CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday announced Ilakkiya Maamani awards for the years 2022 and 2023 to six Tamil scholars.
Aranga Ramalingam (68) from Kallakurichi district, KM Kothandam from Virudhunagar district and Prof Suryakanthan alias M Marudhachalam (67) were selected for the awards in 2022.
The scholars chosen for the 2023 are G Manickavasagam (94) from Cuddalore district, S Shanmugasundaram (73) from Tirunelveli district and Ilakkiya Natarajan (64) from Sivaganga district.
To commemorate the centenary celebrations of former Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, three more Tamil scholars-- Mani Arjunan (70), A Thiruvidam (77) and K Poornachandran (74)-- have been chosen for the awards by the state government this year.
Meanwhile, the state government on Thursday also announced the Nammazhwar award for best organic farmers for 2023-24 to three farmers -- G Siddhar of Maharnonbuchavadi in Thanjavur, KV Palanisamy of Pongalur in Tirupur and K Ezhilan of Achukattugramam in Kancheepuram district.