Self-respect marriages (seerthirutha kalyanam) had become commonplace, said Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer M.K. Stalin here on Thursday.
Presiding over the marriage ceremony of former Madurai Mayor P. Kulandaivelu’s son, he said that there used to be an air of distrust about such marriages among people since they were conducted without the religious rituals performed by Brahmin priests. With leaders such as Periyar and Anna spearheading the self-respect marriage movement, the concept got acceptance and entrenched in the minds of people, Mr. Stalin said.
Praising Mr. Kulandaivelu for the works such as construction of bridges and causeways across Vaigai river and laying of 27-km-long Ring Road when he was Madurai Mayor,
Mr. Stalin recalled how he oversaw similar development works in the capital as Chennai Mayor.
Later, Mr. Stalin met a number of functionaries from various wings of the party at a hotel. Industrialists and young entrepreneurs among others shared their views about the current scenario, party sources said.
