CHENNAI: During his early days in the film industry in the 1930s, the late chief minister MG Ramachandran was drawn to Gandhian principles and he used to wear khadi. Those who were friendly with him found him a Congress volunteer although he was only a sympathiser.The Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, speaking at the function for the third National Handlooms Day here, recalled how MGR was attached to khadi clothes those days.
“In 1930s, many an artiste staged dramas in support of the ahimsa way of fighting for independence. While doing so, most of them used to sing anti-British songs. MGR too was attracted towards the struggle for independence and Gandhian principles,” Palaniswami recalled. “Boys Company, the well known drama troupe in 1930s, staged a drama Kadhar Bhakthi (devotion to Khadi clothes). In that play, MGR donned the role of a patriotic monk and when he delivered a lecture on patriotism, the audience cheered and ‘Hail Mahatma Gandhi’ slogan rented the air,” the chief minister added.
Palaniswami recalled that the Swadeshi movement was launched on August 7, 1905 in Kolkata and the National Handlooms Day was being celebrated since 2015 to mark this significant step in the struggle for independence.Speaking on the occasion, the Handlooms and Textiles Minister OS Manian said the State Government would continue to urge the Centre to exempt handloom items from the GST soon.
Quarters for cops
The chief minister on Monday inaugurated 228 residential quarters and new buildings for six police stations- Ayyappan-thangal, Avadi, Vallam, Sengipatti, Anakavur and BHEL in Tiruchy district