The Hindu – 13 Jan 2015

Tarun Vijay promises a place for Thiruvalluvar’s portrait in parliament

STAFF REPORTER

BJP MP Tarun Vijay at Setupathi Boys Higher Secondary School in Madurai on Monday.— Photo: S. James

“I will ensure that the Indian Parliament has a statue or a portrait of great Thiruvalluvar for his contribution to Tamil Literature through Thirukkural,” said Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Tarun Vijay here on Monday.

As a part of his “Thiruvalluvar Thiruppayanam” or yatra to promote the classic ‘Thirukkural’ and its author Thiruvalluvar, Mr. Tarun Vijay visited Madurai City from Tirunelveli and addressed a meeting organised at Setupathi Higher Secondary School.

Raising questions about the general lack of awareness in the northern parts of the country about ‘Thirukkural’ even after years of independence, Mr. Tarun Vijay said that it was one of the greatest treasures of Tamil language and Indian culture which should be taken to every part of the country.

“Tamil scholars and enthusiasts must be united in the cause of spreading awareness about the greatness of Thiruvalluvar’s works and we will ensure that all schools and colleges have a picture of Subramaniya Bharathi and Thiruvalluvar as a first step towards creating awareness,” he said.

Mr. Tarun Vijay further encouraged that ‘Thirukkural’ couplets could be painted behind autorickshaws and buses to let more people know about its greatness.

While thanking people in Madurai for the warm welcome they had extended to him, a son of the Uttarakhand soil, he spoke in remembrance of Flight Lieutenant K. Praveen of Madurai, who had lost his life while helping people during the Uttarakhand floods.

Sankara Seetharaman, vice president of Kamban Kazhagam, K. Vaidyanathan, Editor of Dinamani Newspaper, Poet So. So. Mi. Sundaram and Professor R. Sreenivasan from Sastra University also spoke at the event.