M. Karunanidhi

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Coordinates: 13.04841° N 80.25643° E

M.Karunanidhi

Born	June 3, 1924 Thirukkuvalai, Tamil Nadu
Residence	Chennai
Office	Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Constituency	Chepauk
Political party	DMK
Spouse	Mrs. Padmavathy, Mrs. Dayalu Ammal and Mrs. Rajathiammal[1][2]
Children	Four sons and two daughters
As of May 31, 2006 Source: Government of Tamil Nadu

M. Karunanidhi (Tamil: மு.கருணாநிதி) or Karunanidhi Muthuvel generally referred to as M.K (Tamil: மு.க) and Dr. Kalaignar (கலைஞர்), is the present Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is one of the founder members and the president of the DMK^[3] political party in the state of Tamil Nadu DMK from the death of C.N. Annadurai in 1969 till date.^[4] He has been the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu five times (1969-71, 1971-74, 1989-91, 1996-2001 and 2006-date). He holds the record of winning every election that he fought in his political career spanning over 60 years.^[5] He led the UPA in Tamil Nadu to win all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha Elections.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Politics 2.1 Justice Party and Dravidar Kazhagam 2.2 Pro Tamil Agitations 2.3 Rise to Power 2.3.1 MLA 2.3.2 Posts in Legislature 2.3.3 Chief Minister 2.4 Industrialization of Tamilnadu 2.4.1 Social justice and Related ideology and Policy, and Its Likely impact 3 Public work 3.1 Industrialization of Tamilnadu 3.2 Sethu samudram project 3.3 Upliftment of Scheduled Castes and Backward Castes 3.4 Samathuvapuram 3.5 Farmer Market 3.6 Nationalisation/Privatisation of bus services 3.7 Architecture 4 Literature 4.1 Books 4.2 Stageplays 4.3 Screenplays 4.4 Editor and Publisher 4.5 World Tamil Conference 5 Awards and Titles 6 Controversies 6.1 Nepotism 6.2 Casteist Remarks 7 Personal life 8 Photo Gallery 9 References

[edit] Early life

He was born to Thiru Muthuvelar and Thirumathi Anjugam Ammaiyar on June 3, 1924 at Thirukkuvalai in the Tanjore District, (now Tiruvarur) Tamil Nadu, India.

[edit] Politics

He took over as the Chief Minister on 13 May 2006 after his coalition defeated his main opponent J. Jayalalithaa in the May 2006 elections.^[6] He currently represents the constituency of Chepauk in Central Chennai in the Tamil Nadu state Legislative Assembly. He has been elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for 11 times and once to the now abolished Tamil Nadu Legislative Council.^[7]

Karunanidhi began his career as a scriptwriter in the Tamil film industry.^[8] He is known for his wit and oratorical skills, qualities which helped his rapid rise as a popular politician. He was famous for writing historical and social (reformist) stories which propagated the socialist and rationalist ideals of the Dravidian movement to which he belonged.^[9] He is being widely complemented for his administrative skills though he does not enjoy any big academic back up.

Karunanidhi entered politics at the age of 14 inspired listening to a speech by Alagiriswami of the Justice Party by whom he was greatly influenced in 1932 and participated in Anti-Hindi agitations. He founded an organisation for the local youth of his locality. He circulated a hand written newspaper called Manavar Nesan to its members. Later he founded a student organisation called Tamil Nadu Tamil Manavar Manram which was the first student wing of the Dravidan Movement. Karunanidhi involved himself and the student community in social work with other members he would visit the nearby hutments to do all that was possible within his limit. Here he started a newspaper for its members which grew into Murasoli newspaper which is the DMK party's official newspaper.

[edit] Justice Party and Dravidar Kazhagam

The Justice Party was transformed into Dravida Kazhagam by Periyar in 1946.Karunanidhi designed the party flag along with Periyar. A black flag with a red circle was decided tentatively. It is said that Karunanidhi drew the red circle with his blood as a beginning for all the blood he shed for the honour of the party and the Tamils. The Dravidar Kazhagam flag, in the ratio of 3:2, a red circle in the middle in the black background, was adopted in 1946. The black represented the deprivations and the indignities to which the Backward classes are subjected to under the Hindu caste system, the red the aspirations of the people.

