MUTHUVEL KARUNANITHI

Muthuvel Karunanidhi, popularly known as M. Karunanidhi, was a prominent Indian politician and the leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party. He was born on June 3, 1924, in Thirukuvalai, a small village in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India.

Karunanidhi began his political career as a member of the Justice Party, which later evolved into the DMK. He played a pivotal role in the growth and expansion of the DMK party and went on to serve as its president for several decades.

Karunanidhi was a charismatic and influential leader who championed the cause of the Tamil people and fought for their rights. He was a proponent of the Dravidian movement, which sought to promote the interests of the Tamil people and their culture. He also played a key role in the social and economic development of Tamil Nadu, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare.

During his long and illustrious career, Karunanidhi served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu five times, making him one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers in the history of India. He was also a prolific writer and authored several books and screenplays.

Karunanidhi passed away on August 7, 2018, at the age of 94. His death was mourned by people across India, particularly in the state of Tamil Nadu, where he was widely revered and respected. He remains a towering figure in Indian politics and his legacy continues to inspire and influence people across the country.

Muthuvel Karunanidhi was an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for almost two decades over five terms between 1969 and 2011. He was popularly known as Kalaignar and Mutthamizh Arignar for his contributions to Tamil literature. He was also a long-standing leader of the Dravidian movement and ten-time president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam political party. Karunanidhi never lost an election to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, having won 13 times since his first victory in 1957. Before entering politics, he worked as a screenwriter in the Tamil film industry and made contributions to Tamil literature by writing stories, plays, novels, and a multiple-volume memoir. Karunanidhi died on 7 August 2018 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Karunanidhi has the record of never losing an election to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, having won 13 times since his first victory in 1957.[4] Before entering politics, he worked in the Tamil film industry as a screenwriter. He also made contributions to Tamil literature, having written stories, plays, novels, and a multiple-volume memoir.

Karunanidhi was born in Thirukuvalai in the then Madras Presidency (present-day Tamil Nadu) on 3 June 1924. He was the youngest of four children in his family. His father was a weaver and his mother was a housewife. Karunanidhi's interest in politics began at a young age when he participated in the Anti-Hindi agitations of the 1930s. He was a member of the Justice Party and later the Dravidar Kazhagam before joining the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949.

In 1957, Karunanidhi was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly for the first time from the Kulithalai constituency. He went on to serve as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms, from 1969 to 1971, 1971 to 1976, 1989 to 1991, 1996 to 2001, and 2006 to 2011. During his tenure, he implemented several welfare schemes, including the Mid-Day Meal Scheme and the Annadurai Health Insurance Scheme. He was also instrumental in the establishment of several institutions, including the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University and the Tamil Nadu Open University.

Karunanidhi was known for his contributions to Tamil literature, having written over 250 books in his lifetime. He was the editor of the Tamil daily newspaper Murasoli and the Tamil weekly magazine Kungumam. He was also a screenwriter for several Tamil films, including Parasakthi, which marked the acting debut of Sivaji Ganesan. Karunanidhi was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian honour, in 1971.

Karunanidhi was married three times and had six children, including M. K. Muthu, M. K. Alagiri, M. K. Stalin and Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, who is also a politician. He died on 7 August 2018 at the age of 94 due to age-related illnesses. His funeral was attended by several political leaders and celebrities, including the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.