S. Ramadoss

Ramadoss was born on 25 July 1939 in Kilsiviri (also spelled Keezhsiviri) village, Villupuram, Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu) to Sanjeevi Rayar Gounder and Navaneetham Ammal. They belonged to the Vanniyar community and were farmers.

{{main|1987 Vanniyar reservation agitation}}

In 1987, the Vanniyar Sangham under Ramadoss organized the 1987 Vanniyar reservation agitation demanding MBC status for Vanniyars. At the peak of the protests, the state was paralysed for a week when lakhs of trees were felled, highways blocked and damaged and more than 1400 houses of the Dalit community burned down.{{Cite journal|last=Collins|first=Michael A|date=2017-01-01|title=Recalling Democracy: Electoral Politics, Minority Representation, and Dalit Assertion in Modern India|url=https://repository.upenn.edu/dissertations/AAI10266289|journal=Dissertations Available from ProQuest|pages=137, 138}} The police under the M G Ramchandran (MGR) led AIADMK government shot down 21 protestors.{{Cite web|date=2021-04-05|title=40-yr-old reservation demand conceded in TN: Is it working for PMK?|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/elections/tamil-nadu-assembly-election/40yrold-reservation-demand-conceded-in-tn-is-it-working-for-pmk-101617616756127.html|access-date=2021-07-26|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}} Later in 1989, the DMK government under M. Karunanidhi granted them 20 percent reservation under the Most backward class.{{Cite news|last=Kolappan|first=B.|date=2012-05-07|title=Vanniyar Sangam revives demand for exclusive quota|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/vanniyar-sangam-revives-demand-for-exclusive-quota/article3391128.ece|access-date=2021-08-02|issn=0971-751X}} The Pattali Makkal Katchi, founded by S. Ramadoss on 16 July 1989,{{Cite web|title=Will PMK's investment in caste-politics yield results?|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/feb/26/will-pmks-investment-in-caste-politics-yield-results-1943843.html|access-date=2021-08-17|website=The New Indian Express}} emerged from these protests.{{Cite journal|last1=Manikandan|first1=C.|last2=Wyatt|first2=Andrew|date=2019-01-02|title=Political parties and federally structured incentives in Indian politics: the case of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/09584935.2019.1572070|journal=Contemporary South Asia|volume=27|issue=1|pages=3|doi=10.1080/09584935.2019.1572070|s2cid=151268924 |issn=0958-4935|url-access=subscription}}

S. Ramadoss is known for using foul language in press meets and public meetings. In June 2019 he stoked a controversy, saying that he would kill journalists who question him about hundreds of trees cut down by his party workers during his arrest by the J Jayalalithaa government. He said, "if we protest again we will not cut trees but hack down those who ask these questions, and throw their mangled bodies across the road."{{Cite web|date=2019-06-24|title='Will cut journalists who suggest I'm a tree-cutter': S Ramadoss|url=https://thefederal.com/states/south/tamil-nadu/will-cut-journalists-who-suggest-im-a-tree-cutter-s-ramadoss/|website=The Federal|language=en-US}} He also called the journalists "dogs" and "Kammanati pasanga", a derogatory phrase used for 'son of widow'.{{Cite web|title=Tamil Nadu: Viral video shows Ramadoss threatening to hack journalists|url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/06/24/tamil-nadu-viral-video-shows-ramadoss-threatening-to-hack-journalists.html|access-date=2020-08-16|website=The Week|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=2019-06-23|title=Ramadoss threatens journalist who questioned him on tree felling|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/ramadoss-threatens-journalist-who-questioned-him-on-tree-felling/article28112870.ece|issn=0971-751X}}

