Latest news with #ThangamThennarasu
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu government urges Centre to release Keeladi excavation report
In the light of fresh research findings by a university in England on Keeladi archaeological site, the Tamil Nadu government, on Sunday (June 29, 2025) said the study highlighted the antiquity of the Tamil culture. It urged the Union government to release the report of the archaeological excavations conducted in Keeladi by the Archaeological Survey of India. Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu (who holds the archaeology portfolio) said he was filled with great pride and happiness over the research conducted by Liverpool John Moores University in England. It studied the skulls excavated from Keeladi and reconstructed the facial features of ancient people who lived around 2,500 years ago, 'once again highlighting the antiquity of Tamil culture and civilization to the world,' the Minister said. 'Though the Union BJP government has deceitfully tried to suppress the history and heritage of Tamils, constructive scientific findings and the historical evidence emerging from the Keeladi excavations continue to defeat the Union government's unjust and denials. I urge the Union government to at least now release the Keezhadi research report,' Mr. Thennarasu said. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin too took to the social media to say: 'The way of life detailed in Sangam literature now stands scientifically validated through the findings at Keeladi.'
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
TN govt cancels permission for expansion of textile washing plant on banks of Bhavani river
ERODE: The state government has cancelled permission for the establishment of a textile washing plant, planned at a cost of Rs 500 crore on the banks of the Bhavani River in Erode district, after farmers continuously protested the move. Sources said a private group had applied to the state government to set up a textile washing plant under the guise of expansion, based on the license of a small factory that already existed there, on the banks of the Bhavani near Kodiveri Dam in Akkaraikodiveri village. Subsequently, on November 26, 2024, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of the Tamil Nadu government granted permission for the 'expansion' of this plant. However, farmers feared that this plant would pollute the river. Therefore, farmers from various parts of Erode were staging protests urging the state government to cancel permission for this plant. On March 27, 2025, the farmers met Chief Minister MK Stalin, and Ministers Thangam Thennarasu and S Muthusamy in person regarding this. Following this, the government formed a committee to review permission for the plant. Subsequently, the state government has now cancelled permission for the expansion of the plant. Secretary of Environment, Climate Change in the forest department Supriya Sahu, in her order, dated June 10, said, "In the circumstances stated by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) chairperson, the orders issued in the G.O. (dated November 26, 2024) are hereby cancelled." Farmers in Erode district have welcomed this move by the state government. President of Kodiveri Dam-Bhavani River Irrigation Farmers Association Subi Thalapathi, said, "The state government has now cancelled permission given to Sri Bhavani Textiles Processors Private Limited. On behalf of the farmers, we thank the government for this. We also thank Gobichettipalayam MLA KA Sengottaiyan, who raised his voice for the farmers in this matter." Further, he said, "Earlier, a small dyeing factory had already functioned in the area since 1984. But due to non-compliance with guidelines, the power supply to the plant was disconnected. Then the plant did not operate, and its buildings were also demolished. In this context, Sri Bhavani Textiles Processors Private Limited was planning to set up a large-scale dyeing and washing plant for Rs 500 crore at the same location, keeping the old license of that plant."
New Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Two-crore target: CM Stalin set to launch DMK's membership drive on July 1
CHENNAI: DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin is set to launch the party's membership drive, Oraniyil Tamil Nadu, on July 1, with an ambitious target of enrolling 2 crore members, as per Finance Minister and senior party leader Thangam Thennarasu. According to sources, once launched, the membership drive is expected to continue for about five to six weeks. Elaborating on the exercise, Thennarasu while addressing newspersons at the party's headquarters Anna Arivalayam on Tuesday said, 'On July 2, the day after the launch, district secretaries, ministers, MPs, and MLAs will hold rallies across all districts to inaugurate the membership enrolment camps.' 'On July 3, the party's booth-level agents, digital agents, and cadre from the youth and women's wings, along with branch functionaries, will begin visiting every household under their respective booths and spend 10 minutes at each house explaining the government's achievements and importance of the party's ideologies in protecting Tamil language, soil and dignity,' he explained. Members can be enrolled both digitally through a mobile application and manually through membership forms. Sources further said a detailed road map for implementation of Oraniyil Tamil Nadu and Udanpirappe Vaa has been crafted and is being overseen by the Populus Empowerment Network (PEN), which is handling the ruling party's campaign strategies.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Stalin launches book on ancient coins of T.N. penned by Minister Thangam Thennarasu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin released two volumes of a book titled Varalaru Koorum Tamil Nattu Kaasugal (Coins that speak Tamil Nadu History) written by Minister for Finance Thangam Thennarasu and numismatic researcher Arumuga Sitharaman at the Secretariat in Chennai on Wednesday. The book sheds light on the different types of coins that have been in use in the Tamil landscape over the past 2,000 years and how they have evolved throughout history. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, Finance Secretary T. Udhayachandran, International Institute of Tamil Studies Director R. Balakrishnan, were among those who were present at the book launch event. Review meetings held The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister also held review meetings with Ministers and officials from the Department of Municipal Administration and Water Supply, Commercial Taxes and Registration, Handlooms and Textiles, and Human Resources Management.
