VAIKOGeneral-Secretary, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (M.D.M.K.) |
|
| Father’s Name: | Shri Vaiyapuri |
| Date of Birth: | 22 May 1944 |
| Place of Birth: | Kallingappatti, Distt. Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu) |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Date of Marriage: | 14 June 1971 |
| Spouse’s Name: | Smt. Renuka Devi |
| No. of Sons: | 1 |
| No. of Daughters: | 2 |
| Educational Qualifications: | M.A. (Economics), B.L. Educated at St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai Presidency College and Law College, Chennai (Tamil Nadu) |
| Profession: | Agriculturist , Lawyer |
| Present Address: | Kalingappatti Vill. P.O. Via Thiruvengadam, Tirunelveli, Distt. Tamil Nadu |
| Positions Held: | |
| 1978-96 | Member, Rajya Sabha (three terms) |
| 1982-84 | Member, Railway Convention Committee (two terms) |
| 1983-84 | Member, Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes |
| 1986-87 | Member, Committee on Petitions |
| Member, Committee on Papers Laid on the Table | |
| 1994 | General-Secretary, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (M.D.M.K.) |
| 1998-99 | Member, Committee on External Affairs and its Sub-Committee-I |
| Member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Industry | |
| 1999 | Re-elected to 13th Lok Sabha (2nd term) |
| Leader, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Parliamentary Party, Lok Sabha | |
| 1999-2000 | Member, Committee of Privileges |
| Member, Committee on Defence | |
| Member, Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests | |
| 2000-2001 | Member, Committee on Ethics |
| Books Published: | |
| (i) Clarion Call (in English), (ii) Sanganatham, (iii) Porkkalathil, (iv) Ilatchiyappayanam, (v) Yamunaikkavraiyil, (vi) Velvom, (vii) Veerathin Punnagai, (viii) Ithaya Chiragugal, (ix)Paravattum Thamizhisai; and (x) Vazharattum Valluvam (all in Tamil) | |
| Special Interests: | |
| Literature, agriculture, research, sports, addressing public meetings etc. and organising Youth Forums | |
| Favourite Pastime and Recreation: | |
| Reading and listening to music | |
| Sports and Clubs: | |
| Volleyball and basketball; President, Jothi Sports Club (Hockey), Palayamkottai, 1971-76 | |
| Countries Visited: | |
| Widely travelled (15 countries); also visited several countries of the World in 1984 to address meetings on the ethnic Tamil problem of Sri Lanka | |
| Other Information: | |
| President, District Central Cooperative Bank; won, (i) Gold Medal in Economics and Best Speaker award in St. Xavier’s College, 1964; (ii) First Prize in Inter-Collegiate-Tamil Oratorical Competitions, 1964-65 and 1965-66, representing Presidency College, Madras; (iii) First-Prize-Silver Cup in Inter-Collegiate Elocution Competition conducted by Madras City Police to celebrate Road Safety Week in 1965; and (iv) Best Orator Award in Law College, Madras,1969; detained, (i) under MISA from 1 February, 1976 to 2 February, 1977; and (ii) again for 40 days for organising Black Flag Demonstration against Late Smt. Indira Gandhi’s visit to Tamil Nadu, October, 1977; jailed, (i) four times, during 1978-81 for peaceful demonstrations and picketing against Tamil Nadu State Government; (ii) four times during 1982-83 for organising Volunteer Camps of DMK; (iii) three times during 1984-86 for participation in agitation against the State Government; and (iv) during 1986-87 for anti-Hindi agitation; President, (i) Presidency College Victoria Hostel Tamil Association, 1965-66; (ii) Land Development Bank, Kuruvikulam, 1971-75; and (iii) M.D.K. Co-operative Supervisors’ Training Institute, 1971-76; Chairman, (i) Panchayat Union, Kuruvikulam, Tirunelveli District, 1970-76; and (ii) Tirunelveli District Co-operative CentralBank, 1972-73; Propaganda-Secretary, DMK Party for Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, 1977-79; Secretary, Election Campaign, DMK headquarters, 1983; Convenor, Dr. Karunanidhi Voluntary Blood Donors’ Association, Tirunelveli; Organiser, Youth Forums; and State Joint Organiser, DMK Students wing, 1970 | |
