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 TAMIL NADU LEADERS SERIES

6. KALAIGNAR KARUNANIDHI

Early Life

 Kalaignar Karunanidhi was born on 3rd June 1924 in a village called

Thirukkuvalai in Thiruvarur district. His birth name is Dakshinamoorthy.
Later he changed his name as Karunanidhi.

 His parents: Muthuvelar – AnjugamAmmal.

 He started the organization called Tamil Manavar Mandram (Tamil

Students Association).

 He established “Ilaigner Marumalarchi Amaippu” (Youth Renaissance

Organization).

 He edited Manava Nesan (1938), a handwritten Journal, later it was

converted into Murasoli, a printed publication in 1942.

Public Life

 He was inspired by the activities of Justice Party Leader Alagirisamy and

involved in the public life.

 He was associated with the journal Kudiarasu (Edited by Periyar E.V.R)

 Actor M.R. Radha gave him the title “Kalaignar” (An Artist) after seeing his
drama (play) „Thookumedai‟. Then after he was known as „Kalaingar
Karunanidhi‟.

 He headed the “Kallakudi” renaming protest in 1953. Later he was

sentenced to six month of imprisonment.

 The name Kallakudi was changed when he became Chief Minister in

1969.

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 He was elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly from Kulithalai
constituency in 1957 and won all the elections he contested until 2016.

Formation of the Government (First term)

 When DMK came into power in 1967, he became Minister of Public Works
(in Anna’s Cabinet). He became the Chief Minister on February 10, 1969
after the demise (death) of Anna. His tenure was

 1969 – 1971 – 1st term as Chief Minister

 1971 – 1976 – 2nd term as Chief Minister

 1989 – 1991 – 3rd term as Chief Minister

 1996 – 2001 – 4th term as Chief Minister

 2006 – 2011 – 5th term as Chief Minister

 During his period he amended the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labourers Fair
Wage Act, 1969 and increased wages to agricultural Labourers in the
Cauvery Delta region and penalise landowners who exploit labours.

 During his period, he amended the Tamil Nadu Land Ceiling Act, 1961
and reduced maximum acreage from 30 acres to 15 acres in 1970.

 The acquired land was given to landless farmers.

 He came up with a program of village electrification in 1969, supplies

surplus electricity to villages.

 In his rule, the problems in the “Cotton Mill” was resolved by implementing
the recommendation of B.S. Loganathan Committee. This committee was
formed during the period of Anna.

 More Textile industries was formed.

 During his period P.V. Rajamannar Commission was setup in 1969 to

examine the „Centre – State Relations‟.

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  The Commission consists of

o P.V. Rajamannar (Chairman)

o A. Lakshmanasamy Mudaliyar (Member)

o P. Chandra Reddy (Member)

 Recommendation of the Commission are

o An Inter – State Council should be set up.

o Article 356 and 365 (dealing with President’s Rule) of the Indian
Constitution should be totally omitted.

o All- India services (IAS, IPS and IFS) should be abolished.

 The report was submitted to State Government in 1971.

 Under his rule, Tamil Nadu Police Commission was established for the
first time in 1969.

 Chairman of the Commission: R.A. Gopalasamy.

 Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board was established in 1970. It was formed
under Tamil Nadu Areas Improvement and Clearance Act, 1971.

 The main function of this board to eradicate slum and provide hygienic
settlements of them.

 He announced the work of Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai’s “Neeraarum

Kadaludutha” song as the state song of Tamil Nadu. (Thamizh Thaai
Vaazhthu). Its music was composed by M.S. Viswanathan.

 He attended the third World Tamil Conference in Paris in 1970.

 He found the International Institute of Tamil Research at Chennai in

1970 for doing research about the Tamil Language.

 He constituted the State Planning Commission (SPC) in Tamil Nadu on

25th May 1971, which was first in India.

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 In 1971, he established the State Industries promotion Corporation of Tamil
Nadu Limited (SIPCOT) under the Companies act.

