Veeramani bestowed with Thiruvalluvar award

The veteran scholar was honoured for his contribution towards spreading the greatness of the saint-poet
Chief Minister O Paneerselvam hands over the Thanthai Periyar Award to Panruti S Ramachandran | Express
Chief Minister O Paneerselvam hands over the Thanthai Periyar Award to Panruti S Ramachandran | Express

CHENNAI: On the occasion of the Thiruvalluvar day, Chief Minister O Paneerselvam on Sunday presented the state government awards to nine recipients at the Kalaivannar Arangam here. The awards have been instituted in the names of prominent Tamil language patrons as well as noted political personalities.
While P Veeramani, veteran Tamil scholar, was awarded the Thiruvalluvar award for his contribution towards spreading the greatness of the saint-poet, AIADMK leader Panruti S Ramachandran was conferred the Thanthai Periyar award.

Other recipients include R Duraisamy, medical professional (Doctor Ambedkar award),  T Neelakandan, patriot and social worker (Perunthalaivar Kamarajar award), Professor S Ganapathi Raman (Mahakavi Bharathiar award), Ko Bharathi, poet, (Pavendar Bharathidasan award), Dr. Maraimalai Illakuvanar, Tamil scholar (Thiru Vi Ka award), Meenatchi Murugarathinam, Tamil scholar (Muttamizh Kavalar Ki Aa Pe Viswanatham award) and Kooram M Durai, poet, (Perarignar Anna Award).

The awards carry `1 lakh in cash, one sovereign of gold medal and a citation. The Chief Minister also distributed financial assistance, including a monthly pension of ` 2000 to 50 aged Tamil scholars from various districts of the state during the function.

In his address, Paneerselvam said Thirukkural doesn’t belong to one culture, one people or one country but it can be applied to the entire mankind. He urged Tamil scholars to work for the development of Tamil language and for the welfare of the state by promoting Tamil language.

Recalling that it was AIADMK government, under late leader J Jayalalithaa, which instituted the awards to honour Tamil scholars, Paneerselvam cited other instances, such as initiating steps for constructing the Thiruvalluvar statue in Kanniyakumari, establishing Thiruvalluvar University and organising the 8th World Tamil conference, as ever lasting contributions of Jayalaithaa towards the promotion of Tamil language. The Chief Minister also stated that it was under her leadership, the state government passed a resolution in the Assembly requesting the Centre to announce ‘Thirukkural’, the Tamil treatise authored by saint-poet Thiruvalluvar, as ‘national literature.’

“Tamil Nadu government will continue the journey on the path shown by Puratchi Thalaivi Amma,” he said.
Four of Paneerselvam’s cabinet colleagues, namely Kadambur Raju, Minister for Information and Publicity, Sevvoor S Ramachandran, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, P Benjamin, Minister for Rural Industries and D Jayakumar, Minister for Fisheries, were present.

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