Tamil Nadu in the 1990s
88 events, 1990 to 1999; 6 marked as turning points.
1990
Separate 1 percent reservation for Scheduled Tribes
The Karunanidhi government split the combined SC/ST quota and gave Scheduled Tribes a separate 1 percent reservation.
Madras Motor Race Track opens at Irungattukottai
A permanent motor racing circuit was inaugurated at Irungattukottai near Madras, becoming the centre of Indian motorsport.
Indian Peace Keeping Force withdraws from Sri Lanka
In March 1990 the final contingents of the Indian Peace Keeping Force, deployed under the 1987 accord, departed from Sri Lanka.
MGR memorial on the Marina inaugurated
The memorial to M. G. Ramachandran on Marina Beach, begun in 1988, was inaugurated by his widow V. N. Janaki Ramachandran.
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal constituted
On a Supreme Court direction, the Union government set up a tribunal to adjudicate the Kaveri water dispute between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry.
EPRLF leader K. Pathmanabha killed in Madras
EPRLF leader K. Pathmanabha and others were shot dead by gunmen in a Kodambakkam flat in Madras, in killings attributed to the LTTE.
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University founded at Tirunelveli
A state university for the southern districts, named after the Tamil scholar Manonmaniam Sundaranar, was established at Tirunelveli.
Mukurthi National Park created to protect the Nilgiri tahr
The montane grasslands and sholas of Mukurthi in the Nilgiris, a wildlife sanctuary since 1982, were upgraded to a national park.
Free electricity for farmers announced
The DMK government announced free power for agricultural pump sets, extending a 1984 scheme for small and marginal farmers to all farmers.
1991
DMK government dismissed under Article 356
The Chandra Shekhar government dismissed the Karunanidhi ministry, citing law and order concerns linked to LTTE activity, and imposed President's rule.
Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi at Sriperumbudur
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed by an LTTE suicide bomber at an election rally in Sriperumbudur.
Congress-AIADMK alliance sweeps all 39 Lok Sabha seats
In the election during which Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at Sriperumbudur, the Congress-AIADMK alliance won all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.
Jayalalithaa becomes Chief Minister for the first time
The AIADMK-Congress alliance swept the June 1991 election and J. Jayalalithaa became Chief Minister, the youngest in the state's history at the time.
Cauvery tribunal issues interim award
The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal directed Karnataka to release 205 TMC ft of water a year to Tamil Nadu.
Nagapattinam district carved out of Thanjavur
On 19 October 1991, Nagapattinam district was created by splitting the composite Thanjavur district in two.
Anti-Tamil violence in Karnataka over Cauvery award
Mobs attacked Tamils in Bangalore, Mysore and other parts of southern Karnataka after the Cauvery interim award was gazetted.
1992
Cradle Baby Scheme launched against female infanticide
The Jayalalithaa government introduced the Cradle Baby Scheme, allowing parents to leave unwanted infant girls with the state anonymously.
All-women police stations set up
The Jayalalithaa government opened police stations run entirely by women to handle complaints from women, starting in Chennai.
Chief Minister's Girl Child Protection Scheme
The state began depositing money in the names of girl children in poor families to counter gender discrimination and keep girls in school.
Mahamaham stampede at Kumbakonam
A stampede at the Mahamaham tank in Kumbakonam during the 12-yearly festival killed 48 pilgrims.
In Dharmapuri district, a raid on the tribal village of Vachathi by police, forest and revenue officials left villagers assaulted and women raped.
Roja released, A. R. Rahman's debut as composer
Mani Ratnam's Roja, the first film scored by A. R. Rahman, was released and its soundtrack transformed Indian film music.
1993
Al Ummah, a militant group founded in Coimbatore by Syed Ahmed Basha, was banned after the 1998 Coimbatore bombings.
Palar landmine blast by Veerappan's gang
A landmine attack by the sandalwood smuggler Veerappan near Palar killed 22 members of a police and forest team from Tamil Nadu.
Kalanithi Maran launched Sun TV, a Tamil general entertainment channel that grew into the Sun TV Network.
Jayalalithaa fasts on the Marina over Cauvery water
Seeking Cauvery water from Karnataka for the kuruvai crop, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa went on a fast of about 80 hours beside the MGR memorial.
Bombing of RSS office in Chennai
A bomb destroyed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh office in Chetpet, Chennai, killing several people.
South Arcot divided into Cuddalore and Viluppuram districts
The South Arcot district was bifurcated, creating Viluppuram district on 30 September 1993.
1994
Vaiko founds the MDMK after split from DMK
Expelled from the DMK, Vaiko founded the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).
