M. Karunanidhi (1924-2018)

 M. Karunanidhi was an Indian politician, 

writer, and screenwriter who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five separate terms. He was born on June 3, 1924, in the town of Thirukuvalai in the Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu, India. His full name was Muthuvel Karunanidhi, and he was also known as Kalaignar, which means "artist" in Tamil.

Karunanidhi was born into a family of traders and was the youngest of four children. His father, Muthuvelar, was a landlord and a prominent figure in the area. Karunanidhi attended the local elementary school and then moved to a high school in nearby Thiruvarur.

At a young age, Karunanidhi was drawn to the world of politics and social justice. He joined the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), a political party that advocated for the rights of the Tamil people and the lower castes. Karunanidhi quickly rose through the ranks of the party and was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1957.

In 1961, Karunanidhi was expelled from the DK and went on to found his own political party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The DMK quickly became a major political force in Tamil Nadu, advocating for Tamil language rights, social justice, and regional autonomy.

Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for the first time in 1969, a position he would hold for a total of five terms. He served as Chief Minister from 1969-1971, 1971-1976, 1989-1991, 1996-2001, and 2006-2011. During his tenure as Chief Minister, Karunanidhi implemented a number of progressive policies, including the establishment of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation, the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, and the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.

Karunanidhi was also a prolific writer and screenwriter. He wrote and published several books on Tamil literature and politics, as well as screenplays for over 75 films. His most famous work was the screenplay for the film Parasakthi, which starred the legendary Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan and was released in 1952. The film was a critical and commercial success and is credited with launching the careers of both Karunanidhi and Ganesan.

Karunanidhi was a strong advocate for Tamil language and culture. He was instrumental in making Tamil the official language of Tamil Nadu and was a key figure in the creation of the Tamil Nadu State Film Award, which recognizes excellence in Tamil cinema.

Karunanidhi was also a champion of social justice and worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the lower castes and marginalized communities in Tamil Nadu. He introduced a number of policies to promote education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for these communities, and was a vocal critic of the caste system.

Karunanidhi was married three times and had six children. His son M.K. Stalin is also a prominent politician and currently serves as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Karunanidhi passed away on August 7, 2018, at the age of 94. His death was mourned by people across Tamil Nadu and India, with many recognizing his contributions to Tamil language and culture, as well as his lifelong commitment to social justice and progressive politics.