Vellore: “Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) chancellor G Viswanathan should take the lead in uniting Tamils throughout the world to protect their interests and cause living in different countries,” said Former State Minister Panrutti S Ramachandran.
He was speaking at the 80th birthday celebrations of Viswanathan organised by a committee of well-wishers of the institution here Sunday.
Pointing out that Viswanathan was one of the few persons who were personally invited by former Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam founder late C N Annadurai to involve themselves actively in politics, Ramachandran said that he had the privilege of having carved a niche in the heart of Anna.
“Viswanathan was the right person to unite the Tamils of the world, transcending religious, caste and other barriers. He also had the distinction of having established in Vellore an institution of higher education of international repute,” he said.
Speakers who spoke at the function paid tributes to the multi-faceted personality, Viswanathan. Former Union Minister from Odisha, K P Singh Deo hailed the VIT chancellor as one who dedicated his life to the empowerment of people through higher education.
“Viswanathan was a thinker, intellectual, scientist and researcher,” said Former State Education Minister C Ponnaiyan.
Industrialist and K H Group of Institutions chairman M M Hashim said that Viswanathan considered education as a key to national development. Commercial Taxes Minister K C Veeramani released a book, Viyarvaiyin Vetri on the occasion.
Pudhiya Needhi Katchi founder president A C Shanmugam received the first copy. Ramachandran released the book, Stars and Saplings. Vel’s Deemed University founder president Isari K Ganesh received the first copy.
Ponnaiyan released the book, Vendhar 80 and film producer Kalaippuli S Thanu received the first copy.
Manonmaniyam Sundaranar University Former Vice Chancellor Vedagiri Shanmugasundaram also presided over the function. Earlier VIT Chancellor-80th Birthday Celebration Committee secretary M Sugumar, who welcomed the gathering, said that a sum of Rs 15 lakh was collected by well-wishers in connection with this birthday celebration and donated to the Universal Higher Education Trust (UHET) founded by Viswanathan to provide financial assistance to poor students to pursue higher education.
J K N Palani, Gudiyatham AIADMK Town Secretary also donated Rs 25,000 to UHET on the occasion.
Tamil poet Abdul Kadhar presided over a ‘Muses Meet’ organised in connection with the celebration.
Tamil National Movement president Pazha Nedumaran, Tamil orator Nanjil Sampath, celebration committee president M Venkadasubbu, vice president T Harigopalan and treasurer V Padhumanar offered their felicitations.