Kalaignar's Achievements

Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian Politician, Screenwriter, Editor, Publisher and the 3rd Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He has served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five times on different occasions. He is the head of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)Political Party, based in Tamil Nadu. He became Chief Minister for the first time in 1969. On 13 May 2006, he became the Chief Minister for the fifth time. He is also known for his script writing works in the Tamil film industry.

Early Life

Karunanidhi was born on 03 June 1924 in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. He is the son of Muthuvelar Karunanidhi and Anjugam Karunanidhi. His Real name is Dakshinamurthy and he has Tamil ancestry. Karunanidhi was more interested in drama, poetry, and literature during his school days.

Career

He began his career as a screenwriter in the Tamil film industry. He made his debut in the film Rajakumari in which he wrote the script back in 1947, the film gained him popularity and he decided to continue his career in the field. Later, he was inspired by the speech of Alagiriswami of the Justice Party and step into the politics at his 14th age and participated in Anti-Hindu agitations. He then founded an organisation for the local youth and also circulated Manavar Nesan, a handwritten newspaper to its member. He also started a newspaper which grew into ‘Murasoli‘, the DMK party’s official newspaper.

Through his oratorical skills, he became a popular politician. He was famous for writing historical and reformist stories which propagated the socialist and rationalist ideals of the Dravidian movement. He used Tamil cinema to propagate his political ideas through the movie Parasakthi. Parasakthi was a turning point in Tamil cinema, as it causes the ideologies of theDravidian movement and also introduced two legend actors of Tamil film industry, Sivaji Ganesan and S. S. Rajendran.

In 1957, M. Karunanidhi was first elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly from Kulithalai seat of Tiruchirapalli district. He became the DMK treasurer in 1961 and the very next year, he became the deputy leader of opposition in the state assembly.

When his party DMK came to power in 1967, he became the minister for public works. After the death of C.N. Annadurai in 1969, Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He has served in various positions in the party and government during his long career in Tamil Nadu politics.

Karunanidhi suffered multiple electoral defeats against his main opponent M.G. Ramachandran’s ADMK until the latter’s death in 1987. Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1996. After completing a full term, his party lost in the 2001 elections to J. Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK.

After five years, Karunanidhi back to powers by defeating J. Jayalalithaa in the 2006 elections. After another full term in office, Karunanidhi lost to Jayalalitha’s AIADMK in the 2011 Assembly elections. He is currently representing Tiruvarur constituency in Tamil Nadu legislative assembly. He has been elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly 12 times and once to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Council.

Achievements

1967 – 1969

“Madras” State was renamed as “Tamil Nadu”.

Act to provide legal status to the Self-respect Marriages.

Two language formula providing for Tamil and English.

Surrender of Earned Leave and its encashment for Government Servants.

1969 – 1971

Nationalisation of Transport.

Transport Corporations established.

Electricity to all the villages.

Link roads to all the villages having a population of 1500.

Slum Clearance Board.

Drinking Water Supply and Drainage Board.

Free Eye camps Scheme.

Beggars Rehabilitation Scheme.

Abolition of Hand-pulled Rickshaws and free distribution of Cycle Rickshaws.

Free Concrete Houses for Scheduled Castes and Tribes.

Act to provide conferment of ownership of house-sites (Kudiyiruppu Act); Act fixing fair wages to farm labourers.

Police Commission – First in India.

Separate Ministry for Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes.

Constitution of the Backward Classes Commission and increasing the quantum of reservation for Backward Classes to 31 per cent from 25 per cent and for Scheduled Castes to 18 per cent from 16 per cent.

Free Education to all up to P.U.C.

May Day declared as a Holiday with wages.

Birthday of “Nabigal Nayagam” declared as a Holiday.

1971 – 1976

First Agricultural University at Coimbatore

Family Benefit Fund Scheme to Government Employees

Confidential Reports on Government servants abolished.

Free Housing Scheme to Fishermen.

“Karunai Illam” in Temples for children.

Salem Steel Plant.

Land Ceiling Act, fixing 15 standard acres as the ceiling.

Second Mine-Cut and Electricity Scheme at Neyveli.

Petroleum and Industrial Chemicals at Thoothukudi.

Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO).

SIPCOT Complexes.

The inclusion of Urdu Speaking Muslims in the list of Backward Classes, like Tamil Speaking Muslims.

