Date of Birth

3rd June 1924

Place

Thirukkuvalai (near Tiruvarur)

Parents

Father - Thiru Muthuvelar.
Mother - Thirumathi Anjugam Ammaiyar.

Marital Status

Married, Children 6 (Male: 4 and Female: 2)

Political Career

Fulltime Politician. Entered public life at the age of 14. Founder of the first student wing of the Dravidan Movement called "Tamil Nadu Tamil Manavar Mandram"

One of the founder members of the D.M.K. in 1949.

D.M.K. Treasurer-1961.

D.M.K. President 1969 onwards.

Represented State Assembly in-

Kulithalai .. 1957-62
Thanjavur .. 1962-67
Saidapet .. 1967-71
Saidapet .. 1971-76
Anna Nagar .. 1977-80
Anna Nagar .. 1980-83
Harbour .. 1989-91
Harbour .. 1991 (Resigned)
Chepauk .. 1996-2001
Chepauk .. 2001-2006

Member of Legislative Assembly Council - 1984-86

Member of Legislative Assembly / Council for more than 40 years.

Won in all contested Assembly Elections from 1957 to 2006.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition - 1962-67

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly - 1977-83

Cabinet Minister - Minister for Public works -1967-69.

Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu 1969-71, 1971-76, 1989-91 and 1996-2001.

Imprisoned on a number of occasions for political activities, especially for Anti-Hindi Agitation; Change of name of railway station; against price raise; for the sake of Sri Lankan Tamils, etc.

Resigned his post of member of Legislative Assembly during 1983 for the sake of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Award and titles conferred

Annamalai University conferred on him the title of "Doctorate" in 1971.

The Council of Doctor of Philosophy made him 'Tamizh vel"

Awarded " Raja Rajan Award" by Tamil University, Thanjavur for his book "Thenpandi Singam".

Foreign Travels

European Countries, Britain, France, West Germany, Rome during 1970. U.S.A. during 1971. Malaysia during 1987; Special address delivered on the inaugural day of 3rd World Tamil Conference held in Paris in the year 1970 and on the inaugural day of 6th World Tamil Conference held in Kualalampur (Malaysia) in the year 1987

Hobby

Reading, Writing and Discussion.

Publications

Books Written: 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.

Stage Plays Written

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

Screen Plays Written

Rajakumari, Abhimanyu, Mandiri Kumari, Marutha Naattu Ilavarasi, Manamagan, Devaki, Parasakthi, Panam, Thirumbipaar, Naam, Manohara, Ammaiappan, Malai Kallan, Rangoon Radha, RajaRani, 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 and many more numbering more than Seventy.

Public and Social activities

Beggars Rehabilitation Home, Free Eye Camps, Supply of free rice on important days, Free supply of spectacles, Abolition of hand rickshaws, Slum Clearance Board, Family Benefit Scheme, Legislation for equal property rights for women, Marriage grant of Rs.10,000/- for poor girls, Incentive for Intercaste Marriages and Widows Re-marriages, Maternity Relief for women in poor households, Free Education for poor girls upto graduate level, Adi-Dravidar Free Housing Schemes. Formation of separate departments for Welfare of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes, Special reservation of twenty percentage for the Most backward Classes, Setting up of the State Planning Commission, etc.

Architect of

Thillaiadi Valliammai Nagar, Kattabomman Kottai, Poompuhar KalaiKoodam, Valluvar Kottam and Anna Arivalayam.

Other information

Great Orator, Administrator, Play-Writer, Editor, Publisher, Author, Parliamentarian, Great poet and Great Statesman;

Served as Editor for "Kudiyarasu".

Gave life to journal - ' Mutharam'.

Founder-Editor, Publisher of " Murasoli" during his boyhood as a monthly, then a weekly, then a daily which is now the main newspaper to echo his voice, ideas, ideals etc.

Founder of State Governments News Reel, Arasu Studio. Founder of the Government Journal "Tamil Arasu " published in Tamil and English.

Affectionately called by all as, 'Kalaignar'.