Published : Sep 06, 2025 17:04 IST - 4 MINS READConjeevaram Natarajan (C.N.) Later, in January 1969, Anna, as he was called, played a key role in the renaming of the State as Tamil Nadu. But, still in harness and aged barely 60, he died on February 3, 1969, a week after being admitted to the Adyar Cancer Institute. “Arignar” (scholar) Anna’s death was followed by heart-rending scenes of mourning and an outpouring of grief on a scale not witnessed before in the State. Dashrath, then a senior faculty member of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, was to oversee and execute the project.