M Karunanidhi is the Chief Minister of the Indian state Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi is considered to be one of the founder members and the president of the DMK. For five times he has been the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1969-71, 1971-74, 1989-91, 1996-2001 and 2006-date). In the 2004 Lok Sabha Elections he led the UPA in Tamil Nadu to win all the 40 Lok Sabha seats. M Karunanidhi has been a key figure in Tamil Nadu politics for nearly five decades.

On 3rd June 1924, Muthuvel Karunanidhi was born to Thiru Muthuvelar and Thirumathi Anjugam Ammaiyar at Thirukkuvalai near Tiruvarur. At the age of 14, he entered public life. He was deeply inspired listening to a speech by Alagiriswami of the Justice Party. Being inspired by Alagiriswami, in 1932 and he participated in Anti-Hindi agitations. In long political career of Karunanidhi, he has been arrested several times fighting for public causes, including against price increase,Anti-Hindi Agitation,for Eelam Tamils and other political activities too.

Karunanidhi led a struggle in a bid that was instrumental in the Kallakudi struggle to rename Dalmiapuram railway Station. This non-vegetarian turned vegetarian, claims that the secret of his energy and success lies in yoga and daily practice keeps him young. He has married three times his wives are Mrs. Padmavathy, Mrs. Dayalu Ammal and Mrs. Rajathiammal. His sons are M.K. Stalin,M.K. Azhagiri,M.K Muthu , M.K Tamilarasu and daughters are Selvi and Kanimozhi is a Tamil poet and a Rajya Sabha Member.

Like many other political figures in this south Indian state, Karunanidhi also has close associations with the Tamil film industry. As a scriptwriter he did start his career. M Karunanidhi went to work for Jupiter Pictures as a script writer at the age of 20. His first film `Rajakumari`, gained him much popularity. It was here that his skills as a script writer were honed. He wrote more than 70 screenplays including Rajakumari, Abhimanyu, Mandiri Kumari, Marutha Naattu Ilavarasi, Manamagan, Devaki, Parasakthi, Panam, Thirumbipaar, Naam, Manohara, Ammaiappan, Malai Kallan, Rangoon Radha, Raja Rani, Puthaiyal etc.

The founder of the DMK, C.N. Annadurai had a close association with Karunanidhi. When Annadurai left the Dravid Kazhagam party, Karunanidhi came in with Annadurai. In 1957, Karunanidhi was first elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly and in the year 1961, he became the DMK Treasurer. He became the deputy leader of opposition in 1962 and in 1967, when the DMK came to power, he became the Minister for Public works. After Annadurai died in 1969, Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister. Since then there is no looking back. He has never seen in public without his trademark dark glasses.

Represented State Assembly in- Kulithalai: 1957-62, Thanjavur:1962-67, Saidapet: 1967-71, Saidapet: 1971-76, Anna Nagar: 1977-80, Anna Nagar: 1980-83, Harbour: 1989-91, Harbour: 1991 (Resigned), Chepauk: 1996-2001, Chepauk: 2001-2006. He has served as the Member of Legislative Assembly Council from1984to 86, Member of Legislative Assembly / Council for more than 40 years. M Karunanidhi won in all contested Assembly Elections from 1957 to 2006. He has been the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly from 1977 to 83. When Karunanidhi in earlier time was in power, his Government has built Tidel Software Park. In order to bring industries to Tamilnadu, he meets industrialists regularly. The New Tractor Manufacturing was also started by Mahindra and Nissan in Oragadam.

Karunanidhi has contributed a lot in Tamil literature. The contribution ranges from poem, letters, screenplays, novels, biographies, historic novels, stageplays, dialogues, songs etc. `Kuraloviam` for Thirukural, Tholkaappiya Poonga, Poombukar as well as many poems, essays and books, are all skillfully crafted by him. He has written: Romapuri Pandian, Thenpandi Singam, Vellikizhamai, Nenjukku Needhi, Eniyavai Erubathu, Sanga Thamizh, Kuraloviam, Ponnar Sankar, Thirukkural Urai and many books in prose and poetry numbering more than 100. Manimagudam, Ore Ratham, Palaniappan, Thooku Medai, Kagithapoo, Naane Arivali, Vellikizhamai, Udhayasooriyan, Silapathikarum, etc are the stage plays written by him. In 1942 he founded Murasoli. The `Murasoli` during his boyhood was a monthly publication, then it became weekly, and now it has become a daily publication. Using his talents as a journalist and cartoonist, he bought the issues relevant to his political ideology before the public. M Karunanidhi writes daily letters addressing his party workers by name; he has been writing these for over 50 years. Apart from these he did serve as the Editor for "Kudiyarasu" and gave life to journal - ` Mutharam`. He is also the founder of the State Governments News Reel, Arasu Studio.

M Karunanidhi has visited European Countries like Britain, France, West Germany, Rome during 1970. During 1971, he has visited U.S.A. and Malaysia during 1987. Special address delivered by him on the inaugural day of 3rd World Tamil Conference, which was held in Paris in the year 1970 and on the inaugural day of 6th World Tamil Conference held in Kualalampur (Malaysia) in the year 1987.

Some of the noted social works done by Karunanidhi are:

Beggars Rehabilitation Home,

Free Eye Camps,

Supply of free rice on important days,

Free supply of spectacles,

Abolition of hand rickshaws,

Slum Clearance Board,

Family Benefit Scheme,

Legislation for equal property rights for women,

Marriage grant of Rs.10,000/- for poor girls,

Incentive for Intercaste Marriages and Widows Re-marriages,

Maternity Relief for women in poor households,

Free Education for poor girls upto graduate level,

Adi-Dravidar Free Housing Schemes.

Formation of separate departments for Welfare of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes,

Special reservation of twenty percentage for the Most backward Classes,

Setting up of the State Planning Commission, etc.

Several awards and honors have been conferred to him.

He is often referred as Kaliangar, Muththamizh kavingar.

Annamalai University awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1971.

He was awarded "Raja Rajan Award" by Tamil University, Thanjavur for his book "Thenpandi Singam".

His Excellency, the Governor of Tamil Nadu and the Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University, Thiru Surjit Singh Barnala conferred an honorary doctorate on 15 December 2006, to the Chief Minister on the occasion of the 40th annual convocation. In 2007, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham awarded the chief minister M Karunanidhi with the honour of Yaaraan-E-Millath in recognition of his yeoman services for the welfare of the Muslims.

M Karunanidhi has been a great orator as well as administrator, play-writer, editor, publisher, author, parliamentarian, great poet and definitely a great Statesman.