Correspondent

Tholkappiyan Thirumavalavan, popularly known as Thol. Thirumavalavan is a political leader, scholar, and activist from Tamil Nadu. Born on August 17, 1962, in Anganur, Ariyalur District, Tamil Nadu, to Tholkappiyan and Periyammal.

He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Presidency College, Chennai, followed by a Master’s degree in Criminology. He later pursued Law at Madras Law College. His academic journey culminated with a Ph.D. from Manonmanium Sundaranar University, where his research focused on the religious conversion of Meenakshipuram Dalits.

His political journey began in earnest when he founded the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a political party dedicated to the cause of Dalits. He was elected as a Member of Parliament twice from the Chidambaram constituency, first in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and then in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Conflicts between the Dalits and the Vanniyars have arisen frequently as a result of his fights with Pattali Makkal Katchi and its leader, Ramadoss. However, while they were a part of the same political alliance from 2004 to 2009, Thirumavalavan and Ramadoss were able to put their differences aside and collaborate.

Education

B.Sc.(Chemistry), MA(Criminology), B.L., Ph.D (Victimology) Educated at Presidency College, University of Madras, Chennai, Madras Law College, Chennai and MS University, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu