One Among You

In 1966, M. K. Stalin began his political innings by launching the Gopalapuram Youth Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Over the next five decades, his political career would see him rise to become the Mayor of Chennai in 1996, the President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 2018 and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 2021. One Among You, a translation of Volume 1 of Stalin’s Tamil autobiography, Ungalil Oruvan, is the story of the first twenty-three years of his life, from 1953 to 1976. These formative years were witness to Stalin’s school and college days, his early involvement with the DMK and his integral role in the party publication, Murasoli . But Stalin’s journey extends beyond politics. He also had a profound connection to the world of theatre and cinema, where his passion for art intersected with his pursuit of social change. As the son of the political titan Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, it was inevitable that Stalin would grow up in a household throbbing with discussions about art, culture, politics, and language. This autobiography, ably translated by veteran journalist and editor, A. S. Panneerselvan, offers an intimate glimpse into the world that moulded the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.