ill health. But, that did not deter him from sending the flags to offices.A follower of Gandhian principles, he keeps the spirit of patriotism alive by distributing the Tricolour. He has accompanied Mahatma Gandhi in the Palani Patha Yathra in 1946, after which, he was drawn to the Gandhian way of thought.The District Collector honours the octogenarian on every Independence Day and Republic Day.
