Karunanidhi

Ninety-four-year-old Karunanidhi has had a six-decade-long career in Tamil and Indian politics. He has been the leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam since 1969 and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu five times. With the death of J. Jayalalithaa in December 2016, he is the undisputed tallest leader in the state even though his party is not in power and he continues to be in poor health. Karunanidhi’s contributions to state and national life are many. He is known for pioneering several social justice and welfare schemes, as also for championing the causes of Dravidian identity and Tamil language and culture. The DMK under him was a crucial ally of the Congress and a constituent of the UPA. At the same time, he has also been embroiled in several controversies, including his party’s support for the LTTE and the involvement of ministers from his party in the 2G spectrum scam. Karunanidhi: A Life in Politics chronicles the trailblazing life of one of India’s most important politicians for the first time in English.