CUDDALORE: Since the days of the legendary actor-turned-political leader M.G. Ramachandran followed by ‘Amma’ Jayalalithaa and after her, the AIADMK has always stood for the welfare of the toiling masses and honoured leaders who have contributed to their betterment by fighting for social justice, declared the Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami here on Monday.
Speaking at a government function to unveil the `2.15 crore ‘Mani Mandapam' (Memorial hall) to honour the memory of the late veteran OBC leader S.S. Ramaswamy Padayachiyar at Manjakuppam here, Mr. Palaniswami said honouring those who sacrificed during the freedom struggle and those who advanced the cause of social justice by fighting for reservation for the disadvantaged sections of society, was in effect honouring the toiling masses who built Tamil Nadu's economy. This memorial also houses a life-size statue of Padayachiyar.
“There are many people who come and go, but only a few even at their own personal expense work for the betterment of the people; unless their work and contributions are acknowledged and preserved for posterity, only then the coming generations will realize the value of working for our society and the country,” Palaniswami said, making an emotive speech. This was the rationale behind constructing 'Mani Mandapams' for leaders such as Ramaswamy Padayachaiyar, he emphasised.
Paying rich tributes to Ramaswamy Padayachiyar, who was born on September 16, 1918, in erstwhile composite South Arcot district, Mr. Palaniswami said after participating in the freedom struggle, the former had launched the 'Tamilnadu Toilers Party (TTP) in 1952. The TTP played a significant role in the democratic process in former Madras State and in the very first general elections post-Independence that party sent 19 MLAs’ to the Assembly and four MPs' to the Lok Sabha, he noted.
Stating that Padayachiyar was also part of the Kamaraj government during 1954-57, Palaniswami said he was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1984 and continued to work for the people till the end of his life.
Working for better education and jobs for the poor and economically weaker sections of society, he said Ramaswamy Padayachiyar was always accessible to the people. For the benefit of the OBC Vanniyars in particular, who were very poor at that time and mostly agricultural workers, Padayachiyar introduced the 'one-teacher school' concept, which helped to spread both literacy and generate jobs in a modest way for the Vanniyar community. The respective village panchayats were asked to take care of the financial needs of those schools.
Mr. Palaniswami also explained how Padayachiyar himself was very generous, giving away from his extensive personal lands for public infrastructure and welfare projects, a rare quality among political leaders. Padayachiyar's family continued that tradition of munificence even now, Chief Minister underscored.
A portrait of Ramaswamy Padayachiyar was also unveiled in the Assembly, he said.
Recalling that it was MGR who during his tenure had hiked the quota for BCs' in Tamil Nadu from 31 per cent to 50 per cent taking the total reservation in the State to 69 per cent, Mr. Palaniswami said when there was a “threat” to that 69 per cent overall quota in the wake of Mandal case judgment, it was Ms. Jayalalithaa who ensured through legislation that the State's reservation level was protected from legal challenges by placing it in the Constitution’s ninth schedule.
Deputy CM O. Panneerselvam, State Law minister C. Ve. Shanmugam, other Cabinet ministers including MC Sampath, Duraikannu, K.P. Anbazhagan and K C Veeramani, PMK leader Dr S Ramadoss, his son and MP Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, were among those who participated in the function.
