K. Veeramani

K. Veeramani
K. Veeramani
Born	(1933-12-02) December 2, 1933[1] Cuddalore, South Arcot District, Madras Presidency, British India[2]
Residence	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Education	M.A., B.L.,[3]
Occupation	Lawyer, social worker
Political party	Dravidar Kazhagam, Justice Party
Spouse(s)	Mohana[4]
Children	2 sons and 2 daughters[5]
Website	http://www.periyar.org/ http://kveeramani.com/

Krishnasamy Veeramani was born on December 2, 1933 in Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu. He is referred to as Aasiriyar K.Veeramani. He is the President of the Dravidar Kazhagam, a Social Revolutionary Movement centered in Tamil Nadu. He is the Chancellor of Periyar Maniammai University.^[6]

Personal

Veeramani was born in a middle-class family in Cuddalore, South Arcot District, Tamil Nadu, his original name was Sarangapani. He had his primary education at Cuddalore and entered Annamalai University for higher education. He obtained his master's degree in economics in 1956 with a Gold medal for being the top scorer in his class. He received his Bachelor of Law degree from Madras University in 1960. Prominent writer Jaykanthan was is class mate in his school(a Thinnai pallikoodam).

Public life

K.Veeramani came into limelight when as a boy of just 10 he was allowed address the gathering in the Justice Party Salem conference in 1944.He was introduced as activist by Annadurai.^[7] Apart from one year in which he practiced as a lawyer in Cuddalore, his career has been as a social worker. He began working with Periyar in 1956, and assisted Periyar in editing Viduthalai, the rationalist daily of Dravidar Kazhagam. In 1962 he was made the Executive Editor of Viduthalai and since 1978 has been the Editor.On 16 March 1978, Maniyammai died. The Managing Committee of the Dravidar Kazhagam elected K. Veeramani as General Secretary of the Dravidar Kazhagam on 17 March 1978. He was active in the social campaigns and agitations launched by Periyar for support of "socially discriminated people", and was incarcerated forty times for his activities. He was jailed under MISA for a year in 1976 for opposing the Emergency. He was again jailed in 1978 for showing Black flags against Indira Gandhi for imposing Emergency while in power. His father C. S. Krishnasamy died while he was in jail.^[8]

Awards

Alagappa University conferred the Doctor of Law on him (Honoris Causa) on April 4, 2003. Periyar International Inc., (USA) gives an annual award for outstanding contributions to Social Justice, which is named his honor. Mr. V. P. Singh, former Prime Minister of India, was the first recipient of the award. K.Veeramani is an Honorary Associate of Rationalist International.

References

External links

• Periyar - Official homepage of Periyar
• Dravidar Kazhagam - Official homepage of Dravidar Kazhagam
• Rationalist International