[edit] Pro Tamil Agitations

Karunanidhi was instrumental in the Kallakudi struggle to rename Dalmiapuram railway Station named after the Dalmias who had pioneered setting up of the cement industry exploiting the rich limestone resources in some areas of Tamilnadu, but the agitation, ignoring as it did this reasonable fact of history, was truly a show of rabid anti-North aversion that had been whipped up by Mr Annadurai rather than of pro-Tamil sentiments in any positively meaningful terms. Karunanidhi was entrusted with the task of organizing the struggle. The cadres were divided into three batches, and Karunanidhi lead the batch which lay down on the railway station, blocking the train. They were promptly arrested, the second group also met the same fate. When the third group lead by Kannadasan took its turn chaos broke, the police resorted to firing leading to the death of two. Karunanidhi was lodged in Thiruchirapalli Central Jail.

Even in jail he set up a shadow government, and allocated responsibilities to everyone of his cadres. During his periods in jail (he was incarcerated more than seven times between 1953 and 1965), Karunanidhi read and wrote extensively in prison.

[edit] Rise to Power

Karunanidhi was first elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly in 1957. He became the DMK Treasurer in 1961 and deputy leader of opposition in 1962 and when the DMK came to power in 1967, he became the Minister for Public works. Annadurai died in 1969. Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister. He has held various positions in Tamil Political Scenario

[edit] MLA

• 1957:Elected from Kulithalai
• 1962:Elected from Thanjavur
• 1967:Elected from Saidapet
• 1971:Reelected from Saidapet
• 1977:Elected from Anna Nagar
• 1980:Reelected from Anna Nagar
• 1989:Elected from Harbour
• 1991:Reelected from Harbour
• 1996:Elected from Chepauk
• 2001:Reelected from Chepauk
• 2006:Reelected from Chepauk

[edit] Posts in Legislature

• 1962-1967:Deputy Leader of the Opposition
• 1967-1969:Cabinet Minister for Public Works
• 1977-1980:Leader of the Opposition
• 1980-1983: Leader of the Opposition
• 1984:Elected to Legislative Council

[edit] Chief Minister

• 1969-1971:Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
• 1971-1976:Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
• 1989-1991:Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
• 1996-2001:Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
• 2006:is currently the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

He was arrested during midnight on June 2001.Karunanidhi midnight arrest created sensation in Tamilnadu with lot of allegations and counter allegations between ADMK & DMK. In scuffle which followed central ministers T.R.Balu and Murasoli maran were arrested by Tamilnadu police. This was the first instance of central ministers getting arrested in Independent India. Tamilnadu police alleged that central ministers were trying to prevent them from doing their duty. DMK alleged that police attacked Karunanidhi and central ministers brutally. Sun TV broadcast TV clippings in which Karunanidhi's voice was heard screaming during arrest. Jaya TV countered the broadcast with a clipping of its own featuring Karunanidhi being escorted out in a dignified manner and his nephew Murasoli Maran seemingly slapping police officials.

[edit] Industrialization of Tamilnadu

Karunanidhi Government has built Tidel software park during earlier regime. He meets industrialists regularly to bring industries to Tamilnadu.[1].Infosys, Nokia, Motorola and many software and hardware companies committed investments in and around chennai. Central government announced 1400 crores Automobile testing centre near Oragadam, Chennai.The New Tractor Manufacturing was also started in Oragadam.The Tractor company was started by Mahindra and Nissan was started.

