M. Karunanidhi

M. Karunanidhi was an Indian politician, writer, and five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who served as the head of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party for nearly five decades. A towering figure in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, he was a central architect of the Dravidian movement and a staunch advocate for Tamil language and Tamil culture. His career, spanning over seven decades, was marked by his powerful oratory, prolific literary output, and complex political rivalries, most notably with M. G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa.

Early life and entry into politics

Born in Thirukkuvalai in the Thanjavur district of the Madras Presidency, he was drawn to the Dravidian movement and the Self-Respect Movement led by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy from a young age. He joined the Dravidar Kazhagam and began his political activism by writing and performing in Tamil theatre to propagate social justice and anti-Brahminism ideals. His entry into electoral politics was facilitated by his mentor, C. N. Annadurai, the founder of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and he was first elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly in 1957 from the Kulithalai constituency.

Political career

A master strategist, he rose rapidly within the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, becoming a key lieutenant to C. N. Annadurai and serving as the Minister of Public Works in Annadurai's cabinet. Following Annadurai's death in 1969, he assumed leadership of the party and became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time in 1971. His political career was defined by his fierce opposition to the Indian National Congress at the national level and his advocacy for greater state autonomy, famously articulated in the 1974 Kanyakumari resolution demanding state sovereignty. He forged significant alliances with national parties like the Janata Party and later the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party to secure power in Tamil Nadu and influence at the Centre.

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu

Serving five non-consecutive terms between 1969 and 2011, his tenures were noted for several populist schemes and significant infrastructure projects. He implemented social welfare programs like the Kalaignar Health Insurance Scheme and oversaw the expansion of the Metro Water and Sewerage Board in Chennai. His governments were instrumental in renaming the state from Madras State to Tamil Nadu and in establishing numerous universities, including the Tamil University in Thanjavur. However, his administrations were also frequently embroiled in corruption allegations, such as the 2G spectrum case, and faced intense political battles with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by M. G. Ramachandran and later J. Jayalalithaa.

Literary and film career

A prolific writer in Tamil, he began his career as a screenwriter for the Tamil film industry, using cinema as a potent tool for Dravidian propaganda. He wrote dialogues and stories for numerous successful films, including Parasakthi, which launched the career of Sivaji Ganesan and became a landmark in political cinema. His literary output was vast, encompassing poetry, essays, historical novels, and biographies, often published through his own venture, Kalaignar Pathipagam. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his novel Sanga Thamizh and was a recipient of the Raja Rajan Award for his contributions to Tamil literature.

Personal life and legacy

He was married three times; his spouses were Padmavathy Ammal, Dayalu Ammal, and Rajathi Ammal. His family became a central force in Tamil Nadu politics, with his sons M. K. Stalin and M. K. Alagiri holding significant party positions and his daughter Kanimozhi serving as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. He passed away in Chennai in 2018 after a prolonged illness, leading to a state funeral attended by dignitaries including Ram Nath Kovind and Narendra Modi. His legacy is that of a formidable political patriarch who shaped modern Tamil Nadu, championed the Tamil language, and left an indelible mark on its cultural and political identity, with his son M. K. Stalin succeeding him as the leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and later as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Category:Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu Category:Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politicians Category:Tamil screenwriters