C. N. Annadurai
C. N. Annadurai (Tamil: அண்ணாதுரை) (1909 to 1969), popularly called Anna (which means elder brother in Tamil language) was the first non Congress Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India after independence. He was also an accomplished writer and even before his entry into politics his penmanship and oratorial style had captivated many audiences.
V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
V.R. Nedunchezhiyan (Tamil: வி.ஆர்.நெடுஞ்செழியன்) (July 11, 1920 – January 12, 2000) was a former finance minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. He was also the acting chief minister of Tamil Nadu in two tenures (3 February 1969 – 10 February 1969 and 24 December 1987 – 7 January 1988).
He was born at Thirukkannapuram near Pattukottai on July 11, 1920. He died of a heart attack at a private hospital on January 12, 2000. He is survived by his wife Visalakshi and a son. His grandson, Jeevan Neduncheziyan is a Tennis player in India.He was initiated into politics during his days at the Annamalai University. He joined the Dravidar Kazhagam party in 1944, but, along with C. N. Annadurai, moved over to form the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949.
M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi (Tamil: மு.கருணாநிதி) or Karunanidhi Muthuvel generally referred to as M.K (Tamil: மு.க)and Dr. Kalaingar (கலைஞர்), is the present Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is one of the founder members and the president of the DMK political party in the state of Tamil Nadu DMK from the death of C.N. Annadurai in 1969 till date. He has been the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu five times (1969-71, 1971-74, 1989-91, 1996-2001 and 2006-date). He holds the record of winning every election that he fought in his political career spanning over 60 years. He led the UPA in Tamil Nadu to win all the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the 2004 Lok Sabha Elections. A self professed Atheist and follower of E. V. Ramasami Naicker.
Bharath Ratna M. G. Ramachandran
" The Stamping "
MGR was always the first to personally offer relief in disasters and calamities like fire, flood, drought, and cyclones, he was the first donor during the war with China in 1962, donating Rs. 75,000 to the war fund.
" The MGR 3 letter phenomenon "
Maruthur Gopala Ramachandran Menon (Tamil: மருதூர் கோபால இராமச்சந்திரன்) (January 17, 1917–December 24,
1987), popularly known as MGR (Tamil: எம்.ஜி.ஆர்), or Puratchi Thalaivar (Tamil: Revolutionary Leader), was a leading actor in Tamil films and Chief Minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death.MGR was born in Hewaheta near Kandy, Sri Lanka, to Gopala Menon and Maruthur Satyabhama (Nairs traditionally are matrilineal, hence MGR shares his matrilineal family surname "Maruthur" ) . His family was originally from Vadavannur,Palakkad, Kerala, but his grandfather had migrated with his family to Sri Lanka.
After his father's death, he could not pursue his studies beyond the primary stage due to poverty and joined a drama troupe called Original Boys. Gaining considerable experience on stage, he entered the world of cinema, and gradually rose to enviable positions by persistent efforts and endurance. He became an actor, with a huge mass appeal. He was also a very good director and producer, and was also known to be an expert movie editor. MGR married Bargavi also known as Thangamani a villager who died early due to illness. He later married Sathanandavathi who also died soon due to Tuberculosis. His third wife was V.N.Janaki.
Making his film debut in 1935, in the film Sati Leelavathi, directed by Ellis Dungan, an American born film director , MGR did not attain great popularity until he got his big breakthrough in the 1947 film Rajakumari which was a super hit making him a top hero in Kollywood and one of the most successful in Indian Cinema history, the script for Rajakumari was written by M.Karunanidhi. He rose to stardom by playing characters that portrayed him as the saviour of the poor. His movies were the medium of communication for the Dravidian movement.
" The Acknowledgement - Indian Parliament Campus"
For the next twenty-five years he remained one of the biggest celebrity in Tamil cinema and one of the most famous and worshiped man in Tamil nadu. Movies like Madurai Veeran, a champion of the Tamil Devars. His star power did not diminish even after he was shot by fellow actor M. R. Radha (Mohan R. Radha), affecting his ability to speak clearly. Even then he undauntedly carried on only to give box-office hit after hits, later paving way for his entry into politics. He won the national award in the best actor category for the film Rickshakaran His Movie "Nadodi Mannan" (produced & directed by MGR and first released in 1956) released in 2006 ran house full shows in Tamil Nadu for 14 weeks. MGR was a member of the Congress Party till 1953 and he used to wear kathar and wear vibhuti on his forehead. In 1953 MGR was attracted by Anna and joined the DMK.He became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist and prominent member of the DMK (Dravidian Progressive Federation). He added glamour to the Dravidian movement which was sweeping Tamil Nadu. He became a member of the state Legislative Council in 1962. He was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1967. After the death of his mentor, Annadurai, MGR became the treasurer of DMK in 1969 after Karunanidhi became the chief minister.
" The Legend among Legends "
In 1967, he was shot in the neck by fellow actor M.R. Radha. The bullet was permanently lodged in his neck and his voice damaged. He wanted the financial details of the party to be publicised which enraged the leadership of DMK and in 1972,
MGR was expelled from the party. MGR then floated a new party named Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK) which was later renamed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the only powerful opponent of the DMK. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1977, and remained in office till his death in 1987. In 1979, Members of his party Satyavani Muthu and Aravinda Bala Pajanor, became the first dravidian and non-congress party from Tamil Nadu to become ministers in the Union Cabinet. It is to be noted that the AIADMK won every state assembly election as long as MGR was alive. He was the first film actor to be a Chief Minister in India. MGR placed great emphasis on social development, especially education. One of MGR's most successful policies was the introduction of the "Mid-day Meal Scheme" in the Government-run and aided schools in Tamil Nadu, which encouraged underprivileged children to attend schools.
