Acclaimed epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan, who passed away recently in Chennai, was not only a researcher par excellence but was also an exemplary human being, said DMK functionary and former School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu here on Sunday.
Speaking at an event organised to pay homage to the late scholar, Mr. Thennarasu said, “Though I knew him for the past many years, including when I was serving as a Minister, he never approached me for any personal favours.”
He also highlighted how Mahadevan sold his house to form Vidyasagar Educational Trust in the name of his late son to assist youngsters from underprivileged background in their education.
Stating that Mahadevan was not a man who ran behind awards, Mr. Thennarasu said that the late scholar, however, never refused to accept any award as it would be disrespectful to those conferring it.
“During the former DMK government in Tamil Nadu, the State government recommended him for Padma Bhushan or Padma Vibhushan, However, the Union government only conferred Padma Shri. Though we were disappointed, he gracefully accepted it,” he said.
Highlighting that Mahadevan was deeply concerned over unprotected inscriptions, Mr. Thennarasu said he wanted a shed to be erected over the historically-significant inscriptions in Pulankurichi in Sivaganga district, which are now in a dilapidated condition. Mahadevan also played an instrumental role in showcasing the connection between Indus Valley civilisation and Dravidian civilisation at the World Tamil Conference in Coimbatore.
A number of scholars, including archaeologist C. Santhalingam, Sundar Kali from The Gandhigram Rural Institute, and K.T. Gandhirajan from Tamil Virtual Academy, spoke on Mahadevan’s tremendous contributions to the understanding of Indus Valley and Tamil Brahmi scripts. The function was organised by Pandia Nadu Historical Research Centre and Karuthu Pattarai.