Chennai: “Thamizh Iyakkam will build a monument in memory of Silamboli Su Chellappan,” VIT Chancellor G Viswanathan announced at an event in Ethiraj College Friday to honour the noted Tamil Scholar and orator who passed away at age 91 on 6 April.
Viswanathan who is also the founder-president of Thamizh Iyakkam, said Silamboli Su Chellappan was a person who dedicated his life for Tamil and Tamil people.
“Only one place in entire Tamilnadu has a sculpture for Mu Varadarajan (Mu Va). It is in VIT. The person who unveiled the statue was Silamboli Su Chellappan. These days only a few people read ‘Thirukural’. Those who abide by the messages in Thirukural in their life is even less. But Silamboli Chellappan not only read Thirukural but also lived his life following the morals it taught,” he said.
Viswanathan urged everyone to practice speaking in Tamil more in all walks of life. “Thamizh Iyakkam would soon release a book containing Tamil names for boys and girls to encourage everyone to give their offspring a Tamil name. Thamizh Iyakkam will also submit a proposal to the Central government to urge them to make it compulsory for domestic airlines catering to Tamilnadu to make in-flight announcements in Tamil,” he said.
Poet Erode Thamizhappan, Thamizh Iyakkam general secretary Abdul Khader, Tamil University Vice-Chancellor Sundaramurthy, SSM Engineering College head M S Mathivanan, professor Maraimalai Ilakkuvanar and many Tamil scholars participated.