 This inspired many entrepreneur and resulted in setting up more

industries.

 In 1971, he came up with the Beggar Rehabilitation Program to provide the

livelihood to those who beg in street.

 In 1971, he received an honorary Doctorate degree from Annamalai

University.

 He received “Raja Rajan Award” from Tamil University in Thanjavur from

his work “Thenpandi Singam”.

 In December 2006, he received an honorary Doctorate degree from Madurai

Kamaraj University.

Formation of the Government (Second term)

 During his rule (1971), the Prohibition was suspended (lifted) in Tamil
Nadu.

 Inorder to boost the state’s revenue and to prevent the sale of liquor in
the black market.

 He erected a statue of Rajaraja Chola in Thanjavur in 1972.

 In 1972, he established the Agricultural Engineering College and

Research Institute, Coimbatore for first time in South India.

 He abolished the Hand Rickshaw in 1973 and introduced Bicycle Rickshaw

in the place of Hand Rickshaw.

 In 1973, the Government headed by him held „Mupperum Vizha‟ in

Tirunelveli.

 House of Bharathiyar in Ettaiyapuram was changed into Bharathiyar

Memorial.

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  Erecting a statue to V.O. Chidambaram Pillai.

 Inauguration Ceremony of Kattabomman Fort at Panchalankurichi.

 In 1973, he initiated a program to purchase Paddy directly from farmers

through the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation.

 Under his rule the Women Police Wing was established in 1973.

 In 1974, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed the State Autonomy

Resolution. This kind of resolution was first in India.

 During his rule, the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development
Corporation (TAHDCO) was formed in 1974.

 It is registered under the Companies Act, 1956.

 It aimed at raising Socio – Economic Status of Scheduled Tribes and

Scheduled Caste People.

 He created Senthamizh Sol Pirappuiyal Agramuthali Iyakkagam.

 During his period the law was enacted in 1970 that enables all Caste people
are eligible to became priests in Hindu temples. But for some reasons the
law was not enforced.

 On January 31, 1976, the Government under his leadership was dissolved
by using Article 356. (President‟s Rule).

Formation of the Government (Third term)

 He constituted Tamil Nadu Traders Welfare Board in 1989.

 During his tenure, the Self Help Group movement was started in
Dharmapuri District in 1989.

 He enacted the Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 1989 which provide

equality to female heir on their ancestral property.

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  This Act was enacted based on the resolution passed in Self – Respect
Conference (1929) held in Chengalpattu.

 During his regime, the Second Police Commission was formed under the
Chairmanship of Sabhanayakam.

 During his tenure, the first Veterinary University of Asia named “Tamil
Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University” was established in
1989 at Chennai.

 For the first time in India, farmers in Tamil Nadu were given free
electricity (1990).

 In 1990, he introduced 30% reservation for women in the Public

Employment.

Formation of the Government (Fourth term)

 In 1996, he introduced 33.3% reservation for women in Local Body

Election in Tamil Nadu. This was first time in India.

 In 1996, he created a separate individual Ministry for Tamil Language.

 In 1996, he changed the name of “Madras” to “Chennai”.

 District and Transport Corporation in Tamil Nadu were named after the
leaders. This led to caste conflicts over the time. All Districts and All
Transport Corporation in Tamil Nadu were named after the leaders. This led
to caste conflicts over the time. To avoid this, he changed name of all
districts after their respective headquarters and named all Transport
Corporations as their zonal headquarters. For example:

(Before) (After)
Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar District Sivaganga district
SS Ramasamy Padayatchiyar District Villupuram district
Veeran Sundaralingam Transport Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,
Corporation Madurai
Dheeran Chinnamalai Transport Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation,
Corporation Kumbakonam

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 During his tenure, the wages of Agricultural Labourers was raised and fixed
as per the recommendation of the Kolappan Committee which was formed
in 1997.

 Minimum wages determination

 Determined the working hours of Agricultural labourers.

o Men – 6 hours

o Women – 5 hours

 In 1997, he started a separate department for Higher Education.

