V. Gopalswamy
Encyclopedia
Vai. Gopalsamy popularly known as Vaiko is a prominent politician in Tamil Nadu
, in south India
. He was born in Kallingappatti, Tirunelveli district
, Madras Presidency, in 1944 to a Telugu
speaking Kamma Naidu
family who descended from the Nayaks of Gandikota
. He is the founder of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
(MDMK), a political party that espouses the cause of the Tamil people
and Tamil nationalism
. He is known to be a supporter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) which is banned as a terrorist organization in 32 countries including India and as a result he was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act
(POTA) in 2002 and once again on 23 October 2008 for sedition
.
co-founder and the former Chief Minister
of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi
. He entered the Rajya Sabha in 1978 and has been member of the Upper House for three terms. He has also been elected to the Lok Sabha twice.
for 18 years continuously when he became a prominent second leader of the party. He was known as the "Tiger of Parliament" among the other MPs in appreciation of his good manners in the Parliament.
. In 2002, he was arrested by the Government of Tamil Nadu, when J. Jayalalithaa was the chief minister, for making a speech supporting the LTTE, under the controversial POTA, and spent 18 months in prison. After the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War
he stated that India should retract its ban on the LTTE, claiming that the ban was "a shield to suppress freedom of expression and stifle the voice of the Opposition". He and his party still urges centre to lift ban on LTTE stating the ban as unjust. He advocates LTTE reflected the rightful aspiration for freedom of Sri Lankan Tamils.
(BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance
that it was part of since 1999, and joined a coalition led by the Indian National Congress
. After an emphatic win in the polls, and the subsequent repeal of POTA, Vaiko was released from prison. He contested the 2006 assembly elections with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
led by J. Jayalalitha. But AIADMK alliance lost in the 2006 Assembly elections and Vaiko's party could get only 6 seats. However it is worth noting, that before this election, MDMK had not won a single seat in the assembly elections, since it didn't ally with any major party in Tamil Nadu.
In 2008, officials of the 'Q' Branch of the CID
of the Tamil Nadu police arrested the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
(MDMK) General Secretary
on charges of sedition. The MDMK presidium chairman and former Union Minister, Kannappan, was also arrested along with Vaiko on the same charges. Both the party leaders were charged under Section 124 (A) IPC ("Whoever brings or attempts to bring in hatred or contempt or excites disaffection towards the government") and Section 13 (1) (b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 ("Whoever advocates, abets in, advises or incites the commission of any unlawful activity"). The charges stemmed from speeches Vaiko made at a party meeting on the Sri Lankan issue and the government's raids into LTTE-held areas on October 21. He warned that Indian help to protect Sri Lanka’s integrity would jeopardise India’s own unity and integrity. He also added that he would be ready to take up arms and fight for the Tamils in Lanka. Kannappan, on the other hand, warned the Centre not to force Tamils in Tamil Nadu to struggle for a separate country. A general alert had been sounded across Tamil Nadu following the arrest. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said that the law would take its course in this case, saying that whatever happened occurred as per the letter and spirit of the law. Conversely, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
General Secretary Jayalalithaa described both arrests as simple political vendetta. After 14 days in judicial custody Vaiko and Kannappan, arrested on charges of sedition on October 23, were released by a chennai city court following the Tamil Nadu Government's submission that investigations into the charges against them were complete and there was no need for a further remand.
He launched a three-day 'Tank Desilting Program' in his village, with the participation of villagers. Villagers & himself loaded clay in tractors when the work began. He has undergone a month long padayatra
in Tamil Nadu, to establish communal harmony, to prevent caste clashes and to create an awakening for the interlinking of inter state rivers in India.
During the Paramakudi violence in september 2011, he visited hospital to see the injured. He saw a 19 year old boy injured in police firing. He immediately admitted him in speciality hospital and saved his life.
He has conducted free medical camps for the physically challenged for years
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, in south India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was born in Kallingappatti, Tirunelveli district
Tirunelveli District
Tirunelveli District is a district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Tirunelveli is the district headquarters. A unique feature of this district is that it encompasses all five geographical traditions of Tamil Literature; kurinji , mullai , marudham , neithal and palai...
, Madras Presidency, in 1944 to a Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
speaking Kamma Naidu
Kamma (caste)
Kamma or the Kammavaru is a social group that are classed as Upper Shudras is found largely in the Southern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu and Karnataka. The Kamma population was 795,732 in the year 1881. According to 1921 census they constituted about 4.8% of Andhra Pradesh...
family who descended from the Nayaks of Gandikota
Pemmasani Nayaks
Pemmasani Nayaks were a martial clan in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. They came into prominence during Vijayanagar times as rulers of Gandikota...
. He is the founder of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a political party in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu formed in 1994 by Mr. V. Gopalswamy , a member of Rajyasabha and a party activitist of DMK. Mr. V. Gopalsamy grew in the party from his student days. He actively participated in the party agitations and...
(MDMK), a political party that espouses the cause of the Tamil people
Tamil people
Tamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
and Tamil nationalism
Tamil nationalism
Tamil nationalism in India is an aspiration by some Tamils to establish, at minimum, self determination or at maximum secession from India to establish an Independent Tamil State of which would consist of today's Tamil nadu, Puducherry and Tamil Eelam of Sri Lanka...
. He is known to be a supporter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
(LTTE) which is banned as a terrorist organization in 32 countries including India and as a result he was arrested under the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act
Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act
The Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act was an anti-terrorism legislation enacted by the Parliament of India in 2002. The act replaced the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance of 2001 and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act , and was supported by the governing National Democratic Alliance...