Tiruchirappalli becomes a municipal corporation
Tiruchirappalli was made a municipal corporation by merging the Srirangam and Golden Rock municipalities.
Construction Workers Welfare Board established
Using its 1982 Manual Workers Act, Tamil Nadu created a construction workers' welfare board financed by a cess on building activity.
Koonthankulam declared a bird sanctuary
The village tank at Koonthankulam in Tirunelveli district, a major nesting site for waterbirds, was declared a bird sanctuary.
Salem becomes a municipal corporation
Salem municipality was declared the Salem City Municipal Corporation on 1 June 1994.
Tirunelveli becomes a municipal corporation
Merged with the municipalities of Palayamkottai and Melapalayam, Tirunelveli became a corporation.
69% reservation Act placed in the Ninth Schedule
Through the 76th Amendment, the Constitution's Ninth Schedule came to include Tamil Nadu's 1993 law that kept reservation at 69%.
Raj TV, a Tamil general entertainment channel based in Chennai, was launched, adding to the new private satellite channels in the state.
Cyclone crosses the coast near Madras
A cyclonic storm made landfall near Madras on 31 October 1994, causing about 115 million US dollars in damage and some 304 deaths.
1995
Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam founded
The Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) was formed as a mass organisation to defend the rights of Muslims in the state.
Eighth World Tamil Conference held in Thanjavur
The eighth World Tamil Conference was hosted in Thanjavur by the Tamil Nadu government.
Perambalur district carved out of Tiruchirappalli
The composite Tiruchirappalli district was split, forming Perambalur district on 1 January 1995.
Rajinikanth's Baashha released
Baashha, Suresh Krissna's gangster drama with Rajinikanth as an auto-rickshaw driver hiding his past, opened and became one of the actor's most famous films.
Mani Ratnam's Bombay released amid controversy
Bombay, Mani Ratnam's film about an inter-religious couple during the 1992-93 Bombay riots, drew controversy, and bombs were thrown at his Madras home.
About 600 policemen raided the Dalit village of Kodiyankulam in Thoothukudi district, destroying property amid caste clashes in southern Tamil Nadu.
Wedding of Jayalalithaa's foster son Sudhakaran
More than 150,000 people watched the extravagant Madras wedding of V. N. Sudhakaran, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's foster son, an event later drawn into corruption cases.
Ford enters India with plant near Chennai
Ford re-entered India through a joint venture with Mahindra and set up its main car plant at Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai.
Chennai MRTS opens, India's first elevated railway
India's first elevated urban railway came into service when the opening section of Chennai's Mass Rapid Transit System, linking Beach and Chepauk, began running.
Madras hosts the 7th South Asian Games
The 7th South Asian Federation Games were held in Madras, with the rebuilt Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as the main venue; India topped the medal table.
1996
Koyambedu wholesale market complex opens
On Chennai's western side, the Koyambedu Wholesale Market Complex, one of the largest perishable goods markets in Asia, was opened.
The Karunanidhi government introduced free bus travel for government school and college students and half fares for private institutions.
G. K. Moopanar forms Tamil Maanila Congress
Opposing the Congress's alliance with the AIADMK, G. K. Moopanar led a breakaway to form the Tamil Maanila Congress.
Rajinikanth backs the DMK-TMC alliance
Staying out of politics himself, Rajinikanth warned that 'even God cannot save' Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa's party won again, and endorsed the DMK-TMC alliance.
DMK-TMC alliance wins 1996 election
The DMK-TMC alliance won 221 of 234 assembly seats and all 39 Lok Sabha seats; M. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the fourth time.
Hyundai Motor India formed, plant at Irungattukottai
Hyundai established an Indian subsidiary and a car factory at Irungattukottai near Chennai, where the Santro, its first car, was launched in 1998.
Shankar's anti-corruption vigilante film Indian, starring Kamal Haasan, became the highest-grossing Tamil film on release and India's Oscar entry.
Theni district carved out of Madurai
A government order of 7 July 1996 split Madurai district to form Theni district.
Madras officially renamed Chennai
The Tamil Nadu government officially changed the capital's name from Madras to Chennai.
Jayalalithaa arrested in colour TV case
Former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was arrested and remanded in judicial custody in a corruption case over the purchase of colour televisions.
1997
Sivaji Ganesan receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award
Sivaji Ganesan received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the top film honour in India.
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam awarded the Bharat Ratna
A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the Rameswaram-born scientist who headed India's missile programme, received the Bharat Ratna.
Chengalpattu district split into Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur
The old Chingleput district was divided into Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur districts in 1997.
