DMK Chief MK Stalin pays floral tribute to Pandit Iyothee Thass on his 181st birth anniversary
Chennai, May 20
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President MK Stalin on Wednesday paid a rich floral tribute to pioneering social reformer Pandit Iyothee Thass to mark his 181st birth anniversary in Gandhi Mandapam. Senior political figures gathered at the Gandhi Mandapam campus to honour the late anti-caste thinker and acknowledge his lasting impact on regional politics.
Tamil Nadu Congress President K Selvaperunthagai also went to Gandhi Mandapam to garland the statue of prominent social reformer Pandit Iyothee Thass to mark his birth anniversary celebrations.
Talking to the reporters. Tamil Nadu Congress President K Selvaperunthagai said, "We garlanded the statue of Iyothee Thass on the occasion of his birth anniversary. He was one of the greatest leaders in Tamil Nadu... All our leaders raised voices for his memorial and in 2022-23 on the floor of the Assembly, and it was accepted immediately by the MK Stalin-led DMK government... We must also maintain this memorial..."
Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay paid a floral tribute to social reformer Pandit Iyothee Thass, who was a pioneering anti-caste thinker, on the occasion of his 181st birth anniversary at Gandhi Mandapam in Chennai.
Several state ministers and senior leaders of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) also joined the Chief Minister in honouring the philosopher and reformer.
Earlier on May 18, Vijay chaired a high-level review meeting of the Energy Department to assess the state's power infrastructure and financial health, while also issuing major directives for the renovation and modernisation of 'Amma Canteens' across the state.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister conducted a detailed assessment regarding the power generation capacity, current electricity demand, and distribution networks.
Following detailed discussions with the concerned government department secretaries, the Chief Minister directed officials to immediately improve infrastructure facilities at the canteens and procure necessary cooking equipment. Since the inception of the TVK government, the Chief Minister has implemented several key decisions.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting to see how Indian political parties pay tribute to historical figures. As an outsider, I appreciate the respect shown to social reformers. The mention of Amma Canteens modernization also sounds like a practical initiative for everyday citizens.
Wish more people knew about Iyothee Thass. He was a true pioneer who challenged the status quo. But honestly, political homage without substantive action to address caste discrimination feels hollow. Need more than just garlanding statues every year.
It's great that the state government is honoring such an important social reformer. Iyothee Thass' work on Dalit rights and education is inspiring. Hope the younger generation learns about his legacy in schools.
Nice gesture from Stalin and Selvaperunthagai. But I'm more curious about the Amma Canteens renovation - that's where the real impact on common people is. Hope the modernization is done properly and doesn't become another political photo op without follow-through.
पंडित ज्योति थास जी को श्रद्धांजलि 🙏 Their fight against social inequality is still relevant today. Good to see politicians from different parties united in this tribute. But let's also focus on implementing their ideas in today's governance.
L Lauren Z