 In 1997, he founded the first Law University in India under the name of
Ambedkar in Chennai.

 He initiated the “Namakku Naame Thittam” program in 1997 to

strengthen the Self Help Groups.

 During his tenure, “Samathuvapuram” a creative housing project was

developed to promote the casteless society and revitalize social justice
program and to spread the goals of Periyar E.V.R.

 Accordingly the Samthuvapuram project with 100 houses in each Taluk was
constructed As per this

 Adi Dravidars – 40 houses

 Most Backward Classes – 25 houses

 Backward Classes – 25 houses

 Other Classes – 10 houses

 Total = 100 houses

 First Samathuvapuram was established on August 17, 1998 at

Melakkottai, Madurai.

 He setup a separate department for Information Technology in 1998.

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  Tamil Nadu is the first state in India to formulate a comprehensive IT
Policy.

 In 1999, he held a Tamil Internet Conference.

 In 1999, he launched Uzhavar Sandhai (Farmer’s Market).

 Farmer can sell their agricultural products directly to consumer without

intermediaries.

 The first Uzhavar Sandhai was opened in Madurai.

 Farmers donot give rent to their place in the market area.

 The project was based on “Apne Mandi” model of Chandigarh.

 In 1999, he introduced “Vazhvoli Thittam”.

 It ensured the health of school children.

 On December 31, 1999 he erected Thiruvalluvar Statue in Kanyakumari (It

was 2 days festival).

 Sculptor of the statue: Sirpi Ganapathi Sthapathi.

 Height of the statue : 95 feet

 Height of foot column: 38 feet

 Total Height : 133 feet

 Total Weight : 7000 tons.

 133 Kurals in Thirukkural engraved on the statue.

 He founded TIDEL Park (2000) in Chennai.

 Inaugurated by: Then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee

 TIDEL Park is the joint venture of two organizations of Tamil Nadu

 TIDCO (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation)

 ELCOT (Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu)

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  TIDCO + ELCOT = TIDEL

 Tamil was declared as Classical Language by the Central Government on

October 12, 2004.

 Tamil is the first Classical Language of India.

 Karunanidhi was the one who initiated this (his party was one of the
most important coalitions in the Central Government).

 Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at that time is Selvi. J. Jayalalithaa.

Formation of the Government (Fifth term)

 In 2006, he announced that the government would issue an ordinance to

pave the way for appointment of priests from all castes.

 He formed A.K. Rajan committee to investigate the legal

implementation of this law.

 The law was challenged in the Supreme Court in Adi Sivachiriyargal

case.

 The final judgment, delivered in December 2015, upheld the law and
opened the gates for appointments.

 On September 15, 2006 (Birth Anniversary of Anna) he initiated a program

to providing a colour television to the public.

 On September 17, 2006 (Birth Anniversary of Periyar) he started 2 acre land

issuing project for land less agricultural labour.

 During his tenure (2006 – 2011), the IAMWARM project funded by World
Bank. The productivity of land near sub – basin of the rivers was improved.

 IAMWARM – Irrigated Agricultural Modernization and Water Bodies

Restoration and Management.

 In December 30, 2006 he initiated scheme “Varum Mun Kappom” (Free

Preventive Health Care).

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  This is the first medical pioneering program in India.

 As per the Scheme, people can access preventive medical check – up.

 In 2006, he implemented the “Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi

Thittam”.

 To expand the infrastructure of all the Gram Panchayats in Tamil Nadu

and improve the village.

 In 2006 he exempted the “Entertainment Tax” for Tamil Movies named in

Tamil.

 Until 2006, there was common entrance examination for getting admission
to medical and engineering courses in Tamil Nadu. This led to create
obstacle for the rural students to pursue their dream. So he cancelled
Common Entrance Test. It has been in effect since 2007.

 He appointed a panel of experts headed by Ananda Krishnan to

investigate about Common Entrance Test.

