Born on 17th August, 1934 at Thirukkuvalai (Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu) to Thiru. Shunmugasundram and Tmt. Shunmuga Sundari, Thiru. MURASOLI MARAN did his Post Graduation at Pachayappa's College, Chennai. He rose from a humble beginning to become one of the pillars of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party.

Maran was a writer of repute in Tamil. He authored books on politics and short story collections in Tamil. His book on State Autonomy (Manila Suyatchi) in February 1974 was a reputed research work on Centre-State relations and his other research work on the history of the Dravidian Movement in the year 1991 was titled Dravida Iyakka Varalaru. Vol. I. He was founder-member of the Madras Press Club from 1970-78 and was its President in 1978. He published a number of Tamil weeklies viz. Kungamam, Mutharam and Vannathirai. He also published an English Daily, 'Rising Sun'. He was arrested in 1965 during the anti-Hindi agitations for his articles; he was detained under MISA for one year during Emergency.

A multi-faceted person, Maran excelled in films and journalism as well. He scripted 20 Tamil films, directed two and produced five. In 1956, his film 'Kula Deivam' got President's Certificate of Merit as the best feature film (Regional). The Tamilnadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram conferred the title 'Kalai Mamani' in 1975 for his contribution to screen-play and dialogue writing. In 1956 his film 'Annayin Aanai' got President's Certificate of Merit as the second best feature film (Regional). His film 'Engal Than gam' got Tamil Nadu Government's award in the year 1970 as the second best feature film of the year.

Maran participated in various committees of lndian Parliament namely (i) Committee on Subordinate Legislation, Rajya Sabha, 1988- 89 (ii) Committee on Public Undertakings for three terms, (iii) Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, 1982-83 and 1987-88, (iv) General Purposes Committee, Rajya Sabha, 1980-82, 1991-92 and 1994-95 (v) Committee on Public Accounts, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95 (vi) Joint Parliamentary Committee to enquire into irregularities in the Securities and Banking Transactions, 1992 and (vii) Committee on Home Affairs. He was a delegate to the Commonwealth Parliamentarians' Conference, London in 1989. He was a Union Minister in the cabinet of Shri V.P. Singh, Shri I.K. Gujral, Shri Deve Gowda and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

As a DMK Party ideologue, he was essentially committed to the welfare of the Backward Classes and as an articulate person, he never hesitated to speak his mind. Thiru. Maran played an important role in the dynamics of the DMK in Tamil Nadu and national politics. He was the architect of political alliances in New Delhi. He foresaw, quite early, the shift towards multi-party coalitions from confrontational politics.

He was continuously elected to the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for 36 years from 1967. He commanded respect in New Delhi as a Member of Parliament and built up a formidable reputation as the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry through his ably demonstrated administrative acumen. He was the Chief negotiator of lndia in the Seattle and Doha Ministerial Conferences of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Despite his pro-reforms tag, Thiru. Maran did not hesitate to take on the developed countries at Doha to defend the rights of the developing countries under the WTO.

Ultimately some of India's views were accommodated in the consensus : He articulated India's concerns forcefully and he was a constant source of inspiration and guidance at the multilateral trade fora. Maran also won the developing nations more time to conform to the WTO rules on Patents and Foreign Investment.

His skills as a negotiator were honed during his 36-year career in politics. Maran was instrumental in establishing the Chennai Trade Centre and was the driving force behind the plan to set up a Special Economic Zone at Nanguneri in Southern Tamil Nadu though the project remained a non-starter. He played an important role in the setting up of the TIDEL Park for Software Technology in Chennai.

Thiru. Maran was affable and had friends in Delhi and elsewhere in the country cutting across party lines. He was widely travelled and led an Indian Parliamentary Delegation to London, Germany and Ireland. He was a Union Minister when he died at the age of69, on 23.11.2003.

Thiru. Murasoli Maran is remembered for his words and deeds by his innumerable admirers and the general public across the country.

The Department of Posts honours the life and works of Thiru. Murasoli Maran through the issue of a commemorative postage stamp.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India