Abolition of Land Tax on drylands.

“Manu Neethi Thittam”.

Poompuhar Shipping Corporation.

“Kongu Vellalar” included in the list of Backward Classes.

Green Revolution.

1989 – 1991

20 per cent separate reservation for Most Backward Classes including Vanniar and Seer Marabinar.

18 per cent separate reservation for Scheduled Castes and 1 per cent for Scheduled Tribes.

Free Education to Most Backward Classes and subject to income ceiling to Backward Classes up to Degree level.

Free Education to Scheduled Castes and subject to income ceiling to women to Degree level.

Free Electricity to Farmers – First time in the Country.

Law for equal property rights to women.

30 per cent reservation for women in Government services.

First Veterinary and Animal Sciences University – First in Asia.

Financial Assistance to poor girls for marriages.

Financial Assistance to Widows for remarriages.

Financial Assistance to encourage inter-caste marriages.

Direct Paddy procurement centres.

Incentive and payment of cart-hire charges for procurement from farmers.

Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation established.

Financial assistance to pregnant women.

Wage hike for Government employees on par with the Central Government Employees with retrospective effect.

Women’s Self-Help groups benefiting 10 lakh women.

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.

Pavendhar Bharathidasan University.

Dr. M.G.R. Medical University.

Efforts to set up Cauvery Tribunal.

1996 – 2001

Within six months of assuming office, elections for local bodies and cooperatives.

33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies – by which 44,143 women including 2 Women Mayors assumed office; of the two Women Mayors one belonged to SC community.

‘Madras’ renamed as ‘Chennai’.

Single window system for admission in Engineering and Medical colleges.

Transparent New Industrial Policy.

Single window system for obtaining all licenses for starting industries.

Improved roads, new bridges.

Concrete streets in villages.

Desilting of rivers, tanks and canals on an unprecedented scale.

24-hour Primary Health Centres.

For the first time in India, MLA Constituency Development Fund.

Protected water for all villages.

15 per cent reservation in professional courses for rural students.

Periyar Memorial Samathuvapuram Scheme to eradicate caste discrimination.

Mini Bus Scheme for Rural areas.

Dr.Ambedkar Law University – First in India.

Periyar University in Salem.

Tamil Virtual University to help world Tamils.

Urdu Academy.

Minorities Economic Development Corporation.

Chennai Film City named after MGR, by changing the name “J.J. Film City”.

Farmers Market Scheme.

Varumun Kappom.

Cattle Protection Scheme.

Vazhvoli Thittam in Schools.

133 feet high Thiruvalluvar Statue in Kanniyakumari.

Tidel Park in Chennai.

Computer Training Scheme for Government college students.

Over two lakh families given house sites in poramboke lands, where they were living in houses constructed.

Community Certificate, Nativity Certificate, Income Certificate on completion of 10th and 12th standards from the year 1999-2000.

Scheme for grant of expenses of higher education for first three rank holders in State and District levels in the 10th and 12thstandard examinations from the year 1996.

Bus Terminal at Koyambedu in Chennai – Biggest in Asia.

Special Scheme for the economic development of Southern districts.

Women’s Small Trade Loan Scheme with saving scheme.

Separate Welfare Board for agricultural labour.

Welfare Boards for unorganised labour.

Manimandapam for Tamil Scholars and martyrs.

Supply of eggs with a nutritious meal.

Construction of over 20 dams.

New buildings for Collectorates in nine districts.

For the first time Bench of High Court at Madurai;  Construction of buildings for it and for courts in various districts.

Free bus passes for students.

Anna Marumalarchi Scheme.

Nammaku Naame Scheme.

Indigent Family Welfare Scheme.

Rs.104 crore new buildings for Chennai General Hospital.

Reappointment of 13,000 welfare workers.

For the first time, 10,000 road workers appointed.

Nationalisation of the works of Tamil scholars.

Nine flyovers in Chennai.

350 electricity sub-stations (power) at Rs. 1500 crores.

Pension scheme for contract labour.

Pension Scheme for transport workers.

New Medical colleges at Vellore, Tuticorin and Kanniyakumari districts.

Tamil Virtual University.

