Tamil Nadu day celebrations: Tamil Semmal awards presented to 76 scholars

Tamil Nadu Day was celebrated at the Government Museum Auditorium in Egmore, Chennai, on November 1, under the leadership of Minister N. Anand, with the participation of several ministers and dignitaries.According to a Tamil Nadu Government statement, Chief Minister Vijay had announced that November 1, marking the formation of the Madras State, and July 18, the day the historic resolution to rename the State as Tamil Nadu was moved and passed in the Assembly by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, would be observed as Tamil Nadu
Day.
The November 1 celebrations were organised to remember and honour leaders who fought for the State’s boundaries, including Silambu Selvar M.P. Sivagnanam, Thalapathy Vinayagam, Mangalankizhar, Marshal Nesamony, Thiruvallangadu Thirumalai Pillai, Thiruthani Rasheed, P.S. Mani, Sam Nathaniel and Comrade
Jeeva.
During the function, the works of poet K. Jeevabharathi and late Tamil scholars Professor Raj Gauthaman, Saranabaskaran alias T.M.M. Ahmed, S. Gandhasamy and T.M. Peer Mohamed were nationalised.
Each was awarded a copyright remuneration of Rs. 10 lakh. The monthly assistance provided to five border protection activists was increased from Rs. 7,500 to Rs. 10,000, and the corresponding government orders were distributed.
A total of 76 scholars who received the Tamil Semmal Awards for 2024 and 2025 were presented with Rs. 25,000 each, a citation and a ceremonial shawl. Additionally, 179 students who had recited all 1,330 Thirukkural couplets were awarded Rs. 15,000 each along with certificates of appreciation.
MLAs R. Vijay Saravanan and V. Narayanan, Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram Chairman Pushpavanam Kuppusamy and other dignitaries attended the
event.