Chennai: Tamilnadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami unveiled a life-size portrait of freedom fighter S S Ramaswamy Padayatchiar in the Assembly yesterday. A plaque with three embossed words ‘Veeram, Dheeram, Thiagam’ was hung right below the portrait. The chief minister appreciated the painter Mathialagan, and said the portrait was lively and realistic.
The event was chaired by Speaker P Dhanapal chaired the event and presided by Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam. Leader of the Opposition in the assembly M K Stalin, MLAs and MPs, including the newly elected Rajya Sabha member Anbumani Ramadoss, PMK leader G K Mani, former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief M Krishnasamy participated. Padayatchiar’s son Dr Ramadoss was honoured by the CM on the occasion.
Ramaswamy hailing from Padayatchiar worked for the uplift of Backward Classes. Palaniswamy said he was responsible for creation of the Most Backward category and his sacrifice should not be forgotten as he was instrumental behind quick paced growth of India today. Ramaswamy was the first leader to pass a resolution seeking 20 and 2 per cent quota in the State and Centre, respectively for Vanniyars.
Palaniswamy said a memorial would be built for the late leader on a 1.5 acres land at Manjakuppam in Cuddalore district at a cost of Rs 2.15 crore and that it would also feature a bronze statue of Padayatchiar.
Last year the AIADMK government had declared that Padayatchiyar’s birth anniversary on 16 September would be observed as a government event every year.
According to a media report Padayatchiar’s Tamil Nadu Toilers Party contested in the first general elections in free India in 1952. TNTP’s 19 candidates, including the freedom fighter, won Assembly elections and four nominees of the party also were elected to the Lok Sabha. In 1954, he became Local Administration Minister in the cabinet of freedom fighter and Congress stalwart K Kamaraj. Later, he was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 and 1984. He was also a member (1966-67) of the now defunct TN legislative council.
The Assembly hall was decked up for the occasion. All the portraits of former leaders were decorated with garlands and flowers.