Stalin unveils statue of anti-caste activist Iyothee Thass Pandithar in Chennai

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Friday unveiled the statue of anti-caste activist Iyothee Thass Pandithar at Gandhi Mandapam in Chennai. The statue and a memorial were installed at a cost of Rs 2.49 crore.
After unveiling the statue, Stalin said Iyothee Thass Pandithar was the forerunner of Periyar.
"Iyothee Thassar was the first person who made the words Tamizhan and Dravidan as political identity," Stalin said.
A pioneer in Dravidian ideology, Iyothee Thass started Dravida Mahajana Sabha in 1891.
The announcement to construct a memorial of Iyothee Thass was made by Stalin under Rule 110 in the state assembly on September 3, 2021. Former chief minister M Karunanidhi also honoured Iyothee Thass by releasing a stamp for him in 2006.
Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani, MDMK leader Vaiko, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan and state ministers were present during the unveiling function.