Maniammai
| Maniammai | |
|---|---|
| Born |
10 March 1917 Vellore, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | 16 March 1978 (aged 61) |
| Spouse(s) | Periyar E. V. Ramasamy (m. 1949; d. 1973) |
Maniammai (10 March 1917 – 16 March 1978) was an activist and rationalist leader from Tamil Nadu. She was also the life partner of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, and succeeded him as the leader of the Dravidar Kazhagam upon his death in 1973. She is considered the first woman political leader from the state.
Maniammai was born as Gandhimathi to Kanagasabai Mudaliar who was a party member of the Justice Party. Soon after her father's death, she joined the Dravidar Kazhagam, founded by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy in 1942–43. She became Periyar's personal assistant taking care of him, and eventually married him in 1949. Periyar's marriage with a much younger Maniammai and his appointment of her as his successor shocked many of his party leaders. Periyar's disciple C. N. Annadurai stated that Periyar had set a bad example by marrying a much younger woman. He formed a new party called Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
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