Leader & Visionary
About Vaiko
A Tireless Fighter for Tamil People's Rights
Vaiko
Founder & General Secretary of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK)
50+
Years in Politics
5
Parliament Terms
50+
Books Authored
Many
Padayatras
Born
July 5, 1944
Birthplace
Kalingapatti, Tamil Nadu
Career
Former DMK member, elected to Lok Sabha (twice) & Rajya Sabha (thrice)
Political Stance
Staunch advocate for Tamil rights, social justice, regional autonomy, and Sri Lankan Tamil cause
"The Tamil race is an ancient race. Our language is the oldest. Our culture is rich. We will never let anyone suppress our identity."
V
— VaikoLife Journey
Early Life & DMK Days
- Started with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) from his student days, known for eloquence
- Courted arrest multiple times for agitations, including anti-Hindi protests
Formation of MDMK (1994)
- Felt sidelined by DMK chief Karunanidhi, leading to a split
- Launched MDMK in 1994 to champion Tamil culture and federated rights
Parliamentary Career
- Served three terms in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House)
- Elected to the Lok Sabha (Lower House) from Sivakasi
Activism & Legal Issues
- A vocal supporter of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Tamil Eelam
- First MP detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) in 2002
- Jailed again in 2009 under sedition charges
Recent Years
- Remains a significant force in Tamil Nadu politics, often aligning with DMK-led fronts (like the INDIA bloc)
- Known for high-profile foot marches (padayatras) on key issues
Personal Life
- Married to Renugadevi Ammal, with children
- An author of over 50 books in Tamil and English, besides writing articles