Ramadoss is notorious for his anti-Dalit rhetoric and violence. In December 2012, Ramadoss initiated a controversial campaign to prevent Dalit men from marrying non-Dalit women, especially those women who belong to the Vanniyar community.{{Cite web|title=On the heels of another murder, PMK rakes up 'fake love' again|url=https://thefederal.com/states/south/tamil-nadu/on-the-heels-of-another-murder-pmk-brings-up-fake-love-again/|access-date=2021-03-04|website=thefederal.com}} In Tamil Nadu, many political parties wanted legal action against him. In an event in 2010, he said, "Dalit men sporting jeans, t-shirts and fancy glasses lure our women into marriages that don't work." M. Karunanidhi asked the government of the state to "act against those stirring up a caste passion". The campaign provoked the 2012 Dharmapuri violence, where hundreds of Dalit houses were charred by arsonists.{{Cite web|title=PMK chief's anti-Dalit campaign sparks outrage|url=https://www.ndtv.com/south/pmk-chiefs-anti-dalit-campaign-sparks-outrage-506443|access-date=2020-09-17|website=NDTV.com}}{{Cite news|last=Kolappan|first=B.|date=2012-12-02|title=Ramadoss consolidates intermediate caste groups against Dalits|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Ramadoss-consolidates-intermediate-caste-groups-against-Dalits/article12432099.ece|access-date=2020-09-17|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web|last=Ravishankar|first=Sandhya|title=Who's who in Tamil Nadu elections: S Ramadoss|url=http://scroll.in/article/804855/whos-who-in-tamil-nadu-elections-s-ramadoss|access-date=2020-09-17|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}} Ramadoss strongly campaigned for raising women's legal age of marriage to 21 as he believes upper caste women in their late teenage are easy targets for Dalit men.{{Cite web|date=August 26, 2016|title='Marriage age for women should be made 21'|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/marriage-age-for-women-should-be-made-21/articleshow/53865730.cms|access-date=2021-03-04|website=The Times of India|language=en}} Ramadoss convened a meeting with leaders representing intermediate castes to crusade against SC/ST Act, a law that criminalizes caste discrimination, alleging that Dalits misuse the law and register false cases to settle personal scores.{{Cite news|last=Kolappan|first=B.|date=2012-12-02|title=Ramadoss consolidates intermediate caste groups against Dalits|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Ramadoss-consolidates-intermediate-caste-groups-against-Dalits/article12432099.ece|access-date=2021-03-04|issn=0971-751X}} In 2013, he was arrested for inciting caste riots. Jayalalitha blamed PMK and Vanniyar Sangam for the 2013 Marakkanam violence. Following his arrest, PMK organised a statewide violent protest that resulted in the injury of several people and losses to public property.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/south/story/pmk-ramadoss-out-of-jail-on-bail-slams-jayalalithaa-government-for-arrest-india-today-162657-2013-05-11|title=PMK leader S Ramadoss comes out of jail on bail, slams J Jayalalithaa government for his arrest}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/cm-holds-pmk-vanniyar-sangam-responsible-for-marakkanam-riots/article4666549.ece/|title=CM holds PMK, Vanniyar Sangam responsible for Marakkanam riots|newspaper=The Hindu|date=29 April 2013}} Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) accused PMK of murdering two Dalit youths in Arrakonam in April 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/Apr/08/two-youngsters-stabbed-to-death-in-clash-at-arakkonam-in-tn-vck-blames-pmk-for-murders-2287477.html|title = Two youngsters stabbed to death in clash at Arakkonam in TN, VCK blames PMK for murders - the New Indian Express}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|title=Role of Regional Political Parties in India|last=Bhūẏām̐|first=Dāśarathi |year=2007|publisher=Mittal Publications |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sauMPCyhaXcC&q=thirumavalavan&pg=PA61|isbn=9788183241915|ref=Bhūẏām̐}}
• {{cite book|title=Party System Change in South India: Political Entrepreneurs, Patterns and Processes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V9RHlzMCiasC&q=thirumavalavan&pg=PA129|publisher=Routledge|year=2009|isbn=9780203862209|last=Wyatt|first=Andrew|ref=Wyatt}}

• [http://pmkofficial.com/ramadoss/ S Ramadoss Official Profile]

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Category:Pattali Makkal Katchi politicians

Category:1939 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Viluppuram district

Category:Indian political party founders

Category:Indian actor-politicians