2006 – 2011

1 Kg. of rice for 1 Rupee.

Distribution of palm oil, red gram, black gram, suji, maida and fortified wheat flour under the Special Public Distribution system at subsidised rates.

10 items of provisions at Rs.50.

A cooperative loan of Rs. 7,000 crores waived to benefit 22 lakh 40 thousand and 739 families of farmers.

No interest on crop loan to farmers who repay on time.

Enhanced procurement rice at Rs.1050/- for common variety of paddy and Rs.1100/- for a fine variety of paddy per quintal.

Renewal of 117 old Uzhavar Sandhais and 45 new Uzhavar Sandhais.

Rs.2000 per tonne of sugarcane, including transport charges and incentive to sugarcane farmers.

Linking of rivers within the State: Cauvery – Gundaru Linking Project taken up at a cost of Rs.189 crores.

Tamirabarani – Karumeniyaru – Nambiyaru Linking Project taken up at a cost of Rs.369 crores.

Unorganised Labour Welfare Boards numbering 31 established, including the Welfare Board for Agricultural labour and enrolment of 2 crores 2 lakhs 21 thousand 564 members in the Welfare Boards.

Disbursement of 616 crores 43 lakhs 44 thousand and 832 rupees as financial assistance to 13 lakhs 6 thousand 492 members of the Unorganised Labour Welfare Boards.

Free house-sites to 1 crore 58 lakhs 8 thousand and 288 families.

Kamarajar Birthday celebrated as “Education Development Day” in all the schools – A Special Legislation enacted.

5 Eggs / Bananas per week with Nutritious Noon Meal.

Free Bus pass to 24 lakhs 82 thousand school students and 2 lakhs 99 thousand college students every year.

Common Entrance Examinations to Professional Courses scrapped.

Tamil made a compulsory subject up to 10th Standard in all the schools.

Central Institute of Classical Tamil shifted to Chennai from Mysore.

Kumbhabishekam and renovations work carried out in 4724 temples at a cost of Rs.523 crores; during the current year Kumbhabishekam 1100 temples at a cost of Rs.100 crores.

10,000 cycles on an estimate of Rs.277 lakhs, distributed to Archakas and Poojaris free of cost.

Moovalur Ramamirdham Ammaiyar Financial Assistance for marriages of poor girls increased to Rs.25,000/- from Rs.10,000/-.

Financial Assistance of Rs.6000/- disbursed to each of 20 lakh 11 thousand 517 poor pregnant women.

A new Medical Insurance Scheme for Government Servants for providing 2 lakhs worth of medical assistance in a period 4 years.

Under “Varumun Kappom Thittam” 18 thousand 742 camps have been conducted so far, benefiting 77 lakhs 5 thousand and 8 persons.

“Nalamana Thamizhagam Thittam” for a medical check-up to create awareness in regard to heart disease, diabetics and cancer.

Under the Kalaignar Insurance Scheme, 2 lakhs 70 thousand 265 poor people have got their life-saving surgeries at a cost of Rs.702 crores.

Free 108 Emergency Ambulance Scheme with the Central assistance has benefited 8 lakh 8 thousand 907 persons so far; Further, lives of 42 thousand 232 persons have been saved.

25 MoUs have been signed for starting 37 new industries on an investment of Rs.46,091 crores, which would provide employment opportunities to about 2 lakh 52 thousand 569 persons.

Monthly doles totalling Rs. 240 crores have been disbursed so far to 3 lakh 5 thousand 801 educated unemployed youth.

New Employment to 4 lakhs 65 thousand 658 youth in Government offices.

Tidel Parks at Coimbatore, Trichy, Madurai and Tirunelveli.

Monthly Maintenance Grant of Rs.200 increased to Rs.500 for 10 thousand differently abled persons, who are severely affected.

So far 4 lakhs 41 thousand 311 Self Help Groups for Women have been formed; Loan assistance of Rs.6342 crores has been given to these SHGs so far.

Basic infrastructural facilities have been created in 10 thousand 96 Village Panchayats at a cost of Rs.2033 crores, under “Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam”.

Basic infrastructural facilities have been created in 420 Town Panchayats at a cost of Rs.210 crores, under “Anaithu Peruratchi Anna Marumalarchi Thittam”.

Improvement and maintenance works have been carried out on 57 thousand 787 kilometre long roads at a cost of Rupees 12 thousand 94 crores.

