Latest news with #Venkatesan
NDTV
18-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Temple Can't Deny Entry Based On Caste: Madras High Court
Chennai: In a significant ruling affirming the principle of equality, the Madras High Court has directed the Ariyalur Superintendent of Police (SP) to ensure that Scheduled Caste (SC) individuals are not denied entry into the Puthukudu Ayyanar Temple. The court emphatically stated that there can be "no caste discrimination in a country governed by the rule of law." The directive, issued on a petition filed by A. Venkatesan, a Scheduled Caste resident, mandates that the SP and the Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) ensure people of all castes are permitted to enter the temple at all times. The court also instructed officials to take appropriate action against anyone found preventing any section of the community from entering the shrine. Venkatesan had moved the court alleging denial of temple entry by a dominant community, a practice he sought to end, also praying for participation in the temple's upcoming consecration ceremonies from July 16 to 31. The court highlighted the historical context, noting that the Temple Entry Authorisation Act of 1947 was enacted after a long struggle by many leaders to ensure access for all. The Puthukudu Ayyanar Temple, historically accessible to all castes, saw a change in 2019 when a dominant group reportedly took control and decided to build a new temple. Despite contributions from Scheduled Caste residents, they were subsequently prevented from entering. Disturbingly, the dominant group is alleged to have removed and demolished statues and stone structures erected by the Scheduled Caste community, including a large Ayyanar statue that was reportedly dumped in a well. An iron gate was then erected, forcing Scheduled Castes to worship from outside. Despite these clear acts of discrimination, officials had reportedly not intervened, citing fears of law and order issues.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Punish those preventing temple entry over caste: HC
Representative photo CHENNAI: Take legal action against those preventing a person from entering a temple because of his or her caste, Madras high court has directed authorities, stressing that caste-based discrimination cannot be permitted in a country governed by the rule of law. Petitioner Venkatesan moved the court after idols installed by people belonging to scheduled caste (SC) at Ayyanar temple in Pudukudi village in Ariyalur's Udayarpalayam taluk were vandalised by dominant caste members. He alleged that members of SC were being forced to have a darshan of the deity from behind a large iron gate. 'If a temple is permitted to be visited by the public, it assumes the character of a public temple. In such an event, irrespective of the caste or community of the devotees, they must be permitted to offer their prayers to god,' justice N Anand Venkatesh ruled. Recording the submissions, Justice Venkatesh said, 'There shall be a direction to district SP and RDO to ensure that all classes of Hindus are permitted to enter the temple and participate in the festival.'
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
How a novel inspired parents to name their children after its characters
A 100 children will appear on stage at Kalaivanar Arangam this Friday (July 11) for a function celebrating the success of Velpari, a two-volume novel on the Sangam-period Tamil life, by Sahitya Akademi award winner Su. Venkatesan. These children were born during the time the novel was being serialised in Ananda Vikatan or later its publication as books. Captivated by the story, their parents chose to name them after characters from the novel .'The book crossed one lakh copies in sales and could have earned ₹10 crore. But what I consider the real achievement is the parents' decision to name their children after the characters. There are children named Pari, Velpari, Kapilan, Aathini, and Porsuvai,' said Mr Venkatesan, a Member of Parliament representing the Madurai constituency .Some of the names, including Soozhkadal Muthuvan, a trader who owned fleets of ships, and Thisai Velar, an expert in astronomy, were coined by Mr Venkatesan himself. In Sangam literature, the daughters of Pari were referred to as Pari Magalir. Only in later periods were they named Angavai and Sangavai .'Traders like Soozhkadal Muthuvan were very wealthy and had marital relationships with kings. Their knowledge of astronomy helped the Tamils excel in maritime trade with the Greeks for over 400 years,' said Mr Venkatesan, whose earlier novel Kaval Kottam, a historical work on Madurai, won the Sahitya Akademi award. He said the success of Velpari had renewed his faith in modern Tamil society, which, he believes, is ready to celebrate a novel rooted in the righteousness of ancient Tamil life. The book also gave prominence to Kapilar, one of the earliest and greatest poets in Tamil literature .Historian A.R. Venkatachalapathy noted that books such as Vyasar Virundhu by Rajaji, a few novels by Chandilyan, and Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki had also crossed one lakh copies in sales. 'But the success of Velpari is remarkable because it reached that milestone in a relatively short span,' he said. He added that most of those earlier works were shorter in length compared to Velpari, which was serialised in Ananda Vikatan for 111 weeks before being published as a two-volume work of 1,460 pages. Initially priced at ₹1,500, the price was later raised to ₹2,000. 'Though life during the Sangam period was intricately woven with nature, today there is a constant tension between nature and human greed. Velpari portrays the origin of that conflict. Its central theme makes it a treatise on contemporary politics and social life,' he said. Actor Rajinikanth, actress Rohini, director Shankar, and Finance Secretary T. Udayachandran will join Mr Venkatesan at the function.
The Hindu
02-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Union government schemes reviewed during DISHA meeting
The District Development, Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting was held in the district on Wednesday under the aegis of Madurai Member of Parliament Su. Venkatesan. During the meeting MPs and ministers reviewed the implementation of various Union government schemes undertaken by the respective departments. Operation of the schemes under the Department of Agriculture, including the drip irrigation programme, National Agriculture Development scheme, Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme, and Pradhan Mantri Faisal Bima Yojana among others. Mr. Venkatesan also reviewed the progress of works undertaken by the local area development funds. He instructed officials to expedite development scheme works that were pending and complete works within the schedule. Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore, Theni MP Thanga Tamil Selvan, Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy, Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar, Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan, Madurai city Mayor Indran Ponvasanth, among others were present during the meeting.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Sacked BJP functionary detained under Goondas Act
The Avadi City Police have detained under Goondas Act a former BJP functionary and history sheeter for allegedly continuing to indulge in extortion and other criminal acts. Police said K.R. Venkatesan alias 'Milagaipodi' Venkatesan, 58, from Padiyanallur was a functionary of the BJP OBC Morcha and was removed from the party post. He was arrested in 2015 by the Andhra Pradesh police on charges of smuggling red sandalwood to foreign countries. Venkatesan has 49 criminal cases pending against him in Andhra Pradesh, and a history sheet on his name at the Avadi City Police Commissionerate as he was involved in at least five criminal cases in the police limits. The police said that recently, Deepan Chakravarthi, 41 of Kumadham Nagar, Mugalivakkam approached Venkatesan for help to get back ₹87 lakh from a consumer goods dealer, Ganapathillal, and received ₹1 lakh as advance. Subsequently, Venkatesan joined the opposite side and extorted ₹12 lakh. Deepan Chakravarthi lodged a complaint with the police, based on which Redhills Police arrested Venkatesan, Ganapathilal and Gokul Vasan on June 13. As Venkatesan faced criminal cases for offences such as extortion, Avadi City Police Commissioner K. Shankar issued orders for his detention under the Goondas Act.