These actions of Karunanidhi and his party will represent a healthy break from the past in which his (and no less, his rival Jayalalithaa's) parties apparently wasted precious governance time spanning as many as four decades, ever since they dethroned from power the National Congress which had no doubt succeeded in implementing several beneficial schemes in agriculture and industry as well as urban infrastructure especially in Madras (now chennai). On the minus side, MK in particular, and the Dravidian parties under the leadership of Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa, fiercely fighting to capture power alternatingly in Tamilnadu, had evinced, in the process, little positive interest in canvassing the support of the governments at the Centre to think up policies and measures to generate employment and alleviate the sufferings due to growing unemployment among the Tamil youth who more often than not would not venture outside the State either, in those days. As the neighbouring Southern States of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka (but not the industrially stagnant, though statistically the most literate, Communist state of Kerala) vied for attracting investments from the rest of India and internatationally, especially for the recently booming IT (Information Technology) - based industries, the past two Dravidian governments, realising this social folly, have finally woken up to the wisdom of (sometimes pro-actively) attracting and encouraging investments mainly in these IT and IT-related swervice segments, and as a matter of fact, there are always a large number of highly educated and capable people among the Tamilian youth tho have been mostly migrating to outside Tamilnadu (and India on contractual basis) for jobs. Karunanidhi with the understanding and support of his grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran who, along with a few Dravidian parties' members who are minister of the Indian central government, would like to use the opportunity of his present government tenure to 'bring' several industrial and infrastructural projects, as in a sort of atonement for protracted past failures. The process may be impeded to the extent that Karunanidhi and his lieutenants equate the favourite theme of social justice - MK calls it he was inspired by Periyar E.Vay.Ramaswamy who had been his early mentor on sociological notions such as racialism and casteist domination in Tamilnadu - to the placating of OBCs. (Other Backward Castes) to the exclusion of merit as the major criterion for employment and education.

[edit] Social justice and Related ideology and Policy, and Its Likely impact

MK's and his rival and allying party leaders' politics, have as their cornerstone, the allocation of a high percentage of 69 per cent of university/college admissions on a casteist quota basis favouring the OBCs. (Since recently, there is a statutory provision on an all-India basis of the quota percentage for OBCs. in higher educational insittuions , which a number of PILs.(Public Interest Litigations) have challenged the basis of 'affirmative action' through a 27 per cent allocation for OBCs. in admissions in higher educational institutions. The Supreme Court has ruled that the total percentage in favour of all 'quotas' shall not exceed 50 per cent, thus ensuring equal halves for the general/merit and reservation admissions). They, joined by the Opposition which does not want to appear against the majority OBCs., argue that this measure would undo the social injustice meted out, as an integral religious tenet, to a large number of "suppressed and backward" castes in education and social hierarchy through occupations. { Due to the high decibel pro-OBCs. propaganda, mainly from Tamilnadu, aimed at neatly retaining sizeable vote-banks, two facts are forgotten: a) Castes are NOT sanctioned in the original Vedas which describe only four broad Varnas - in which occupations are chosen according to temperament, inborn and acquired capability, and mental makeup, and inter-Varna switches are always possible through the necessary self-discipline for individuals aspiring for self-uplift (the Bhagavad-gita unequaivocally declares: Atmanam atmana uddharet, meaning, the individual has its within the power of his own self to elevate himself (as he conceives elevation). Csstes and tribes are actually historically persisting metamorphosed forms of tribes of India in common with those of Africa and elsewhere across the world. b) The underlying assumption of this social justice ideology is that the historical injustices through institutionalized discrimination on casteist basis are a result of Brahminical conspiracy. (The truth is that one of means of elevation, other than self-discipline, is for a man of a higher Varna to marry a woman of a lower one, this rule being aimed at the pre-eminent sanctity given to women in the Society and also as a counter-permissive measures for society's welfare and progressive evolution.)} The references and citations, if they were to be mentioned for thesse statements, are legion, and some of them naturally belong to the opposite side of debate.

The above digression to OBCs. and casteism, it is worth pointing out, has been done, so as to help an objective reader who wants to understand MK's present social justice ideology and measures, in the right perspective. For this (the ideology followed) no doubt will have an impact on the question of merit (equated as it is generally done everywhere) to excellence academic education and training versus the need for providing fuller employment by various legitimate means, going in tandem with that for generating jobs in the various avenues in the agricultural and industrial economies of India in general, and Tamilnadu in particular. MK's policy of social justice favouring "quotas" for OBCs., arguably, can deter much noded heavy doses of future investments in infrastructure and economic sectors, since one major attraction to investors is non-interference of the state in the matter of hiring and firing management and workers based on normally accepted criteria of merit. The latest turn of events in which a state-wide 'bandh' (absolute and total stoppage of all economic organizations except certain essential service segments like hospitals ) for a day by the ruling DMK and its allies, in response to MK's call to protest the Supreme Court's stay on reservation of 27 percent for OBCs. in admissions to higher educational instituions as lacking in a systematic basis for the figure, is a pointer to the persisting ideological thinking on social justice.