Mahalir Thittam extends women's self-help groups statewide
The state funded Mahalir Thittam to form women's self-help groups in all districts, after an IFAD-assisted pilot in Dharmapuri from 1989.
Tiruvarur district was formed out of Nagapattinam district, with Valangaiman taluk added from Thanjavur.
ATP tennis tournament moves to Chennai as the Gold Flake Open
India's only ATP Tour event moved from New Delhi to Chennai, where it was held every January until 2017 before shifting to Pune.
Namakkal district begins functioning
Split from Salem district in July 1996, Namakkal district began operating on its own from 1 January 1997.
Dalit panchayat president K. Murugesan and six other Dalit men were murdered at Melavalavu near Madurai by members of a dominant caste.
Jain Commission interim report on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination
Criticism of the DMK over the LTTE in the Jain Commission's interim report prompted Congress to demand the party's exit, bringing down the Gujral government.
First Samathuvapuram equality village inaugurated
The first Periyar Ninaivu Samathuvapuram, a housing colony where families of different castes live side by side, opened near Madurai.
Periyar University established at Salem
Periyar University, named after E. V. Ramasamy, was established at Salem on his birth anniversary.
Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University inaugurated
Chennai saw the inauguration of a state law university named for B. R. Ambedkar, created by a 1996 Act to place every law college under a single body.
The killing of a traffic constable in Coimbatore was followed by communal riots in which 18 Muslims and 2 Hindus were killed.
K. Krishnasamy founds Puthiya Tamilagam
Former MLA K. Krishnasamy founded Puthiya Tamilagam, a regional political party in Tamil Nadu.
1998
M. S. Subbulakshmi becomes the first musician awarded the Bharat Ratna
Madurai-born Carnatic singer M. S. Subbulakshmi was the first musician to be given the Bharat Ratna, the country's top civilian award.
Cauvery River Authority set up
The Union government set up the Cauvery River Authority, chaired by the Prime Minister with the chief ministers of the basin states, to implement the interim award.
C. Subramaniam awarded the Bharat Ratna
Former Union minister C. Subramaniam, a Congress leader from Tamil Nadu who ushered in the Green Revolution, was awarded the Bharat Ratna.
Rajinikanth's Muthu becomes a hit in Japan
Shown in Japan as 'Muthu: The Dancing Maharaja', the 1995 Tamil film earned more there than any other Indian film, holding that record for 24 years.
TADA court sentences 26 to death in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case
A designated TADA court at Poonamallee sentenced all 26 accused on trial to death for the conspiracy to assassinate Rajiv Gandhi.
AIADMK allies with the BJP; NDA wins 30 seats in Tamil Nadu
Breaking its long alliance with the Congress, the AIADMK joined the BJP-led front, which won 30 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.
Twelve bombs exploded across Coimbatore, killing 58 people, ahead of a campaign meeting by BJP leader L. K. Advani.
1999
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi contests elections for the first time
The Dalit Panthers movement led by Thol. Thirumavalavan, later the VCK, entered electoral politics for the first time in 1999.
Karaivetti declared a bird sanctuary
A freshwater lake in Ariyalur district that attracts thousands of migratory birds was declared a bird sanctuary by the Tamil Nadu government.
Pakistan win a close Test against India at Chepauk
Pakistan beat India by 12 runs at Chepauk in the first Test of their first tour of India in 12 years, despite Sachin Tendulkar's 136.
Ennore's new port, north of Chennai, gained major port status and was incorporated as Ennore Port Limited, the first major port in India run as a company.
AIADMK withdraws support, Vajpayee government falls
The AIADMK's withdrawal of support led to the Vajpayee government losing a confidence vote by a single vote.
Supreme Court verdict in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case
The Supreme Court upheld the convictions of seven accused in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and acquitted the other 19 sentenced by a TADA court.
Manjolai labourers massacre on the Tamirabarani
Seventeen people, mostly Dalit tea estate workers, died in the Tamirabarani river at Tirunelveli while fleeing a police lathi-charge.
Jaya TV, a Tamil satellite channel founded by AIADMK leader J. Jayalalithaa, was launched in Chennai.
DMK allies with the BJP; NDA wins 26 seats in Tamil Nadu
With the AIADMK out of the NDA, the DMK allied with the BJP for the first time and the NDA won 26 of Tamil Nadu's 39 Lok Sabha seats.
First Uzhavar Sandhai farmers' market opens in Madurai
Madurai hosted the first market of the DMK government's Uzhavar Sandhai scheme, where farmers could sell their produce straight to buyers.