Kolathur Mani

Kolathur Mani or T. S. Mani  is a Periyarist and the founder of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagamformerly Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam. He puts relentless efforts for propagating the principles of Periyar E. V. Ramasamy. He is also known for his great support for LTTE. He is the coordinator of People's Alliance against Kudankulam nuclear power plant and one of the coordinators of the Federation against death penalty.

Kolathur Mani was born on 20 June 1948 in Ukkamparuthikaadu, Salem district. His parents were Sengodan and Pavayammal. His father was a farmer. He was married to Kamala and had two daughters, Nathigarani and Arivuchelvi. He finished schooling at Nirmala High School and later joined a university course at Government Arts College, Salem. He started his career as a Junior Assistant in Panchayat Union in 1966. He quit his government job in 1971. During his school days, he started reading Viduthalai, a daily founded by Periyar, and later, he became a member of Dravidar Kazhagam. He was part of many campaigns organized by Dravidar Kazhagam.In 1974, he became the President of Kolathur town, and in 1977, he was  Deputy Secretary of Salem district.

He was active in the Farmers Association and has organized many protests for the welfare of the farmers. He became the District Secretary of Salem district in 1980 and organizing secretary for the state in 1988. He had fought against the widowed women to wear a white saree and succeeded. He has also held caste denial marriage. In 2000, he left Dravidar Kazhagam.Later, he became the President of Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, which dissolved due to some differences in opinions. In 2012, he started functioning as a President of the new movement Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, which works on different agendas of Periyar like eradication of caste and women subjugation, rationalism, communism, independent Tamil Nadu and bringing out a communist society without caste and gender inequalities. He was also a supporter of Tamil Eelam.

He spends money in favor of Tamil Eelam rebels. During the Veerappan issue, He helped in releasing many innocent persons from imprisonment. In 2000, he helped in rescuing the Kannada film star Rajkumar kidnapped by Veerappan. He has also protested the death penalty of Santhan, Murugan, Perarivalan, and four Tamils who were imprisoned and sentenced to death in the Veerappan case. Kolathur has organized a protest against the establishment of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant. He was arrested several times for a longer period and has participated in various protests. His speeches were also compiled and released as books.