[edit] Public work

[edit] Industrialization of Tamilnadu

Karunanidhi Government has built Tidel software park during earlier regime. He meets industrialists regularly to bring industries to Tamilnadu.[2].Infosys, Nokia, Motorola and many software and hardware companies committed investments in and around chennai. Central government announced 1400 crores Automobile testing centre near Oragadam, Chennai.The New Tractor Manufacturing was also started in Oragadam.The Tractor company was started by Mahindra and Nissan was started.

[edit] Sethu samudram project

He played major part in bringing Sethu samudram project. This project, when implemented, should make the Thoothukudi port busier. Ships can travel through Indian coast instead of travelling through Sri Lankan coast.

[edit] Upliftment of Scheduled Castes and Backward Castes

He has been instrumental is promoting Intercaste Marriages.^[10] His son Azhagiri is married to a dalit. His family members are married in various castes. His party increased reservation percentages for backward castes.

[edit] Samathuvapuram

While people from various communities live and work along with each other in cities, the situation in villages is different where scheduled castes live in outskirts in separate area. Karunanidhi in 1996 brought out an innovative scheme called Samathuvapuram, where a colony of government houses were built along with Health Subcentres, library, playground etc in villages and houses were alloted to people from all communities to foster communal harmony^[11] These houses were alloted to people from all castes and religions. Each samathuvapuram has 40 Adi Dravidar families, 25 most backward class families, 25 backward class families and 10 families from other communities.^[12]

[edit] Farmer Market

He also initiated the Farmer Market (Uzhavar Chanthai) scheme. A Market with adequate infrastructures was established in cities and small towns and farmers were allowed to directly sell the vegetables to the common man without any middlemen thus ensuring adequate gain to both the seller and buyer and availability of fresh vegetables. Free bus passes were given to the farmers.

[edit] Nationalisation/Privatisation of bus services

Karunanidhi government has nationalised road transport services in 1970s. During its 1996-2001 rule it has partially privatised bus services and allowed private operators to run mini buses to connect Tamilnadu villages.

[edit] Architecture

He initiated the construction of Thillaiadi Valliammai Nagar, Kattabomman Kottai, Poompuhar KalaiKoodam, Valluvar Kottam, Thiruvalluvar Statue and Anna Arivalayam.

[edit] Literature

Karunanidhi is known for his knowledge in and contribution for Tamil literature. His contributions cover a wide area like poem, letters, screenplays, novels, biographies, historic novels, stageplays, dialogues, songs etc. He has skillfully crafted 'Kuraloviam' for Thirukural, Tholkaappiya Poonga, Poombukar as well as many poems, essays and books.

[edit] Books

Romapuri Pandian, Thenpandi Singam, Vellikizhamai, Nenjukku Needhi, Eniyavai Erubathu, Sanga Thamizh, Kuraloviam, Ponnar Sankar, Thirukkural Urai and many books in prose and poetry numbering more than 100.

[edit] Stageplays

Manimagudam, Ore Ratham, Palaniappan, Thooku Medai, Kagithapoo, Naane Arivali, Vellikizhamai, Udhayasooriyan, Silapathikarum, etc.

[edit] Screenplays

At the age of 20, Karunanidhi went to work for Jupiter Pictures as a script writer. His first film 'Rajakumari', gained him much popularity. It was here that his skills as a script writer were honed. He wrote more than 70 screenplays including Rajakumari, Abhimanyu, Mandiri Kumari, Marutha Naattu Ilavarasi, Manamagan, Devaki, Parasakthi, Panam, Thirumbipaar, Naam, Manohara, Ammaiappan, Malai Kallan, Rangoon Radha, Raja Rani, Puthaiyal, Pudhumai Pithan, Ellorum Innattu Mannar, Kuravanchi, Thayillapillai, Kanchi Thalaivan, Poompuhar, Poomalai, Mani Makudam, Marakka Mudiyuma?, Avan Pithana?, Pookkari, Needhikku Thandanai, Paalaivana Rojakkal, Pasa Paravaikal, Padadha Theneekkal, Niyaya Tharasu, Pasakiligal, Paasaparavaigal

[edit] Editor and Publisher

He started Murasoli on 10.8.1942. He was the Founder-Editor, Publisher of " Murasoli" during his boyhood as a monthly, then a weekly, and now a daily. He used his talents as a journalist and cartoonist to bring issues relevant to his political ideology before the public. He writes daily letters addressed to his party workers by name; he has been writing these for over 50 years. In addition he has served as Editor for "Kudiyarasu" and gave life to journal - ' Mutharam'. He is the founder of State Governments News Reel, Arasu Studio and also the Government Journal "Tamil Arasu " published in Tamil and English.

