Tamil Nadu: Six selected for Ilakkiya Mamani awards

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday announced the Ilakkiya Mamani Awards for the years 2022 and 2023 to six Tamil scholars.

Aranga Ramalingam (68) from Kallakurichi district, KM Kothandam from Virudhunagar district and Professor Suryakantan alias M Marudhachalam (67) were selected for the award in 2022.

The scholars selected for 2023 are G Manikkavasagam (94) from Cuddalore district, S Shanmugasundaram (73) from Tirunelveli district and Ilakkia Natarajan (64) from Sivagangai district.

To commemorate the centenary celebrations of former chief minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, three more Tamil scholars – Mani Arjunan (70), A Thiruvidam (77) and K Purnachandran (74) have been selected for awards by the state government. this year.

Meanwhile, the state government on Thursday also announced the Nammazhwar Award for Best Organic Farmers for 2023-24, with three farmers – G Siddhar of Maharanonbuchavady in Thanjavur, KV Palanisamy of Pongalur in Tiruppur and K Ezhilan of Achukattugramam in Kancheepuram district. Are included.