Wikipedia

Murasoli Selvam

In this Indian name, the name Shanmugasundaram is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, "Pannirselvam" or "Selvam".

Shanmugasundaram Pannirselvam (24 April 1940 – 10 October 2024), popularly known as Murasoli Selvam, was a political journalist and film producer from Tamil Nadu, India. For over three decades, he served as the chief editor of Murasoli, the mouthpiece of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Through his maternal side, he was related to the Karunanidhi family.[1][2]

Murasoli Selvam
3rd Chief Editor of Murasoli
In office
2 December 1989 – 2022 (?)
Preceded byMurasoli Maran
Succeeded byTo be ascertained
Personal details
Born
Pannirselvam

(1940-04-24)24 April 1940
Thiruvarur, Madras Province, British India
(now Tamil Nadu, India)
Died10 October 2024(2024-10-10) (aged 84)
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
SpouseM. K. Selvi
Relations
Parents
  • Shanmuga Sundarathammal (mother)
  • Shanmugasundaram (father)
OccupationJournalist, film producer

Early life

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He was born on 24 April 1940 in Thiruvarur, a town in present-day Tamil Nadu.[3] His mother was Shanmuga Sundarathammal, whose younger brother M. Karunanidhi,[4] (the patriarch of the Karunanidhi family[1]) would later serve five terms as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (between 1969 and 2011). Karunanidhi initially named the boy as Pannirselvam in memory of Justice Party leader A. T. Pannirselvam, who had died in a plane crash earlier on 1 March of that year.[5] Selvam would later marry Karunanidhi's daughter Selvi.[6]

Selvam's elder brother Murasoli Maran served as a Union Minister (during 1989-2002) under four Indian Prime Ministers - V. P. Singh, H. D. Deve Gowda, I. K. Gujral, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Selvam was associated with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) early on,[7] and made his mark as a student leader during the 1965-67 Anti-Hindi agitations.[7][3]

Career at Murasoli

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Assuming charge

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He began his journalistic career along with Maran for Murasoli. After Maran went on to become a Union Minister under V. P. Singh,[5] Selvam became the editor in 1989.

On 22 May 1991, the day after the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, the Murasoli office was attacked and set on fire. Vehicles, documents, printing papers and the printing press owned by the newspaper were all burnt down. Despite the destruction, the daily came out the next day, with the headline 'Murasoli Will Take It'.[5]

Eventually, he came to be known as Murasoli Selvam. His editorial work in Murasoli played a pivotal role in uplifting the DMK's public image.[8]

1991-92 Breach of Privilege controversy

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On 9 September 1991, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, then the only DMK MLA in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, delivered a speech regarding the Tamil Nadu Housing Board. A part of his speech was expunged from the House notes that afternoon by the Speaker Sedapatti R. Muthiah. While the deletion was reflected in the Chennai edition of Murasoli, the daily's outstation editions contained the expunged text, as they have been printed by 2 pm.[5][2] Also, around this time, one of his articles criticised some actions of the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa,[7] especially highlighting the sequence of events that unfolded during her stay in Kodanad estate. This had garnered him political opposition. Ultimately, a direct privilege motion was filed against him by Jayalalithaa.[9][7]

After investigaton, the Assembly's Committee on Privileges issued a notice to Selvam, seeking an explanation. He was ordered to appear before the Committee despite his explanation. He appeared before the Committee but refused to apologise. He was arrested on 11 May 1992 and brought before Muthiah. He was ordered to appear on the day of the next sitting of the Legislature to receive its censure. Accordingly, a notice was sent to him to appear in the Assembly on 21 September. On that designated date, Selvam appeared in the Assembly, wearing a black shirt as a mark of protest. and was put in a defendant's dock. The MLAs from CPI, CPI(M), and PMK protested the move and staged a walkout. After this, the condemnation of the House was read, following which Selvam was discharged.

This event made Selvam the first newspaper editor in Tamil Nadu to be reprimanded at the Bar of the Legislative Assembly.[2][5]

Legacy

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Selvam published a memoir titled Murasoli Sila Ninaivalaigal (A Few Memories regarding Murasoli), where he articulated the plethora of first hand experiences with the newspaper, highlighting its crucial aspect and role in analysing the political challenges and roadblocks.[10]

According to his acquaintances, he was known for his quiet nature, never seeking political positions despite his closeness to the DMK leadership.[5]

Selvam passionately continued his work in Murasoli under the pseudonym "Silandhi" (transl. Spider).[2] His last officially published article appeared in Murasoli on 8 August 2024, wherein he was critical of R. N. Ravi (Governor of Tamil Nadu), calling out his religious politics.[7]

Partial filmography

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As producer[7]

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Year Title Screenplay Story/based on Director Starring
1978 Vandikkaran Magan M. Karunanidhi C. N. Annadurai Amirtham Jaishankar, M. R. Radha, and Jayachitra
1986 Palaivana Rojakkal Vartha

by T. Damodaran

Manivannan Sathyaraj, Lakshmi, Nalini and Prabhu
1987 Puyal Paadum Paattu Bharathan Radhika and Raghuvaran
1988 Paasa Paravaigal M. Karunanidhi