[edit] World Tamil Conference

He has delivered the Special address on the inaugural day of 3rd World Tamil Conference held in Paris in the year 1970 and also on the inaugural day of 6th World Tamil Conference held in Kualalampur (Malaysia) in the year 1987

[edit] Awards and Titles

• Annamalai University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1971.
• He was awarded "Raja Rajan Award" by Tamil University, Thanjavur for his book "Thenpandi Singam".
• On 15 December 2006, His Excellency, the Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University, Thiru Surjit Singh Barnala conferred an honorary doctorate on the Chief Minister on the occasion of the 40th annual convocation^[13]

[edit] Controversies

His party was indicted by the Sarkaria commission for corruption in allotting tenders for the Veeranam project.^[14]

The Interim report of Justice Jain commission which oversaw the investigation into Rajiv Gandhi's assassination indicted Karunanidhi for abetting the LTTE.^[15] The interim report, recommended that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the DMK party be held responsible for abetting Rajiv Gandhi's murderers. The final report contained no such allegations [3].

[edit] Nepotism

Jayalalitha in Tamilnadu Assembly alleged that Karunanidhi met State Governor S.S. Barnala with in 30 minutes of bringing legislation to nationalize Cable TV business in which his family has political stakes.[4] Karunanidhi refuted allegations stating that he met Governor for courtesy purposes. Governor Barnala did not give assent to Cable TV bill and bill was scrapped after Karunanidhi came back to power.

His nephew, the late Murasoli Maran, occupied was a DMK Union Minister, with the Commerce portfolio. When the V.P. Singh Government offered 1 cabinet minister post to the DMK, it was given to Murasoli Maran.

His son, M.K. Stalin, is the local administration minister in state government. He was formerly mayor of Chennai Corporation and is the deputy general Secretary of the party.

Murasoli Maran's son Kalanithi Maran runs Sun Network, India's second largest television network and according to Forbes he is among India's Richest 20 with $1.9 Billion.[5]

Another son of Maran's, Dayanidhi Maran is a current Union Minister, holding the Communications portfolio. Columnist T.V.Shenoy noted that he has been pushed up in the ladder bypassing other senior leaders and offered portfolio in which his family has business stakes.[6]

[edit] Casteist Remarks

He claimed his Government as "of non upper castes for non upper castes by non upper castes" in Tamil poem written by him on 2 July 2006 in Tamil daily Dinakaran.[7]

His political rival Vaiko in an interview attacked him for disrespectful comments about the Brahmin community[8]. He also said that chief minister instead of representing all communities is trying to create divisions in society.

[edit] Personal life

He is known to be a vegetarian.[9]. He also claims that the secret of his energy and success lies in yoga and daily practice keeps him young.[10]. Karunanidhi has married at least three times. He currently practices bigamy with two wives Rajathiammal and Dayalu ammal. [11]

[edit] Photo Gallery

Karunanidhi with Annadurai, Dilip Kumar, MGR, Dilip Kumar, EVK Sampath at the inaguration of the N.S.Krishnan's statue in GN Chetty Road	Karunanidhi with Annadurai & MGR - Three Chief Ministers	Karunanidhi with MGR and Governor Patwari	MGR having food with Karunanidhi and Nedungezian
M. G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi(autographed by Karunanidhi)	Karunanidhi with M.G.Ramachandran (Annadurai's potrait in the background)	M. G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi with a Ma.Po.Si.	MGR with Karunanidhi when the latter took over as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time after the death of Annadurai

[edit] References

Preceded by C. N. Annadurai	Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu First Term 1969-1976	Succeeded by M. G. Ramachandran
Preceded by Janaki Ramachandran	Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Second Tenure 1989-1991	Succeeded by J. Jayalalithaa
Preceded by J. Jayalalithaa	Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Third Tenure 1996-2001	Succeeded by J. Jayalalithaa
Preceded by J. Jayalalithaa	Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Fourth Tenure 2006-	Succeeded by incumbent