He graduated with a Gold Medal in his Bachelor of arts degree in economics from St. Xavier's College, Palayamkottai and masters from Presidency College, Chennai. He obtained his bachelor's degree in law from Madras Law College.[4] He is an avid reader and orator known for his oratory skills both in Tamil and English. He has two daughters and a son.
He entered the Rajya Sabha in 1978 and has been member of the Upper House for three terms. He has also been elected to the Lok Sabha[8] twice.[3]
Vaiko was known as "Lion Of Parliament" due to his vociferous speeches in Parliament.[9][10] Vaiko protested against Kerala's demand for a new dam at Mullaperiyar and proposed building of dams in Pambar and Siruvani. Vaiko also supported national interlinking of rivers and Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project. Vaiko filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Madras High Court requesting closure of the copper smelting plant of Sterlite Industries in Tuticorin which did not follow the waste management procedures correctly and leading to the closure of the plant.[11]
Vaiko often goes on foot marches along with his party cadres to attract attention to issues.[12]
In 2008, Criminal Investigation Department of Tamil Nadu police arrested Vaiko on charges of sedition.[16] The charges stemmed from speeches Vaiko made at a party meeting on the Sri Lankan issue and the government's raids into LTTE-held areas on 21 October 2008.[16] After 14 days in judicial custody, Vaiko was released.[17]
Vaiko has said that India should retract its ban on the LTTE, claiming the ban was a shield to suppress freedom of expression and stifle the voice of the Opposition.[18][19]
On 3 April 2017, Vaiko was jailed in for sedition case filed by DMK in their 2010 regime.[20]
Philanthropy
In 2005, Vaiko started the Marumalarchi Blood Donors' Club.[21] Vaiko has launched many engagement programmes in rural areas with the participation of villagers.[22] Vaiko has undergone a month-long padayatra in Tamil Nadu for the interlinking of interstate rivers in India.[23] Vaiko during the time he represented Sivakasi Constituency in Loksabha conducted several medical camps for his constituents. He conducted medical camps for physically disabled people in his constituency with the help of Sri Venkateshwara Medical College, Thirupathi. Thousands of people afflicted by polio attended the camp and were given medical aid including corrective surgery at Thirupathi and Whitefield, Bengaluru and post-surgery aid, equipments, etc,. He conducted medical camps for providing the Hepatitis B vaccine for children and provided vaccines for 65000 children in his constituency. Considering the logistics and the planning involved in providing the vaccines in three doses to 65000 children, the program was successful without a hitch. And considering the fact that all these medical camps were organized by Mr. Vaiko without any government help and with his own money, it itself states the philanthropic nature of the leader.
Personal life
He married Renuka Devi on 14 June 1971. Vaiko enjoys writing in his free time and has authored over 50 books (Tamil & English) apart from regular essays and columns in newspapers.[24][25][26][27][28][29]
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