| 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 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. |
In 1967, he was shot in the neck by fellow actor and political aspirant 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 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.
Chief Ministership
MGR placed great emphasis on social development, especially education. One of MGR’s most successful policies was the re-introduction of the “Mid-day Meal Scheme” in the Government-run and aided schools in Tamil Nadu, which encouraged underprivileged children to attend schools.
He founded the Tamil University, The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University and the Women’s University in Tamil Nadu.
Positions Held
- 1962 Elected to Legislative Council
- 1967 Elected to Legislative Assembly from St Thomas Mount
- 1971 Reelected to Legislative Assembly from St Thomas Mount
- 1977 Elected to Legislative Assembly from Aruppukottai
- 1980 Elected to Legislative Assembly from Madurai West
- 1984 Elected to Legislative Assembly from Andipatti
- 1977-1987: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Achievements
- Fifth world Tamil conference in Madurai in 1981
- Krishna Water Project
- Mid-day Meal Scheme
- Thanjavur Tamil University
- Mother Teresa Women’s University
Nutritious Meal Programme
Puratchi Thalaivar MGR Nutritious Meal Programme was launched in 1982 with a view to providing adequate nutrition to economically disadvantaged children of age group 2 to 5 years and was later extended to students and providing social security to the disabled. of age up to 15 years. Besides combating malnutrition, the programme sought to act as an incentive for increasing enrolment in schools and for reducing dropouts.
A review of the programme revealed the following:
A quantity of 38820 MT of fine rice received from Government of India under National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education, was substituted by common rice.
Supply and use of Double Fortified Salt in seven goitre prone districts against the recommendations of UNICEF and the National Institute of Nutrition resulted in extra expenditure of Rs 27.15 lakh during 2002-04.
Despite recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee, measuring devices for weighing food ingredients had not been provided to the noon-meal centres.
There were shortfalls in conducting inspections by the Personal Assistant (NMP) in various districts during 2002-04. Similarly the Block Development Officers did not conduct required number of inspections during 1999-2004 in three sample districts. This trend is indicative of inadequate level of assistance.
Social Work
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.
