New Delhi, 17 January (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid heartfelt tributes to Bharat Ratna Dr. Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran, fondly known as MGR, on his 109th birth anniversary observed today, Saturday.

Renowned for transitioning from a cinematic icon to a transformative political leader, MGR founded the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and spearheaded populist welfare measures that reshaped the state's socio-economic landscape, including the expanded Nutritious Meal Scheme for schoolchildren, free electricity for farmers, and initiatives bolstering women's empowerment and rural infrastructure.

In an English post on X, the Prime Minister articulated: “Paying homage to the exceptional MGR on his Jayanti. His contribution to Tamil Nadu's progress is outstanding. Equally noteworthy is his role in popularising Tamil culture. We will always keep working to realise his vision for our society.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar