Ten Fascinating facts about M.G.R.

Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran popularly known to the world by his initials, MGR was a famous Indian politician, Actor, Tamil activist. As called by his followers "Puratchi thalaivar" he stood as a great Revolutionary leader in all spheres of his life.  IMoT forum remembers the great leader in his 100th Birth Anniversary.

MGR with EVR Periyar in a public meeting

1. MGR was born on 17 January 1917, in British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), to immigrant Keralite parents. After his father's death, at the age of six he joined drama group this paved way to the world of cinema.

2. His first debut film was Sati Leelavati (1935), but film Rajakumari (1947) written by M. Karunanidhi made a huge breakthrough in his carrier. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshawkaran in 1972. 

3. Koondukkili (1954) was the only movie in which MGR and Sivaji Ganeshan acted together.  And he finished his acting career in the film Maduraiyai Meeta Sundarapandian (1978).

4. He was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1967. After the death of his mentor, Annadurai from St.Thomas mount as a candidate of  DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) party.

5. He floated a new party ADMK (Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) in 1972 and upon successfully winning the 1977 state elections, MGR became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu On 30 June 1977, remaining in office till his death in 1987.

7. He started universal Nutritious mid-day-meal scheme for children from the age of 2 to 15. He added old people who had no family support to the scheme to have a meal.

8. He also pioneered in India, by providing Thirty percent job reservation for women which was adopted by the Government of India many years later.  He introduced Women special buses and instrumental in setting up of Mother Teresa Women's University.

9. He was the founder and editor of “Thai” weekly magazine and “Anna” daily newspaper in Tamil. And penned his autobiography as ‘Naan Yaen Piranthaen’ (‘Why I was born’).

10. More than 2 million people participated in MGR's funeral. MGR memorial was built on the Marina beach in 1988 and was inaugurated by Janaki Ramachandran. He became the second Chief Minister from the state of Tamil Nadu to receive the Bharat Ratna posthumously.

(Compiled by M.Ram Sundar, Admin of IMoT Forum. admin@imotforum.com )