" The Affection "
He was the one who have selected as a Chief Minister for continuously 3times.He founded the Tamil University, The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University and the Women's University in Tamil Nadu.In October 1984, MGR was diagnosed with kidney failure and was rushed to the U.S. for treatment,and his niece M.G.C.Leelavathy donated kidney to him. Mass hysteria gripped Tamil Nadu and over 100 people attempted self-immolation. MGR died December 24, 1987 after his prolonged illness. This brought normal life to a grinding halt and causing untold miseryto millions. Around one million persons followed his remains, around 30 followers committed suicide and lakhs of people had their heads tonsured.
" The Identity "
Some people in southern region of Tamil nadu still worship him as god. After his death, his political party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, split between his wife Janaki Ramachandran and his political protégé, J. Jayalalitha and later merged in 1988. He had an affair with Jayalalitha for a long time, which was very well utilized by Jayalalitha. In 1989 Dr.MGR Home and Higher Secondary School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired was established in the erstwhile Ramavaram Gardens Residence as per his will dated 17 January 1986.
" The Charisma "
MGR was nominated for Padmashree award from the Government of India but MGR refused to accept as the wording was in Hindi in 1960 National Award for the Best Actor for the film Rickshakaran in 1972 Bharat Ratna was conferred by the Government of India posthumously. MGR was always the first to personally offer relief in disasters and calamities like fire, flood, drought, and cyclones, he was the first donor during the war with China in 1962, donating Rs. 75,000 to the war fund. He was the founder and editor of THAI weekly magazine and ANNA daily newspaper in Tamil. He was the owner of Sathya Studios and Emgeeyar Pictures which produced many of the films he acted in. He also founded the MGR Schools in Kodambakkam giving free education and food for the film workers children in 1953. He was the president of Nadigar Sangam - South India Film Artists Association for four terms.
He willed all his property for the welfare of the poor and hearing impaired people of Tamil Nadu.
" The Ultimate "
Janaki Ramachandran
Janaki Ramachandran, popularly known as V.N. Janaki (November 30,1923 – May 19, 1996), was an Indian Tamil actress and politician. She was born to Rajagopal Iyer and Narayani Amma in the town of Vaikom in Kerala State. She had a brother P. Narayanan who was an educationalist. She was a successful actress and starred in more than 25 movies including Velaikari, and Aiyiram Thalaivangiya Aboorva Chintamani. She starred opposite M. G. Ramachandran in many films. She married married M. G. Ramachandran. When M.G.Ramachandran died in 1987, she succeeded him as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Janaki Ramachandran became chief minister in January 1988 after her husband's death, but the government lasted only 24 days, the shortest in the history of
Tamil Nadu. Her ministry won the vote of confidence of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in January 1988 but the CentraL Government under the late Rajiv Gandhi used Article 356 of the Constitution of India to dismiss her government. Her party was defeated in the next elections held in 1989 and she quit politics.She died of a cardiac arrest on 19th May 1996.
Janaki Ramachandran gifted her property in Avvai Shanmugham Salai (Lloyds Road) to house the headquarters of the All India
Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party in 1986. She also gifted her property in Arcot Road to set up the MGR Memorial House in 1988. She was the founder chairman of The Satya Educational & Charitable Society managing many free educational institutions in chennai. She gifted property worth many million dollars for the establishment of educational and charitable institutions in Tamil nadu.
J. Jayalalithaa
Jayalalitha Jayaram (Tamil: ஜெயலலிதா ஜெயராம்) or J. Jayalalitha (as commonly referred), (born February 24, 1948), is a former Chief Minister and current leader of the opposition of the Government of Tamil Nadu, India. She is the incumbentgeneral secretary of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, a Dravidianparty in the state. She is popularly called Amma (mother) and Puratchi Thalaivi (Revolutionary Leader) by her followers. She was a popular film star in Tamil cinemabefore her entry into politics.
Banning of High interest private loans.
Banning lottery tickets to encourage savings.
Elimination of the much feared bandit Veerappan.
Introduction of Videoconferencing in Jails and Courts, thus eliminating the need to bring the accused to extend the remand every time.
All women police stations.
Rain water Harvesting Scheme introduced by J.Jayalaitha is a Grand Success.
Rural Women Self Help Programme is also benefitted lakhs of ladies in villages.
Free cycles to all school students.
Thottil Kuzhandai Thittam
initiated by J,Jayalalitha won her widespread accolades.
O. Panneerselvam
O. Paneerselvam (Tamil: ஒ. பன்னீர்செல்வம் ) (born 1951) is a former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. Prior to his entry to politics, he owned a tea shop which he still owns. He was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in September 2001 after the appointment of then Chief Minister and AIADMK party chief J. Jayalalithaa wassquashed by the Supreme Court of India. In March 2002, he resigned as Chief Minister and J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in after the Supreme Court overturned her conviction and sentence and she won a by-election from Andipatti assembly constituency.
After his resignation he became the Public Works Department minister in the Jayalalithaagovernment. O. Paneerselvam was the leader of the AIADMK legislative party and the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly for about two weeks, after the party lost the assembly elections in May 2006.
He has been twice elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly from Periyakulam constituency. His confidants affectionately call him with his initials as 'OP'. He is the only CM after Kamaraj and Bakthavatsalam era who has not faced any corruption charges and was commended as Mr. Clean even when he was a Minister even by his square political opponents.