 In 2006, he enacted a law for teaching Tamil Language compulsorily in

schools in Tamil Nadu.

 During his tenure, the “Third Police Commission” was formed in 2006
under the Chairmanship of R. Purnalingam.

 In 2006, he started “Ariviyal Tamil Mandram” (Scientific Tamil Forum).

 He announced to celebrate Birth Anniversary of Kamarajar (July 15) as

the “Education Development Day”.

 During his period, the State Government introduced Value Added Tax (VAT)
on January 1, 2007 in Tamil Nadu.

 This as an Indirect Tax.

 This has significantly reduced the Income Tax.

 He enacted Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment

Act in 2007.

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 In 2007, Kalaignar Karunanidhi introduced “Kaniyan Poongunranar
Prize” for the best software developers in Tamil.

 In 2009, he introduced Choice based Credit System in all the colleges.

 This resulted in undergraduate students to study “Tamil” as a subject.

 Under his rule, the Mechanical Department in Engineering College has

started to taught their subjects in the Tamil Medium.

 He found the Disabled Welfare Board in 2007.

 In 2008, he found the Third Gender Welfare Board.

 During his period the World Tamil Classical Conference was held on June
23rd to 27th, 2011 at on Codissia Hall, Coimbatore.

 He established Anna Centenary Library on September 15, 2010 (Birth

Anniversary of Anna) at Kotturpuram, Chennai.

 The largest library in South Asia.

 In his rule, there were preferential (20% Special reservation) for the
students who were educated in Tamil Medium schools under the Tamil
Nadu Appointment on Preferential Basis in the Services under the State of
Persons Studied in Tamil Medium (PSTM) Act, on September 30, 2010.

 Samacheer Education system was introduced based on recommendation of

Muthukumaran Committee (2007). There have been four types of
education in Tamil Nadu.

 State Board Education

 Matriculation Education

 Anglo Indian Education

 Oriental Education

 Samacheer Education system combines all four of the above education

systems into one syllabus called “Samacheer Kalvi” (Samacheer
Education).

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 During his tenure, the works of Tamil Scholars were Nationalised. Some of
them are

 Devaneya Pavanar

 Marimalai Adigal

 Thiru. Vi.Ka

 Kalki

 Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai

 Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam

 V.O. Chidambaram.

 V.V.S. Iyer

 K. Appa Duraiyar

 In 2011, the Maruthamuthu Commission established to restore Panchami

lands.

 From 1918 to 1931 the British Government granted free lands to

Schedule Caste. This land is called Panchami lands. This land can be
sold on purchased by belongs to same Scheduled Caste only.

 Amartyasen and Jean Draze have described that the Development of Tamil
Nadu is similar to Development of many European Nations. Tamil Nadu has
pioneered Social Welfare Program and prioritized Poverty Alleviation
Scheme. They described that Karunanidhi was one among the leaders who
implemented the welfare programs in Tamil Nadu.

 Amartyasen and Jean Draze were author of the famous book, “An
Uncertain Glory”.

 He established A.N. Sattanathan Commission in 1969 for welfare of

Backward Caste. As per their recommendations, he increased the
reservation for Backward Caste from 25% to 31% in 1971.

 Increased the reservation of the Scheduled Castes from 16% to 18%.

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  He reclassified the Urdu Speaking Muslim and Kongu Vellalar
Community as Backward Classes.

 Vanniyar Community demanded for 20% separate reservation. When

Karunanithi formed the Government in 1989, that the subdivision of
reservation for Most Backward Classes was carved out. 108
Communities including Vanniyar Community classified under the
Most Backward Classes (MBC).

 He created 3.5% special reservation for the Backward Caste Muslim

(BCM).

 He created 3% sub – reservation for Arunthathiyar (who was socially

oppressed) within Scheduled Caste.

 He wrote many books as fiction, poetry and Novels. Notable among them are

 Nenjukku Nidhi (Autobiography)

 Kural Oviyam (Thirukkural Explanation)

 He died on August 7, 2018.

********

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