G. K. Moopanar

G. K. Moopanar Biography

G. K. Moopanar was an influential politician belonging to Indian National Congress from Tamil Nadu, who is remembered for his significant role in State politics. He is the founder of Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) party in the late 1990’s which got merged to parent Congress party after his death. After his death the leadership was taken over by his son, G. K. Vasan. Moopanar was a close associative of Kamaraj, one of the most influential political leaders of India. He was a parliamentarian and also known as a philanthropist and remembered for his commitment to secularism and cultural pluralism.

He was born on August 19, 1931 in Sunderaperumal Kovil, Kabisthalam, Thanjavur District to Govindasamy Moopanar and Saraswathi Ammal. Moopanar's parents were landowners in the pre-independent period and belonged to Moopanar clan. He, as a youth leader joined freedom struggle movement and was also interested in farming and studies. His father was the chief patron in the village school in which he studied. His progression from a young youth leader to president of the Thanjavur Congress Committee came in a very short period. He held the post for 10 long years since 1965. Very soon he became the second most important figure in Congress politics in the state after K. Kamaraj and served as Kamaraj’s close associative.

During the party split in 1969, he stayed faithful to parent party. He played a significant role in making Congress, the largest political party in the state. He was regarded as a troubleshooter by both congress prime ministers, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. He was responsible for the elevation of Rajiv Gandhi to the prime minister position following the assassination of Indira. He resembled a feudal landlord in appearance and deportment. He founded Tamil Maanila Congress in 1996 after 5 decade association with congress.

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Updated: April 25, 2014