Murasoli Maran was an Indian politician and an important leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party which was headed by his maternal uncle and mentor, M. Karunanidhi. A Member of Parliament for 36 years, he was made a Union Minister in three separate central governments, in charge of Urban Development in the V.P. Singh government, Industry in the Gowda and Gujral governments, and finally Commerce and Industry under Vajpayee. Apart from being a politician, Maran was a journalist and scriptwriter for films too.
Early life
Murasoli Maran Birth real name Thiyagarajasundaram born on 17 August 1934 was son of Shanmugasundaram and Shanmugasundari, the elder sister of M. Karunanidhi. He was born at Thirukkuvalai Village Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. After completing his basic education in his hometown he headed to Madras to get a master's degree in Arts from Pachaiyappa's College and Law College, Madras. Before joining politics Mr. Maran worked as a Journalist and later served as a social worker. Since his student life at Madras he was closely associated with the DMK. On 15 September 1963 he married Mallika and has two sons and a daughter. His younger son Dayanidhi Maran was an MP and his elder son Kalanithi Maran heads and owns the popular TV Network Sun TV. His daughter Anbukarasi Maran is a cardiologist. He was very vocal against Hindi being introduced in Tamil Nadu and for this he was arrested in 1965 during anti-Hindi agitations for his articles. He was detained for a year under Maintenance of Internal Security Act during emergency.
Career as journalist
Maran edited a daily newspaper in Tamil Murasoli published from Chennai. He was also an editor of , a weekly in English. He published Kunguman, Muththaram, Vannathirai and Sumangali in Tamil language.
1989-1990: Union Cabinet Minister, Urban Development
1992–1993: Member, Joint Parliamentary Committee to enquire into irregularities in the securities and banking transactions
1996: Elected to Lok Sabha for the third time
1996-1998: Union Cabinet Minister, Industry
1998: Elected to Lok Sabha for the fourth time
1999: Elected to Lok Sabha for the fifth time
1999-2002: Union Cabinet Minister, Industry
As a Member of Parliament his would read as M.A., M.P. The MA was his Arts degree at the Pachayappas College. The MP signified his being the Member of Parliament.
Death
Murasoli Maran died aged 69 on 23 November 2003 at Apollo Hospital in Chennai. He was in coma for many weeks. Before treatment at Apollo Hospital, on 14 November 2002, he was admitted to the Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, for ailments related to heart and kidney. At the time of his death he was a Cabinet Minister, Government of India, without any portfolio. Prime Minister Vajpayee, and an array of leaders attended his funeral in Chennai.