4,945 Kilometer long roads have been broadened and converted to two-lane roads.

Local Cess, Local Cess Surcharge and water charges have been scrapped. A national tax of Rs.2 per acre of drylands and Rs.5 per acre of wetlands levied as a mark of land-ownership.

Without an increase in tariff 12 thousand 137 new buses plying on the roads; Further 300 new buses were added.

3 per cent separate reservation for Arunthathiyar Community.

Persons of any caste can become Archakas in Temples – Legislation enacted to establish an equitable society.

With a view to creating a casteless society, 145 Periyar Ninaivu Samathuvapurams have already been established; 95 new Samathuvapurams are added.

World class Anna Centenary Memorial Library at Kotturpuram-Chennai at a cost of Rs.171 crores.

New Secretariat-Assembly Complex in Omandurar Government Estate at a cost of Rs.1200 crores.

Adyar Ecological Research Park established at a cost of Rs.100 crores.

“Semmozhi Poonga” in the heart of Chennai City.

Desalination of Sea Water Project at Minjur, North Chennai.

Desalination of Sear Water Project at Nemmeli, South Chennai.

Metro Rail Project at a cost of Rs.14,600 crores with the assistance of Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Hogenekkal Combined Water Supply Scheme at a cost of Rs.1929 crores with the assistance of Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Ramanathapuram – Paramakudi Combined Water Supply Scheme at a cost of Rs.630 crores completed.

TESMA and ESMA scrapped; Concessions withdrew from Government servants and teachers have been given back to them;  Recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission have been implemented with effect from 1.1.2006, on an annual expenditure of Rs.5,155.79 crores.

Kalaignar Housing Schemes for converting 21 lakh huts into concrete houses in a period of 6 years.

Pension for Pressmen increased from Rs.4000 to Rs.5000 and their family pension increased from Rs.2000 to Rs.2500.

First World Classical Tamil Conference held at Coimbatore in June 2010.

119 new Courts have been opened; Rs. 302 crores allocated for providing infrastructural facilities in the Courts.

Action has been taken to reduce the pendency of cases, by establishing Evening and Holiday Courts, as per the recommendation of the 13th Finance Commission.

Anna Technical University at Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore and Tirunelveli established.

Rs. 331 crores allocated for filling 11,307 teacher vacancies and 648 non-teacher vacancies in Government-Aided Minorities Schools.

Equitable Education being implemented.

One Man Commission has been appointed for fixing the fee structure in private schools.

Movies

Ponnar Shankar (2011)

Ilaignan (2011)

Pen Singam (2010)

Uliyin Osai (2008)

Pasa Kiligal (2006)

Kannamma (2005)

Mannin Maindhan (2005)

Puthiya Parasakthi (1996)

Madurai Meenakshi (1993)

Kavalukku Kettikaran (1990)

Nyaya Tharasu (1989)

Paasa Paravaigal (1988)

Paadatha Thenikkal (1988)

Neethikku Thandanai (1987)

Palaivana Rojakkal (1985)

Kaalam Pathil Sollum (1980)

Pillaiyo Pillai (1972)

Avan Pithana? (1966)

Poomalai (1965)

Poompuhar (1964)

Kaanchi Thalaivan (1963)

Iruvar Ullam (1963)

Thayilla Pillai (1961)

Arasilangkumari (1961)

Kuravanji (1960)

Pudhumai Pithan (1957)

Pudhaiyal (1957)

Raja Rani (1956)

Rangoon Radha (1956)

Malaikkallan (1954)

Thirumbi Paar (1953)

Panam (1952)

Manohara (1952)

Manamagal (1952)

Parasakthi (1952)

Manthiri Kumari (1950)

Marudhanaattu Ilavarasi (1950)

Abimanyu (1948)

Rajakumaari (1947)

Books

Sanga Thamizh

Thirukkural Urai

Ponnar Sankar

Romapuri Pandian

Thenpandi Singam

Vellikizhamai

Nenjukku Needhi

Iniyavai Irubathu

Kuraloviam

His books of prose and poetry number more than 100.

Karunanidhi’s stage plays

Manimagudam

Ore Ratham

Palaniappan

Thooku Medai

Kagithapoo

Naane Arivali

Vellikizhamai

Udhayasooriyan

Silappathikaram