Rajah Sir M.A. Muthiah Chettiar Commemoration award for this year was presented to history professor A. Ramasamy, Vice-Chairman, Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE), at a function here on Thursday.
Speaking after distributing the award, Justice P. Jyothimani, Judge, Madras High Court, said the Rajah Sir family had done a yeomen service to the development of Tamil, Tamil music and culture, which was appreciable. Rajah Sir M.A. Muthiah Chettiar was sworn in as the first Mayor of Chennai in 1933. He was known for his noble qualities.
Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian said the robe, the jewellery weighing 100 sovereigns and the sceptre carried by Daffedar were created and donated by Muthiah Chettiar.
In his acceptance speech, A. Ramasamy, Vice-Chairman, TANSCHE, said though there were several scholars, the committee of jurists selected him to receive the award, which carried a citation, cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh and a shield.
The programme was organised by Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar Memorial Trust. M.A.M. Ramaswamy, Pro-Chancellor, Annamalai University, and patron of the trust, and M.A.M.R. Muthiah, president of the trust, were among those who spoke.
