Unnal Mudiyum Thambi ~ Dr MS Udayamurthi is no more

Sad to read about the demise of a great person, who inspired us. Dr. M.S. Udhayamurthy, founder of Makkal Sakthi Iyakkam, who had inspired the youth with his motivational essays since the 1980s, died of cardiac arrest at his residence  on 21.1.2013 in Akkarai on East Coast Road near Injambakkam. He was 85;  and is survived by two sons and a daughter.

Born in Vila Nagar in the present Nagapattinam district, he obtained a doctorate in Chemical engineering from the United States. He later returned to India with the idea of making a difference in public life. In 1988, he started the Makkal Sakthi Iyakkam. Dr. Udhayamurthy authored 23 books, most of which spoke on personality development and self-confidence. He also authored books on business and spirituality. He undertook four ‘padayatras’ stressing the need for synchronising various rivers in the country, covering more than 2,000 km.

His catch-phrase was ‘Unnal Mudiyum Thambi, Nambu’ [you can do it, Believe Brother] ……… was made more famous with a Tamil film titled ‘Unnal Mudiyum Thambi’ directed by K Balachander and starring  Kamal Haasan in the lead role. The movie was released in Aug  1988, which was in fact was a remake of Chiranjeevi starrer  Rudraveena in Telugu.   The film had a good message with the hero exhibiting great interest in social service and reforming the society, fighting against social evils including arrack.  

MS Udayamurthi had endeared himself to tamil readers with many of his articles like "thattungaL thiRakkappadum," and "unnAl mudiyum thambi, n-ambu"  published in Ananda Vikatan in the eighties.

He was indeed a visionary.  He was in USA for quite some time, running a Chemical Industry there very successfully.  He was one of the prominent advisers for Wisconsin University, USA.  He had the innate desire to do something for his native place.  In 1980s, he returned to India by giving his business to his son and settled in Chennai;  he started Makkal Sakthi Iyakkam, a social organization to help the society.   His books carried excellent motivating message for the Nation and Youngsters.   Some of his books are in the curriculum of Universities / Schools in Tamil Nadu.

However, his Makkal Sakthi Iyakkam made little impact in the political arena.  In 1996, members of Makkal Sakthi Iyakkam contested 11 constituencies in the Assembly elections in the State. Dr. Udhayamurthy contested from Madurai. However, none of its candidates won. Later on, he made the organisation a non-political movement. He was one of the earliest civil society activists to make a foray into public life with a view to attracting the middle class to electoral politics.

He has inspired many.  Dr. M.S. Udayamurthy School of Excellence  is an institution dedicated to mould, shape and produce very good citizens who respect the constitution of our nation, by promoting literacy, wisdom and excellence.  The school is trying and providing to fulfill the vision, an environment in which every student taps his/her latent potential and prove the mettle.

Deeply regret the demise of great person

With regards – S. Sampathkumar