VVS Swaminathan: Tamil Nadu's Unsung 'Man of Steel'

Monika Magesh
When someone says ‘VVS’, V V S Laxman, sportsman par excellence, probably comes to mind. But there is another, V V Swaminathan, a Dravidian leader, former MLA, MP and minister, who began his 100th year on Feb 15, 2026. What calls for jubilation are not just his long innings on earth, but also his inspiring public life and his service to society.

Born in 1927 at Vilvarayanallur Village, near Kumbakonam in the then Thanjavur district, Swaminathan showed interest in politics. While still in school, he took part in the ‘Quit India Movement’ against the British. Young VVS was patriotic and largely inspired by the Dravidian movement spearheaded by Periyar and Anna. VVS went on to obtain a law degree and was enrolled as an advocate in 1954. Under the tutelage of the late V T Rangaswami Iyengar, former public prosecutor of the Madras High Court, VVS shone with his hard work and courtroom craft.


In 1964, 37-year-old VVS was elected chairman of the Chidambaram municipality from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The revered Arignar Anna has eulogised this victory by penning an appreciation for him in his famous series ‘Thambikku Kaditham’ (Letter to Brother), which was published by ‘Dravida Nadu’; and also hosted a dinner in his honour at his home in Kanchipuram.

As municipal chairman, VVS introduced the concept of a ‘complaint box’ for people to place their grievances. It was the first time something like this had been done in Tamil Nadu, and it set VVS apart from other public officials of his time. The redressal system brought a measure of accountability at the grassroots level. His political instinct and people-centric approach won him the trust of thousands.

It was under his chairmanship that the underground sewerage system was introduced in the district of Chidambaram. His municipality also bagged the ‘Best Municipality’ prize given by the chief minister of Madras state, M Bakthavatsalam, for ‘successful distribution of drinking water’.

Within the Dravidian movement, VVS was acclaimed as a ‘Man of Steel’. M. Karunanidhi was so impressed by his multifaceted personality that he nominated him to the Rajya Sabha in 1972. Despite his close association with Karunanidhi and M G Ramachandran, his ties with the latter proved stronger. In 1978, MGR made him an MP, after which it is believed he became the leader’s close aide and confidante. Before the completion of his Rajya Sabha tenure, MGR requested him to contest the state elections, and VVS was elected as MLA from the Bhuvanagiri constituency in 1980 and again in 1984. VVS also became a minister in MGR’s cabinet. He is perhaps the only minister who holds the incredulous feat of having 13 ministerial portfolios at the same time! He headed the department of electricity, prohibition & excise, HR&CE, information, publicity and cinemas, tourism, veterinary, dairy development, registration, stamps & chit funds, forest, planning, archaeology, the Wakf board and handloom & textiles, with equal and absolute proficiency. During Janaki Ramachandran’s tenure, VVS held the ministries of HR&CE and the Waqf board simultaneously.

VVS’s far-sighted thinking, sanguinity and composure in public life helped him excel in all his endeavours. Among the landmark moments of his career were establishing the first veterinary university of its kind in Asia in Tamil Nadu; installing a statue of Bharathiyar in New Delhi and the allotment of land to the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board for its head office; restoration of ‘aaru kaala poojai’ (six-times ritual worship) at Sri Arulmigu Dandathuyuthapaniswami Temple in Palani; retrieval of the right of all communities to chant Thevaram and Tiruvasagam hymns in 1987; and the recovery of stolen idols of Rajaraja Cholan and Cholamaha Devi from the Thanjavur Peruvudaiyar Temple.

Bringing Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited (TAMIN) under the state undertaking was his idea, as he believed that bringing natural minerals under govt control was for the greater good. His belief in egalitarian principles led him to implement a policy abolishing the posts of Karnamaniyam and introducing the ‘village administrative officers’ (VAOs), which allowed greater and equal participation by all citizens.

With 87 years of devoted public life behind him, he can be called a living bridge between the past and the present. As he enters his 100th year, VVS reminds us that one does not have to resort to questionable means to attain positions of power. There is always scope for being a statesman politician with qualities such as rectitude and tenacity. The American philosopher Garry Gutting once said, “Good politicians need not be intellectuals, but they should have intellectual lives.” VVS is a glowing example of that.


(The author is a post-graduate scholar in the Madras School of Social Work in Chennai)