States »SoutPosted at: Aug 2 2021 7:21PM TN legislature nurtured roots of democracy : President
Chennai, Aug 2 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Legislature could be
rightly credited with nurturing the roots of democracy by
focussing on governance to uplift the poor and purge social
evils, President Ram Nath Kovind said today.
Speaking after launching the centenary celebrations of the
Tamil Nadu legislature and unveiling a portrait of former
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at the Assembly chamber, he
said politics and governance in the region evolved around
positive and rational content that targeted the welfare of
those living on the margins.
"Abolition of the Devdasi system, widow remarriage, mid-day
meals in schools and distribution of agricultural land to
the landless were some of the revolutionary ideas that
transformed the society", he said.
The concept of the welfare state has taken deep roots in this
legislature irrespective of who rules here, he said.
Quoting revolutionary Tamil poet Subramania Bharati, who sums
up the progressive thinking of the people of Tamil Nadu, the
President said "We will learn both scripture and science, We
will explore both heavens and oceans; We will unravel the
mysteries of the moon asnd we will sweep our streets clean
too".
Noting that it was indeed gratifying to learn that the legislature
has a tradition of honouring the greatest stars of land, Mr Kovind
said the assembly already has the portraits of some of our greatest
heroes: Thiruvalluvar, Mahatma Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari, C. N.
Annadurai, K. Kamraj, E. V. Ramasami, B. R. Ambedkar, U.Muthuramalingam
Thevar, Muhammad Ismail Sahib, M.G.Ramachandran, J.Jayalalithaa,
S. S. Ramaswami Padayachi, V.O.Chidambaram Pillai, P. Subbarayan
and Omanthur P. Ramaswamy Reddiar.
Now this hall of fame will also have the portrait of Mr Karnunanidhi
whose entire life was devoted to the people’s cause in the state,
he said.
Paying glowing tributes to Mr Karunanidhi, Mr Kovind said when he
came here, he was thinking about Chakravarti Rajagopalachari,
Gandhiji’s conscience keeper and a titan among the freedom fighters.
He was the first Indian occupant of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and his
presence graced this august house too. He was the first Premier or
Chief Minister of Madras State too.
His successors too were exemplary political leaders. Among all Rajaji’s
successors, however, it was Mr Karunanidhi who ruled the longest and
thus has left a defining stamp on Tamil Nadu.
Recalling that Mr Karunanidhi started his political career right in
his early teenage years, when India was still fighting for freedom,
Mr Purohit said he left us only recently.
"When as a young boy fired by ideals he had started working for the
downtrodden, India was in the shackles, exploited under foreign rule
for long years, stricken by poverty and illiteracy", he said.
When he breathed his last, he must have been satisfied that this land
and its people had made astounding progress and development on all
fronts. He must have been satisfied too, as he spent every waking hour
of his long and productive life in the service of the people of the
state and also of the nation, the President said.
Hailing Mr Karunanidhi's contributions to Tamil literature and cinema,
Mr Kovind said "What I know is that there are very few political leaders
who are so passionate about language. For him, his mother-tongue was the
object of worship."
Tamil, of course, was one of the greatest and the oldest languages of
humankind. The whole world takes pride in its rich heritage.
But it was Karunanidhi who ensured that it was granted official recognition
as a classical language. "Kalaignar was a leader in a class of his own. He
was among the last links we had with the stalwarts of our national movement",
he added.
In his address, Chief Minister M K Stalin this day should be written in
the golden letters in the history of the State and the country.
he recalling various historic resolutions passed in the Assembly including
adopting the dual language formula in the State, various legislations
for the welfare of the women and their empowerment, besides adopting
a historic resolution christening Chennai State as Tamil Nadu.
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