CM Stalin awards students, felicitates govt fine arts colleges at Tamil week finale

Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin on Sunday gave away prizes to students and felicitated govt music and fine arts colleges during the valedictory of the Tamil Week Celebrations held at Kalaivanar Arangam.Stalin had earlier announced in the state assembly that Tamil Week would be celebrated from April 29 to May 5, marking Bharathidasan's birth anniversary, with poetry sessions, literary seminars, competitions for students, and cultural performances organised across Tamil Nadu to promote Tamil language pride. A 50 lakh fund was allocated for the celebrations, coordinated by the Tamil Development and Information Department.On Sunday, he handed over 10 lakh cheques to five Tamil writers — Kavikko Abdul Rahman, Mervin, A Pazhani, Ko Ma Kodhandam, and Ilama Tamilnavan — whose works were nationalised during the event. Officials said these nationalisations reflect the govt's commitment to bringing Tamil literary works into public ownership.A series of cultural performances marked the ceremony. A debate moderated by Tamil Nadu Textbook Corporation Chairman Dindigul I Leoni explored whether Bharathidasan's songs highlighted linguistic pride or social consciousness.Notably, in the past four years, the govt nationalised 1,442 works of 32 Tamil scholars to make their writings accessible to the public and preserve Tamil literary heritage.