(POTA) in 2002 and once again on 23 October 2008 for sedition
Sedition
In law, sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that is deemed by the legal authority to tend toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent to lawful authority. Sedition may include any...
.
Political career
Vaiko (Vaiyapuri Gopalsamy) was formerly seen as the ideological protege of the Dravida Munnetra KazhagamDravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. It is a Dravidian party founded by C. N. Annadurai as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam headed by Periyar...
co-founder and the former Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi
Muthuvel Karunanidhi is an Indian politician and a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is the head of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , a Dravidian political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. He has been the leader of the DMK since the death of its founder, C. N...
. He entered the Rajya Sabha in 1978 and has been member of the Upper House for three terms. He has also been elected to the Lok Sabha twice.
In Parliament
Vaiko was a sitting member in the Rajya SabhaRajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
for 18 years continuously when he became a prominent second leader of the party. He was known as the "Tiger of Parliament" among the other MPs in appreciation of his good manners in the Parliament.
Political views
He is well-known for his unequivocal support for the banned LTTE and other organizations fighting for a separate Tamil state in Sri LankaSri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. In 2002, he was arrested by the Government of Tamil Nadu, when J. Jayalalithaa was the chief minister, for making a speech supporting the LTTE, under the controversial POTA, and spent 18 months in prison. After the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
he stated that India should retract its ban on the LTTE, claiming that the ban was "a shield to suppress freedom of expression and stifle the voice of the Opposition". He and his party still urges centre to lift ban on LTTE stating the ban as unjust. He advocates LTTE reflected the rightful aspiration for freedom of Sri Lankan Tamils.
Arrests
In the election in 2004, the MDMK split from the Bharatiya Janata PartyBharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party ,; translation: Indian People's Party) is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Indian National Congress. Established in 1980, it is India's second largest political party in terms of representation in the parliament...
(BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance
National Democratic Alliance (India)
The National Democratic Alliance is a centre-right coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party and had thirteen constituent parties. Its convenor is Sharad Yadav, and its honorary chairman is former prime minister Atal...
that it was part of since 1999, and joined a coalition led by the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
. After an emphatic win in the polls, and the subsequent repeal of POTA, Vaiko was released from prison. He contested the 2006 assembly elections with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. The party was founded by M. G. Ramachandran and is now headed by J. Jayalalithaa. The party headquarters is in Royapettah, Chennai, and was gifted to the party in 1986 by its...
led by J. Jayalalitha. But AIADMK alliance lost in the 2006 Assembly elections and Vaiko's party could get only 6 seats. However it is worth noting, that before this election, MDMK had not won a single seat in the assembly elections, since it didn't ally with any major party in Tamil Nadu.
In 2008, officials of the 'Q' Branch of the CID
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
of the Tamil Nadu police arrested the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a political party in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu formed in 1994 by Mr. V. Gopalswamy , a member of Rajyasabha and a party activitist of DMK. Mr. V. Gopalsamy grew in the party from his student days. He actively participated in the party agitations and...
(MDMK) General Secretary
General Secretary
The office of general secretary is staffed by the chief officer of:*The General Secretariat for Macedonia and Thrace, a government agency for the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thrace...
on charges of sedition. The MDMK presidium chairman and former Union Minister, Kannappan, was also arrested along with Vaiko on the same charges. Both the party leaders were charged under Section 124 (A) IPC ("Whoever brings or attempts to bring in hatred or contempt or excites disaffection towards the government") and Section 13 (1) (b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 ("Whoever advocates, abets in, advises or incites the commission of any unlawful activity"). The charges stemmed from speeches Vaiko made at a party meeting on the Sri Lankan issue and the government's raids into LTTE-held areas on October 21. He warned that Indian help to protect Sri Lanka’s integrity would jeopardise India’s own unity and integrity. He also added that he would be ready to take up arms and fight for the Tamils in Lanka. Kannappan, on the other hand, warned the Centre not to force Tamils in Tamil Nadu to struggle for a separate country. A general alert had been sounded across Tamil Nadu following the arrest. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said that the law would take its course in this case, saying that whatever happened occurred as per the letter and spirit of the law. Conversely, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. The party was founded by M. G. Ramachandran and is now headed by J. Jayalalithaa. The party headquarters is in Royapettah, Chennai, and was gifted to the party in 1986 by its...
General Secretary Jayalalithaa described both arrests as simple political vendetta. After 14 days in judicial custody Vaiko and Kannappan, arrested on charges of sedition on October 23, were released by a chennai city court following the Tamil Nadu Government's submission that investigations into the charges against them were complete and there was no need for a further remand.
Social work
He runs a blood donors club which is run by the MDMK by the name "Blood Donors' Club". To date, more than 80,000 units of blood have been donated to the poor.He launched a three-day 'Tank Desilting Program' in his village, with the participation of villagers. Villagers & himself loaded clay in tractors when the work began. He has undergone a month long padayatra
Padayatra
Padayatra is a journey undertaken by a politician and/or prominent citizens to interact more closely with different parts of society, educate them about issues concerning them and to galvanize his or her supporters...
in Tamil Nadu, to establish communal harmony, to prevent caste clashes and to create an awakening for the interlinking of inter state rivers in India.
During the Paramakudi violence in september 2011, he visited hospital to see the injured. He saw a 19 year old boy injured in police firing. He immediately admitted him in speciality hospital and saved his life.
He has conducted free medical camps for the physically challenged for years
External links
- Official website of MDMK
- Mr.V.Gopalsamy (vaiko), General Secretary of MDMK Unofficial Web site
- Online version of Sangoli Official magazine of MDMK party. (in Tamil)