The politician who helped trigger India's mobile revolution
In short: As India's Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Dayanidhi Maran oversaw a period of massive connectivity growth. By introducing plans that slashed call rates, his ministry helped transform the nation's telecommunications landscape, driving a surge in subscriptions that reshaped the country's digital future.
Dayanidhi Maran, a prominent member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, has been a central figure in Indian politics for decades. Born on 5 December 1966, he has been elected to the Lok Sabha from the Chennai Central constituency in four separate elections: 2004, 2009, 2019, and 2024. Born to ex-Union Minister Murasoli Maran, he is also the grandnephew of M., who previously served as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister. Karunanidhi.
This policy shift was a major driver for increased subscriptions. The 'One Rupee One India' scheme was launched by his department, making nationwide calls cost just 1 ₹ per minute. This era saw a massive expansion in connectivity; the number of connections rose from 75 million in May 2004 to a target of 250 million between December 2007 and December 2010.
Beyond telecommunications, Maran's influence extends into media and business. He is the younger brother of Kalanithi Maran, the founder of Sun Group. Maran's career has also been marked by controversy. In December 2023, he faced widespread condemnation after a video went viral in which he compared the economic prospects of English speakers in Tamil Nadu to Hindi speakers from northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, who he suggested often migrate for menial labor. While critics saw this as creating a North-South divide, the DMK defended the remarks as an illustration of the economic advantages provided by the state's two-language policy.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Dayanidhi Maran
- Also: Wikidata — Dayanidhi Maran · CC0
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