Sathyavani Muthu
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Sathyavani Muthu (15 February 1923 – 11 November 1999) 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.
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) 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. She lost the1962 election from Perambur and 1977 election from Ulundurpet constituency.
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. She again served as a Harijan welfare minister in M. Karunanidhi administration till 1974.
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. 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.
She formed Thazhthapattor Munnetra Kazhagam. The party was merged with Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after it came to power winning the 1977 election.
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.
Books
Sathyavani Muthu penned her struggles in the book titled "My Agitation" which was first released in 1982 by The Justice Press in Madras. A book was written by Ms. Bhavani Ilavenil on the struggles of Sathyavani Muthu and released in the year 2018. The book titled "Thaltapatta Makkaluku Kalingnar M. Karunanidhi Seydha Dhroham - Sathyavani Muthu Varalar" (How Karunanidhi betrayed Dalits - Dr.Sathyavani Muthu's Struggles).
