Sathyavani Muthu

Sathyavani Muthu (15 February 1923 – 11 November 1999)[1] was an Indian politician and an influential leader from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu, Rajya Sabha member and Union Minister. She began her political career as a member of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, began her own party, Thazhthapattor Munnetra Kazhagam and later joined the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. In late 1990s, she again joined in DMK.

Sathyavani Muthu
Born15 February 1923
Died11 November 1999(1999-11-11) (aged 76)
Occupationpolitician

Member of Legislative assembly

She was a member of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) since its beginning in 1949. In 1953, she was arrested for leading the DMK's protests against the Kula Kalvi Thittam. During 1959-58, she was the propaganda secretary of the party. She also served as the editor of the magazine Annai (lit. mother)[1] She contested assembly elections from Perambur and Ulundurpet constituencies in all assembly elections between 1957 and 1977 and 1984. She won three times from Perambur constituency as an Independent candidate in 1957 election, as a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate in 1967, and 1971 elections.[2][3][4] She lost the 1962 election from Perambur and 1977 election from Ulundurpet constituency.[5][6]

Electoral history
Election Constituency Winner Votes Party Runner-up Votes Party Status
1957 Perambur 1) Pakkiriswami Pillai
3) Sathyavani Muthu		 34,579
27,638		 IND
IND		 2) T. S. Govindaswamy
4) T. Rajagopal (SC)		 31,806
23,682		 INC
INC		 Won
1962 Perambur D. Sulochana 40,451 INC Sathyavani Muthu 32,309 DMK Lost
1967 Perambur Sathyavani Muthu 40,364 DMK D. Sulochana 33,677 INC Won
1971 Perambur Sathyavani Muthu 49,070 DMK D. Sulochana 37,047 NCO Won
1977 Ulundurpet V. Thulakkanam 26,788 DMK Sathyavani Muthu 19,211 ADMK Lost
1984 Perambur Parithi Ilamvazhuthi 53,325 DMK Sathyavani Muthu 46,121 ADMK Lost

Tamil Nadu minister

She served as a minister for Harijan welfare and Information during C. N. Annadurai administration in Tamil Nadu from 1967 to 1969.[7] She again served as a Harijan welfare minister in M. Karunanidhi administration till 1974.[8]

Thazhthapattor Munnetra Kazhagam

She resigned her ministerial position in 1974 and left Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. She claimed that Harijans are not treated well by DMK since the death of C. N. Annadurai and the new leader M. Karunanidhi was prejudiced against harijans.[8] She said

The time has come to form a new party to fight for the rights of the Harijans. After Dr. Ambedkar, nobody has taken the cudgels in real earnest......We will form a new party, sit on the opposition benches, and fight for the rights of Schedules Castes. We will not let them be exploited and humiliated endlessly.[8][9][10]

She formed Thazhthapattor Munnetra Kazhagam. The party was merged with Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after it came to power winning the 1977 election.[11]

Union minister

She served as a Rajya Sabha member as an Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam representative between 3 April 1978 till 2 April 1984. She served as a Central Minister in Charan Singh administration in 1979 and she along with Bala Pazhanoor were the first two non-Congress Dravidian parties Tamil Nadu politicians to serve in Union ministry.[12]

Books
Cover page of the book My Agitations by Sathyavani Muthu

Sathyavani Muthu penned her struggles in the book titled "My Agitation" which was first released in 1982 by The Justice Press in Madras.

References
  1. Thirunavukkarasu, Ka (1999). Dravida Iyakka Thoongal (in Tamil). Nakkeeran pathippakam.
  2. "1957 Madras State Election Results, Election Commission of India" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  3. "1967 Tamil Nadu Election Results, Election Commission of India" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  4. "1971 Tamil Nadu Election Results, Election Commission of India" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  5. "1962 Madras State Election Results, Election Commission of India" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  6. "1977 Tamil Nadu Election Results, Election Commission of India" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  7. India, a reference annual. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 1968. p. 447.
  8. Duncan Forrester (1976). "Factions and Filmstars: Tamil Nadu Politics since 1971". Asian Survey. 16 (3): 283–296. doi:10.1525/as.1976.16.3.01p01703. JSTOR 2643545.
  9. "The rise and fall of Sathyavani Muthu". Femina. 7 June 1974.
  10. . The Hindu. 5 May, 6 May, 15 May and 3 June 1974. Check date values in: |date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. "Nedunchezhiyan dies of heart failure". The Hindu. 13 January 2000. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
  12. "The Swing Parties". Indian Express. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
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