Vai. Gopalsamy

Vaiko (standing) speaking at a meeting in London

Vaiko
Born	Vai. Gopalsamy 1944 Kallingappatti, Tirunelveli district, India
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	prominent politician in Tamil Nadu
Political party	Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK)
Website
MDMK.org.in

Vai. Gopalsamy (Tamil: வை. கோபால்சாமி ), popularly known as Vaiko (Tamil: வைகோ) 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.

Political career

Vaiko (Vaiyapuri Gopalsamy), M.A., B.L., was formerly seen as the ideological protege of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam 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.. He is the chief mentor of MDMK party and its doctrines. He always deliver a inspirational speech in public and political meetings which is also crowd pulling!!!

In Parliament

Vaiko was a sitting member in the Rajya Sabha 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 Lanka. 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..

Arrests

In the election in 2004, the MDMK split from the Bharatiya Janata Party (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.

Being conscious of the deplorable conditions of the people at the bottom, Vaiko concentrated to highlight their situation and champion their causes.Thus, by embracing their issues, VAIKO suffered imprisonment, twenty eight times(28) .Spending a total of four precious years of his life in jail the longest by any Dravidian leader! He is the only political leader who spent such long term without any expectations of power, position or material gains!

Achievements

In the 65 years old history of the Indian Parliamentary democracy, only VAIKO had the unique distinction of demanding continuously year after year, the interlinking of the Indian River waters and solve problems of floods and droughts simultaneously. As a first step he has been demanding to initiate the linking of the Southern Rivers as an irrigation grid! In fact he was the one who introduced the First Private Member Bill for this purpose!

For over 24 years VAIKO restlessly and relentlessly raised his voice for the cause of Tamils suffering unjust imprisonment and illtreatment in the jails at GULF countries and in Malaysia. It was he who played a major role in getting them released and for their safe return back to their native places!

All credit should be given to only VAIKO, for retaining Tamil Nadu’s biggest public Sector project, Neyveli Lignite Corporation under state control! It was his personal pleading with Vajpayee that stopped its privatisation.!

Vaiko’s restless projection of the poisonous effects of the Sterlite plant at Tutucorin and demand for its closure are about to bear fruit . It is causing health hazard to the public in the neighbourhood. It is controlled by one of the richest and influential Vedantha industrial family.

As far back as 1988 Vaiko’s voice was the first and only voice to raise objection for the proposals of the creation of a Nuclear Power plant at Koodankulam!The realization of its serious consequences has dawned only just now for the others!

Vaiko using his personal funds vaccinated 65 thousand children in his Sivakasi Constituency to protect them from the dreadful disease of jaundice . This was done through a three stage programme of administering preventive doses of injections for those children.His humanistic deeds are commendable indeed!Vaiko had the distinction of servicing free medical assistance consisting of major and minor operations and help in the rehabilitation of eight thousand (8000)handicapped children. A large number of girl children were benefited in this great humanitarian relief work!

For the past several years in the absence of a strong Farmer’s lobby, VAIKO had remained as the undisputed Leader and Champion of the anguished and deprived farmers of Tamil Nadu. He has been leading Farmers delegations, organizing mammoth public meetings and leading their agitations demanding the Farmers Right to fix for themselves viable prices for their products. He was also championing their demand for reduction of the prices of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer at affordable costs!

VAIKO has organized several mass awakening long marches involving thousands of adults and youth and Party workers, across the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu, covering more than Three Thousand K.M.of distance! These popular marches have been received with great enthusiasm as the following issues had been focused and those in authority had been reminded of their duties.These issues include Communal and Caste harmony,Inter-linking of the Rivers for better utilization of waters,For the employment guarantees and opportunities for the youth,For the betterment of the economically deprived segements in society,These marches have been braved by all the participants despite down pouring rains, scorching sunshine and heat and stormy weather conditions!

Vaiko has been highlighying the hardships and the plight of the small Traders , Street vendors and native business men, who have all been seriously affected by the globalization policy of our economy. This has resulted in native goods being replaced by imported goods. Vaiko remains the only genuine champion of the innumerable small scale business and trading classes!

Vaiko has been relentlessly championing the cause of Dalit Christians and the Muslim minority backward Classes whose cultural and economic status has been unsatisfactory which has been highlighted through the many commissions appointed by the Union and state governments.

He has addressed dozens of FORUMS all over the world besides his efforts in india.He roused the conscience of humanity which has resulted for the resolutions by the UNO!The day will not be far off for effective measures to take shape by the world community in this Ealam struggle and in securing their Home land which Vaiko has been advocating as the only solution.

Various leaders about Vaiko

During the function held on September 3rd 2005 to release his book "From The Portals of A Prison" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his Speech paid rich encomiums and Tributes to Vaiko stating that "Vaiko is a Glittering Star among leaders in this Dais.He used to meet me to represent always a public cause ,never a personal request.I salute him."

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 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 and helped to po

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)