The 54th Kamban Vizha, a three-day festival to commemorate Kamban, the Tamil poet of the Chola period, began on Friday at Kamban Kalaiarangam. Organised by Kamban Kazhagam, the festival has events based on Kamba Ramayanam.
Speaking at the event, Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said that Puducherry was second to none in honouring writers and poets. Although Puducherry was a small State, it had distinguished itself by holding events such as Kamban Vizha to honour writers and poets every year.
In other States, the Kamban Vizha was organised by scholars and writers.
But Puducherry is the only place where the government had joined hands with scholars to honour writers and poets, he added.
In a veiled reference to the ongoing turf war with Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, Mr. Narayanasamy referred to the recent High Court verdict and pointed out that truth would always prevail at the end.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian of Hyderabad High Court, Deputy Speaker V.P. Sivakolunthu and Ministers A. Namassivayam, Malladi Krishna Rao and M.O.H.F. Shahjahan were present.