Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Cash prize for annual best books doubled

— Photo: R. Ragu

SHARING A LIGHTER MOMENT: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with CPI leader Nallakannu after presenting the Dr. Ambedkar Award to the latter at the Thiruvalluvar Day celebrations in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday announced a hike in cash prize for the annual best books award and awards for publishing houses.

Speaking after distributing the coveted literary and social awards instituted by the State Government, he said the cash prize for the best books in the 29 categories was only Rs.10,000. Many authors came to receive the award merely because the State Government was giving it though the cash prize was not huge.

He announced that the amount would be doubled. Similarly, the best publishing houses were given Rs.2,000 as cash prize. This would be made Rs.5,000. The enhanced prizes would be given to those who were chosen for the award this year too, he said.

Mr. Karunanidhi presented the Tiruvalluvar award to Kundrakudi Ponnambala Adigalar, the Ambedkar award to Communist Party of India leader R. Nallakannu, the Periyar award to poet Kavithaipithan, the Anna award to Prof.Sarada Nambi Arooran, the Kamarajar award to four-time MLA A.R. Marimuthu, the Bharatiyar award to poet Soundara Kailasam, the Bharatisadan award to M.S.Venkatachalam, the Thiru.Vi.Ka award to T. Peryandavan and the KAP Viswanathan award to poet Vezhavendhan. Each of the awards carries a citation, a shawl, Rs. 1 lakh in cash and a gold medallion.

Referring to the criticism that the Ambedkar award should have been given to a Dalit, Mr. Karunanidhi said that one should not pin down Ambedkar to a caste. He rose in revolt for the oppressed sections of society. In a long political career, Mr.Nallakannu had consistently placed the interests of the oppressed sections above everything else. Quoting an instance, Mr. Karunanidhi said that Mr. Nallakannu chose to calm a tense situation when he was required at home to attend a family tragedy.

Noting that there was a person from the Congress (Mr. Marimuthu) and another from the CPI in the list of awardees, he said that this was purely coincidental. Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan presided.

Mr. Nallakannu said that he was shaped by the communist movement and the credit should go to the movement.

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