Eminent Tamils honoured

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Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Friday honoured Tamil scholars, authors and publishers
as she led the state in celebrating the Tamil New Year, the first after she asserted that Tamil new year should be celebrated on the birth of Chithirai.

Addressing a grand official function, presided over by Assembly speaker D. Jayakumar at the Madras university centenary hall here, the CM announced annual awards in the names of Tamizhthai, Kabilar and Vu Ve Sa to honour and encourage Tamil scholars who contributed for the development of Tamil language and Avvaiyar award for the best outstanding women.

The chief minister presented the Tamizhthai award to Madurai Tamil Sangam, founded in the late 19th century to promote Tamil language and culture, Kabilar award to Munaivar A.A. Manavalan and Vu Ve Sa award to Pulavar C. Rasu. Noted educationist Mrs Y. G. Parthasarathy was presented with the best outstanding women award.

Asserting that Tamil New Year was being celebrated from time immemorial, she said “The practice of celebrating the Tamil New Year on the first day of Chithirai has been in vogue for 2,000 years based on seasonal cycles and other geographical parameters,” and quoted literary references to show that Tamil New Year was traditionally celebrated in Chithirai (middle of April),Ms Jayalalithaa slammed her predecessor for changing the new year to Thai, stating “the DMK leader had changed the date to get cheap publicity, thus hurting the sentiments of the people.”

“As people’s faith cannot be altered by laws,” she reversed the decision, she said. People
of the state celebrated the Tamil New Year by offering special worship at temples. They decorated their houses with mango leaves and exchanged greetings.