Chennai: Freedom fighter and veteran CPI-M leader N Sankaraiah, who turned 100 recently, has been chosen for the Tamilnadu government’s first Thagaisal Thamizhar (distinguished Tamil) Award.
The award, instituted by the ruling DMK this year to honour a distinguished Tamil personality, will be presented to Sankaraiah during the Independence Day function by Chief Minister M K Stalin. The award carries a citation and Rs ten lakh.
A committee headed by the Chief Minister met at the State Secretariat and selected Sankariah for the award, an official release said.
“The meeting decided to honour veteran Marxist Communist leader Sankaraiah, who entered public life at a young age, led as a student leader, turned into a freedom fighter and eventually served the people by being elected to the State Legislative Assembly,” it said.
Meanwhile, Sankaraiah has said he would donate the Rs 10 lakh cash prize to the government’s Corona relief fund.