“Though he (MGR) started as a Gandhian, he had joined the Dravidar Kazhagam in 1953 after being wooed by the thoughts and principles of Thanthai Periyar and Anna,” the statement said. Recalling his brief stint as the treasurer of the DMK in the late 1960s, the government release ‘lauded’ the tenure of MGR by referring to the various pioneering welfare schemes implemented by him for the poor and downtrodden people during his tenure as chief minister, including the UN appreciated nutritious meal scheme, creation of Thanjavur Tamil University and free uniforms plus footwear for school students.