The Print
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Another round of Centre-south clash as Union minister says Keeladi report ‘needs scientific validation'
'The reports are not yet technically well supported. A lot remains to be done before recognising the findings presented by the archaeologist who conducted the survey. Let them come with more results, data and evidence. Because, a single finding cannot change the entire discourse,' he added. The report submitted to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) by archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna, who conducted the first two phases of excavation at Keeladai, lacked sufficient technical support, the culture minister told reporters Tuesday. Chennai: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said that the archaeological findings from the Keeladi excavation site in Tamil Nadu require further scientific validation before it is given official recognition. The culture minister also expressed concerns over attempts to politicise the archaeological findings and using the new findings and discoveries to trigger the regional sentiments. 'People in the positions are trying to use it to grow their regional sentiments. That is not good. We have to be very cautious about it. Let archaeologists, historians and technical experts discuss this and let politicians leave it to them,' he said. Keeladi is an archaeological excavation site located on the banks of Vaigai river at Sivagangai district. The ASI unearthed over 20,000 artifacts and dated them back to 6th century BCE, which was supported by advanced dating techniques Tamil Nadu Minister for Archaeology Thangam Thennarasu responded to Shekhawat's statement, saying that history and truth would not wait for cheap politics. 'Even though world scientific studies agree that we are 5350 years old; technologically advanced, and have an ancient civilization, why is the Union Government in the same country so reluctant to admit it? Is it because of the unquenchable thirst to keep Tamils as second-class citizens forever,' Thangam Thennarasu questioned in his post on 'X'. 'When the Prime Minister said in Parliament that 'Sanskrit is the mother tongue of all Indian languages,' we didn't ask, 'What is the scientific evidence?' Because no such study has been conducted.' Madurai MP Su Venkatesan also took a dig at the Union minister, stating that he cannot do further examination since 'cow remains are not available now' 'Scientific institutions have conducted research on the history of Keezhadi and submitted reports. The bones of the cows found in Keezhadi have been examined. But since the cow remains are not available now, there is no opportunity for further examination, Minister,' the CPI(M) MP said in a post Tuesday on 'X'. Also Read: Tamil Nadu is waging a new North-South clash of civilisations— Sivagalai to Keezhadi Journey of Keeladi excavation In 2013-14, Superintending Archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna conducted a survey on the banks of the Vaigai river and identified as many as 293 potential archaeological sites including the Keeladi in Sivagangai district for excavation because of its proximity to Madurai district. In 2015, the ASI began its first phase of excavation at Pallichanthai Thidal in Keeladi where the archaeologists excavated artifacts suggesting an early urban settlement which includes brick stricture, and potteries, referring to the Sangam era. The next year, Amarnath unearthed about 5,800 artifacts which include potsherds inscribed with Tamil-Brahmi scripts, and other evidence of trade links. Carbon dating of the charcoal samples dated the settlement to around 200 BCE and some of the findings even suggested early dates of 6th century BCE. It was at this juncture that the ASI transferred the archaeologist to Guwahati circle. This sparked controversy in Tamil Nadu, with political parties alleging that the ASI was attempting to suppress the findings of archaeological sites which discovered the ancientness of Tamil. The ASI appointed archaeologist P.S Sriraman to continue the third phase of excavation in 2017 and concluded it in September that year stating that there were 'no significant findings' This again triggered widespread criticism from Tamil Nadu politicians. Subsequently, in 2017, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed in the Madras High Court, urging the excavation be and publishing of Amarnath's report. The HC then directed the Tamil Nadu State department of Archaeology (TNSDA) to take over the excavations from the fourth phase onwards and continue the excavation. The TNSDA then unearthed about 5,820 artifacts, including brick structures and gold ornaments. Samples dated by Beta Analytic Lab in Miami dated the samples to be between 6th century BCE and 1st century BCE, pushing the Sangam Era further back. In 2023, Amarnath submitted a 982-page report on the first two phases of Keeladi excavation, which had reports on the evidence of urban structure, pottery and trade network. It was also said that the report placed the Keeladi settlement between 8th century BCE and 3rd century BCE. Two years after the submission of the report, on May 21, 2025, the ASI wrote to the archaeologist to revise his report to enhance authenticity and question the classification of historical period and dating the site earlier to 300 BCE. He refused to revise the report, saying that his report was backed by scientific evidence. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: In Stalin's announcement of panel for Tamil Nadu's autonomy, a dig at Centre & a push for 'all states'
