Tamil Nadu Governor Arlekar, CM Vijay pay tribute to Kamaraj, Maraimalai Adigal on their birth anniversaries

Marking the 124^th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister and Congress leader K. Kamaraj, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, paid their respects on Wednesday (July 15, 2026).

Hailing Kamaraj a visionary leader who transformed the educational landscape of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Arlekar, in his message on social media, wrote: “Kamaraj’s pioneering initiatives, including the introduction and expansion of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, brought lakhs of children into schools and ensured that education reached the most underprivileged sections of society. His life remains a shining example of simplicity, integrity, and unwavering commitment to public service.”

The Chief Minister paid floral tributes to the late leader’s portrait near his statue opposite Pallavan Illam on Anna Salai in Chennai. Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, Ministers N. Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, K.G. Arunraj, K.A. Sengottaiyan, P. Venkataramanan, Rajmohan, A.M. Shahjahan, N. Marie Wilson and R. Kumar, Rajya Sabha Congress MP Praveen Chakravarty, MLAs, and officials were present.

In a social media post, Mr. Vijay hailed Kamaraj as a visionary who established schools in villages across Tamil Nadu and introduced the midday meal scheme to end the hunger of poor children. He was a great leader who not only built educational institutions but also created reservoirs and major industries, bringing lasting change to the lives of the people of Tamil Nadu.

He added Kamaraj left a mark on Indian politics through his simplicity, integrity, sacrifice, farsightedness, and dedication to public service.

In another social media post, Mr. Vijay paid tribute to eminent Tamil scholar Maraimalai Adigal on his 150^th birth anniversary. He had a vision of preserving the purity and beauty of Tamil, pioneered the practice of writing in Tamil without the admixture of words from other languages, said Mr. Vijay, recollecting the legacy of Maraimalai Adigal.