Who Is Saidai Duraisamy? Age, Wife, Son, Biography, Family & Facts About Chennai’s Mayor

Saidai Duraisamy is a prominent politician and a former mayor of Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, India. He is also the founder and chairman of Manidhaneyam IAS Academy, a free coaching academy for civil service aspirants. He has a long and illustrious career in politics and public service, spanning over four decades. He is known for his simplicity, honesty, and dedication to the welfare of the people.

Saidai Duraisamy Wiki/Bio

Name	Saidai Samiyappan Duraisamy
Born	16 February 1952
Birthplace	Karur, Madras State (now in Karur District, Tamil Nadu, India)
Nationality	Indian
Ethnicity	Kongu Vellalar
Religion	Hinduism
Spouse	Mallika Duraisamy
Children	Vetri Duraisamy
Residence	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation	Politician, Businessman, Educationalist, Social Worker
Political party	All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)
Positions held	Mayor of Chennai (2011-2016), Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly (1984-1989)
Awards and honors	Best Mayor Award, Best Social Worker Award, Best Educationalist Award, Best Businessman Award, Honorary Doctorates from several universities
Notable achievements	First AIADMK mayor of Chennai, Founder and chairman of Manidhaneyam IAS Academy, Donor and sponsor of various social and charitable causes
Links	Wikipedia- @Saidai_Duraisamy Facebook- @SDsamy52 Homepage- Newsunzip

Biography

Saidai Duraisamy was born on 16 February 1952 (Age: 71 years, as of 2023) in Karur, a town in the then Madras State (now in Karur District, Tamil Nadu). He belongs to the Kongu Vellalar community, a sub-caste of the Vellalars, who are traditionally farmers and landowners. He was the eldest of six children of his parents, Samiyappan and Thangam. His father was a farmer and a freedom fighter, who participated in the Quit India Movement of 1942. His mother was a homemaker and a devout Hindu.

Saidai had a humble upbringing and faced many hardships in his childhood. He studied in a government school in Karur till the 10th standard, and then moved to Chennai for higher education. He completed his pre-university course from Pachaiyappa’s College, and then graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Presidency College, both in Chennai. He was a bright and hardworking student, who excelled in academics and extracurricular activities. He was also interested in politics and social service, and joined the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), a regional political party, in 1972.

Political Career

Saidai Duraisamy started his political career as a youth wing leader of the AIADMK, and soon rose to prominence in the party. He was a loyal follower of M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), the founder and leader of the AIADMK, and a popular actor and chief minister of Tamil Nadu. He was inspired by MGR’s charisma, vision, and welfare schemes for the poor and the downtrodden. He worked tirelessly for the party and the people, and earned the trust and respect of MGR and the masses.

He contested and won his first election in 1984, when he was elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the Saidapet constituency in Chennai. He was one of the youngest MLAs at that time, and served as a member of the assembly till 1989. He was also appointed as the secretary of the AIADMK’s Chennai district unit, and played a key role in strengthening the party’s base and popularity in the city.

He stayed away from active politics after the demise of MGR in 1987, and focused on his personal and professional life. He also established Manidhaneyam IAS Academy in 2006, a free coaching academy for the aspirants of the civil services examination, the most prestigious and competitive exam in India. He has helped thousands of students to achieve their dreams of becoming bureaucrats and serving the nation.

Saidai Duraisamy made a comeback to politics in 2011, when he contested the assembly elections as an AIADMK candidate from the Kolathur constituency in Chennai. He lost the election by a narrow margin to M. K. Stalin, the son and heir of M. Karunanidhi, the leader of the rival party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). However, he did not lose hope, and contested the mayoral election of the Chennai Corporation, the civic body of the city, in October 2011. He won the election by a landslide margin of over 5.19 lakh votes, and became the first AIADMK mayor of Chennai. He took the oath of office on 25 October 2011.

Height, Weight

• Height: 5 feet 8 inches
• Weight: 81 kg
• Eye Color: Black

Mayorship and Achievements

Saidai Duraisamy served as the mayor of Chennai from 2011 to 2016, and brought about many changes and improvements in the city. He was known for his simple and humble lifestyle, and his accessibility and responsiveness to the people. He used to travel by public transport or cycle to his office, and often visited the slums and the suburbs to interact with the residents and address their grievances. He also implemented many welfare schemes and development projects for the city, such as:

• Providing free laptops, bicycles, and uniforms to the students of the corporation schools, and improving the quality of education and infrastructure in the schools.
• Launching the Amma Canteens, a chain of subsidized eateries that offer hygienic and nutritious food to the poor and the working class at nominal rates.
• Introducing the Amma Call Centre, a 24×7 helpline that provides information and assistance to the citizens on various civic issues and complaints.
• Beautifying and maintaining the Marina Beach, the longest urban beach in India, and creating facilities for recreation and entertainment for the visitors.
• Constructing and renovating many parks, playgrounds, libraries, community halls, and public toilets in the city, and promoting greenery and cleanliness.
• Improving the solid waste management system, and implementing the source segregation and door-to-door collection of garbage.
• Enhancing the storm water drainage network, and reducing the water logging and flooding problems in the city.
• Expanding and upgrading the bus shelters, footpaths, street lights, and traffic signals in the city, and ensuring the safety and convenience of the pedestrians and the commuters.
• Promoting the use of solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and rooftop gardening in the city, and creating awareness about the environment and climate change.

Saidai Duraisamy was widely praised and appreciated for his work and achievements as the mayor of Chennai, and received many awards and honors, such as:

• The Best Mayor Award from the All India Institute of Local Self-Government in 2013.
• The Best Mayor Award from the Tamil Nadu Urban Development Forum in 2014.
• The Best Mayor Award from the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2015.
• The Best Mayor Award from the Rotary Club of Madras in 2016.

Wife, Son

Saidai Duraisamy is married to Mallika Duraisamy, who is a homemaker and a supportive partner. They have a son, Vetri Duraisamy, who is a businessman and a politician. Vetri is the founder and chairman of Vetri Ventures, a company that deals with real estate, hospitality, and entertainment. He is also the president of the AIADMK’s youth wing, and a member of the party’s executive committee. He is married to Priya, who is a doctor and a social worker. They have a daughter, Aadhya, who is a student.

Saidai Duraisamy is a devout Hindu, and follows the teachings of Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, and MGR. He is also a philanthropist, and donates generously to various charitable causes and organizations. He is fond of reading, writing, and travelling, and has authored several books on politics, history, and spirituality. Some of his books are:

• Manidhaneyam: A Journey of Service and Success
• MGR: The Legend and The Leader
• Chennai: The City of Dreams and Destiny
• My Vision for India: A Roadmap for Development and Democracy

Net Worth

Year	Estimated Net Worth (in INR)
2021	₹10.66 crore (Estimated)
2022	₹14.87 crore (Estimated)
2023	₹15.62 crore (Estimated)