Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin speaks at an event to inaugurate of the ‘Tirumathi Lakshmi Valar Tamil’ Library at Alagappa University in Karaikudi, donated by Congress veteran P. Chidambaram, at the Alagappa University in Karaikudi on January 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit: L. Balachandar
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday questioned how a person appointed by the Union government (the Governor) could hold the post of Chancellor of State universities when it was the Tamil Nadu government that was spending on the education of students — from school to college.
Since the State government was disbursing funds to develop infrastructure and academic standards in colleges and universities and paying the salaries of lecturers, the post of Chancellor should be held by the Chief Minister, who is elected by the people, Mr. Stalin said. “Till we win the State’s rights over higher education, the legal and political struggles will continue,” he added.
Library inaugurated
The Tirumathi Lakshmi Valar Tamil Library, inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on the Alagappa University campus in Karaikudi on January 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
L. Balachandar
Inaugurating the ‘Tirumathi Lakshmi Valar Tamil’ Library at Alagappa University in Karaikudi, donated by Congress veteran P. Chidambaram in memory of his mother, Mr. Stalin advised students to pursue knowledge instead of wealth.
He said the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai; Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai; and the upcoming Periyar Library in Coimbatore could be utilised to further their knowledge.
Mr. Stalin invited the people of Tamil Nadu to stand against the forces that were trying to appropriate figures such as Tiruvalluvar and Vallalar, who had advocated for social equality.
He also appealed to members of the public to start libraries at their villages and towns in their capacities. “Those who cannot afford [to open] a library can open a study centre, providing a space to those interested in reading books,” he added.
“More government arts and science colleges have been opened in the State in the last three years alone. Additionally, a grant of ₹7,500 per month is provided to students who appear for the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination, and ₹25,000 per month to those appearing for the Civil Services (Main) Examination. They have proved to be of great help to underprivileged students,” he added.
Schemes such as Naan Mudhalvan, Pudhumai Penn, and Tamil Pudhalvan, started by the Tamil Nadu government, had paid off, taking the State to the first position in the number of students going in for higher education, Mr. Stalin said, adding: “Tamil Nadu’s 49% enrolment in higher education is two percent higher than the national average.”
Such successes should also be attributed to the efforts of personalities such as R.M. Alagappa Chettiar, who came forward to start colleges in rural areas after Independence. “Though Alagappa was known as an industrialist, former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru lauded him as a socialist for his ideas,” he recalled.
‘Tamil should not be confined to literature’
Mr. Chidambaram recalled that his mother had instilled in him a deep passion for Tamil and English. He emphasised that Tamil should not be confined to the field of literature but must extend to maths, computer science, agriculture, management, technology, and medicine, paving the way for the intellectual progress of Tamil speakers worldwide.
Tamil poet and lyricist Vairamuthu said India, which was in the fifth position globally in publishing books, should aspire to surpass China that ranks first in the publishing industry.
He also unveiled a statue of Tiruvalluvar on the campus and named the university’s convocation-seminar hall as ‘Veerukaviyarasar Mudiyarasanar Hall’.
Ministers Thangam Thennarasu, S. Regupathy, K.R. Periyakaruppan, Govi Chezhiaan, M.P. Saminathan, R.S. Rajakannappan, and Siva V. Meyyanathan; Sivaganga MP Karti P. Chidambaram; Alagappa University Vice-Chancellor G. Ravi; and Sivaganga Collector Asha Ajith, among others, participated.
In the evening, Mr. Stalin went on a four-km road show from Alagappa University to a private hall at Sudamanipuram. He also inspected an Adi Dravidar welfare hostel for girls at Mudiyarasan Salai, and interacted with the students.
Published – January 22, 2025 01:19 am IST