(dialogues)

Cochin Haneefa Sivakumar, Lakshmi, Mohan and Radhika

Death and tributes

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On 9 October 2024, Selvam (then living in Bengaluru, Karnataka and receiving treatment at a private hospital there) had been reportedly compiling a frontpage column for Murasoli (a colleague would later report that Selvam had called to discuss the work and finalise a cartoon for the publication).[11] The next day (10 October), Selvam suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 84.[12][13][14]

Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, as president of the DMK, mourned that he lost "the last shoulder and ideological pillar to lean on". The party announced that the party's flag would be hoisted in half-mast for three days in recognition of Selvam's contribution to the party's growth. Tributes poured in from key DMK leaders and legislators (including Udhayanidhi Stalin) and film personalities (including Sathyaraj). Leaders of parties and organizations including INC (Tamil Nadu unit), MDMK, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MNM, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), and Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) also expressed their condolence.[2][15][16][17][18][19]

Selvam's funeral was held on 11 October at the crematorium in Besant Nagar, Chennai.[20][21][22]

His portrait was opened at the DMK headquarters on 21 October. At the event, Stalin announced that a trust would be established in Selvam's name to annually confer awards to works and creators from the Dravidian movement.[23]

References

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  1. ^ a b Raman, Jyotsna (10 August 2018). "Meet the Karunanidhi clan: The vast family tree of TN's departed leader". The News Minute. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e https://www.livemint.com/news/who-is-murasoli-selvam-karunanidhis-son-in-law-passes-away-at-85-11728549552411.html
  3. ^ a b Service, Express News (10 October 2024). "DMK leader, former editor Murasoli Selvam passes away at 84". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Murasoli Selvam, Son-In-Law Of Former Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi, Dies At 82". Times Now. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "முரசொலி செல்வம்: ஜெயலலிதா ஆட்சியில் சட்டமன்றக் கூண்டில் ஏற்றப்பட்டபோது என்ன செய்தார்?". BBC News தமிழ் (in Tamil). 12 October 2024. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  6. ^ "யார் இந்த முரசொலி செல்வம்? திமுக-வின் முக்கிய நபர்..முதல்வரின் அன்பு மச்சான்!". Zee Hindustan Tamil (in Tamil). 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Murasoli Selvam, M K Stalin's brother-in-law, dies". The Times of India. 10 October 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Karunanidhi makes rare public appearances, visits Murasoli office". The Times of India. 20 October 2017. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  9. ^ "சட்டமன்ற கூண்டில் ஏற்றப்பட்ட அந்தத் தருணம்... - முரசொலி செல்வம் 'சம்பவங்கள்'". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Selvam, former editor of 'Murasoli', passes away". The Hindu. 10 October 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  11. ^ "MK Stalin's brother-in-law, DMK mouthpiece editor Murasoli Selvam, dies at 85". India Today. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  12. ^ Sivapriyan, E. T. B. "Murasoli Selvam, son-in-law of Karunanidhi, passes away at 82". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  13. ^ "முரசொலி செல்வம் காலமானார்; முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் இரங்கல்". Dinamalar (in Tamil). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  14. ^ "சென்னை கொண்டுவரப்பட்ட முரசொலி செல்வம் உடல்; உடைந்து அழுத முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின்!". Vikatan (in Tamil). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  15. ^ "MK Stalin's brother-in-law, DMK mouthpiece editor Murasoli Selvam, dies at 85". India Today. 10 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Murasoli Selva, former editor of DMK mouthpiece, no more; "lost last shoulder to lean on," mourns Tamil Nadu CM Stalin". ANI News. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  17. ^ DIN (10 October 2024). "முரசொலி செல்வம் மறைவு: கண்ணீர்விட்டு அழுத முதல்வர்!". Dinamani (in Tamil). Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  18. ^ "*முடிவெய்தினார் முரசொலி செல்வம்!*".
  19. ^ "முரசொலி செல்வத்தின் உடலுக்கு நேரில் அஞ்சலி செலுத்திய சங்கீதா விஜய்!". Vikatan (in Tamil). 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  20. ^ "சென்னை பெசன்ட் நகரில் இன்று 'முரசொலி' செல்வம் உடல் தகனம்: முதல்வர் மு.க.ஸ்டாலின் உருக்கம்". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 11 October 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Murasoli Selvam Funeral: Udhayanidhi Stalin Is Inconsolable, MK Stalin In Mourning; Watch Videos". News18. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  22. ^ "முரசொலி செல்வம் மறைவு; திரை பிரபலங்கள் நேரில் அஞ்சலி". nakkheeran. 11 October 2024. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  23. ^ "முரசொலி செல்வம் பெயரில் அறக்கட்டளை; திராவிட இயக்க படைப்புகள், படைப்பாளிகளுக்கு பரிசு: மு.க.ஸ்டாலின் அறிவிப்பு". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 22 October 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
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