M. Karunanidhi
Karunanidhi M
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Who is this?
Muthuvel Karunanidhi (3 June 1924 – 7 August 2018), popularly known as Kalaignar, was an Indian writer and politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for almost two decades over five terms between 1969 and 2011. He had the longest intermittent tenure as Chief Minister with 6,863 days in office. He was also a long-standing leader of the Dravidian movement and ten-time president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam political party. Karunanidhi has the record of never losing an election to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, having won 13 times since his first victory in 1957. 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. As such, he is also referred to as Mutthamizh Arignar (Tamil Scholar) for his contributions to Tamil literature. Dravida Kazhagam prominent leader Pattukkottai Alagiri conferred the title Kalaignar on him during "Thookumedi" drama. Karunanidhi died on 7 August 2018 at Kauvery Hospital in Chennai after a series of prolonged, age-related illnesses. Karunanidhi was born in the Tamil Nadu village of Thirukkuvalai on 3 June 1924. His parents were from the Isai Vellalar community, a caste of musicians that perform at temples and other social gatherings. Growing up in a caste-ridden culture, Karunanidhi was learned about the crippling circumstances that arose from being born into a low caste. When he was 14, he formed a student movement against the imposition of Hindi as India's National Language during the Anti-Hindi agitation of 1937–40. This served as a forerunner to Karunanidhi's wider anti-Hindi demonstrations in 1965. As a high school student, Karunanidhi created the Tamil Nadu Tamil Manavar Mandram, the Dravidian movement's first student wing. He also started a news paper during his school days, which grew into the Murasoli, the DMK's official publication. Karunanidhi began participating in theatrical productions at a young age, including composing plays. Later on, he started writing for movies. As a writer, he wrote screenplays, historical novels, screenplays, biographies, poems and novels. He utilised his writing to propagate reformist ideals effectively. He wrote the script and dialogue for M. G. Ramachandran's maiden film as a hero, Rajakumari. He also composed the dialogue for Sivaji Ganesan's debut film, Parasakthi. He was critical of organised religion and superstition. He was an atheist and a self-described rationalist. Karunanidhi started his political career in 1957, when he was voted to the Madras state legislature. When the DMK first entered the state legislature the following year, he was named treasurer and deputy leader of the opposition. Karunanidhi ascended quickly through the ranks. After the death of C.N. Annadurai in 1969, he became the DMK's leader and Chief minister of Tamil Nadu and led the party to a landslide win in the 1971 Assembly elections. He was influence
Career
- 1924Birth
What happened recently
Presidential address of Dr. Kalaignar M Karunanidhi, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu - Indian Council Of Agricultural Research
CM Vijay, Rahul Gandhi, leaders pay tributes to Karunanidhi on his 103rd birth anniversary
Born on June 3? You share a birthday with M Karunanidhi, Wasim Akram, Rafael Nadal, Tony Curtis and more
Selvaperunthagai to visit Karunanidhi’s mausoleum; Congress eyes Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu
DMK chief MK Stalin pays homage to former CM of Tamil Nadu M Karunanidhi on birth anniversary
Congress balances delicate alliance dynamics: Pays tribute to Karunanidhi days after exit from DMK front
The Maestro and the Statesman: Five films written by M Karunanidhi featuring music by Ilaiyaraaja
Ram Gopal Varma shares old photo of young Vijay with M Karunanidhi after TVK topples DMK: 'The kid destroyed his party'
RGV digs up photo of young Vijay lost behind Karunanidhi: ‘Kalaignar wouldn’t have dreamed’
#ResultsWithNDTV | Portraits of MK Stalin and M Karunanidhi were removed from the Tamil Nadu Secretariat following the DMK’s electoral defeat.
Ram Gopal Varma shares RARE OLD photo wishing Thalapathy Vijay; Young Vijay with late CM Karunanidhi spar
RGV shares Vijay’s childhood photo with former CM M Karunanidhi after massive poll win; says...
Kanimozhi Karunanidhi’s Glass Ceiling in the DMK: Ideological Clarity Meets Political Limits
As actor-turned-politician Vijay steps into the political arena with his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, the debate intensifies -is this the beginning of a new political shift or just another wave of star-driven politics?
Tamil Nadu assembly election: EPS continues attack on late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi
Will launch probe into Karunanidhi’s death after coming back to power, says Palaniswami
TN polls flashback: When Karunanidhi was called Mr 11 lakh and MGR wasn't allowed to vote
Congress pays tribute to former Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi on his birth anniversary
New university to be established in Kumbakonam named after former CM M Karunanidhi: TN CM Stalin
Indian Tamil leader Karunanidhi dies: outspoken atheist crusader for social justice
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