100 Years Of Vaikom Satyagaha: TN Announces Year-Long Events; New E V Ramasamy Memorial To Be Constructed

The Tamil Nadu government would organise year long events to commemorate the Vaikom struggle and disseminate the legendary movement's history, objective and its victory, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced on Thursday (30 March) in the Assembly.

The historic Vaikom struggle (1924-25) was against untouchability and it demanded that the ban be lifted on the oppressed people to walk on roads in and around the Mahadeva Temple at Vaikom town in Kottayam district of Kerala.

Efforts would be made to set up a new memorial for E V Ramasamy at Aruvikutti village in Kerala where the leader was first imprisoned for participating in the Vaikom movement, he said, adding steps shall be taken to release a special commemorative postage stamp.

Making a statement in the House, the Chief Minister said he would take part in the Kerala government's Vaikom struggle centenary on 1 April, 2023.

Noted scholar Pazha Adiyaman's Tamil work 'Vaikom Porattam' would be released in Malayalam. Also, Telugu, Kannada and English versions would be soon released.

On 29 November 2023, a grand event would be held by the Tamil Nadu government and he and his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan and several personalities would take part.

Stalin announced instituting 'Vaikom Award' to honour those who work outside of Tamil Nadu for the welfare of the oppressed people and bring a remarkable change. The award would be presented on September 17, the social justice day, he said. Also, the E V Ramasamy Memorial in Vaikom would be revamped and Rs 8.14 crore would be set apart.

In universities and colleges seminars on the struggle shall be organised. Quiz, elocution and essay competitions would be held for school and college students.

To create awareness among students on Vaikom struggle, a 64-page book would be released by Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation and a centenary souvenir would be released by the government's 'Tamizharasu' magazine.

Stalin said the Vaikom struggle led by social reformer TK Madhavan began on 30 March, 1924 and ended on 23 November, 1925 and an event to mark the victory of the satyagraha movement was chaired by E V Ramasamy on 29 November 1925 at Vaikom.

(With Inputs From PTI)