In a shocking event, a young college student in an elocution competition spoke about her desire for a separate Tamil Nadu similar to Periyar’s vision. Unfortunately, she made this provocative statement while participating in an event to distribute prizes for the elocution competition. The student was subsequently awarded a cash prize by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
The event, organized by the Tamil Nadu State Minority Commission, was held as part of the centenary celebrations of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi. The competition was conducted in 38 districts and included separate categories for speeches in Tamil and English. Prizes of ₹20,000, ₹10,000, and ₹5,000 were awarded to the top performers in each district. At the state level, cash prizes of ₹1,00,000, ₹50,000, and ₹25,000 for the first, second, and third positions respectively, along with certificates. A total of 228 students excelled at the district level, and 6 students emerged victorious at the state level.
The Tamil Nadu State Minority Commission organized these speech competitions across government-recognized colleges in Tamil Nadu with the aim of promoting the Chief Minister’s slogan, “Thalai Nimirum Tamil Nadu,” among college students.
However, it was Narmada, a college student’s seditious and controversial statement that stole the spotlight during the award ceremony. Addressing the media, Narmada said, “Vanakkam, I am Narmada. I am in my fourth year of engineering at a college in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur district. I won the third prize in the college-level competition held by the Tamil Nadu State Minorities Commission and was subsequently selected to participate in the state-level competition, where I have now received a prize.”
Explaining her choice of topic, she stated, “I chose the topic ‘State’s Autonomy as envisaged by Karunanidhi (Kalaignar)’ because it aligns with my favorite book, which discusses state autonomy. Our state is currently grappling with several issues, including the NEET exam and various other perceived injustices. It is because of ‘Ondriya Arasu’ (a separatist slang used by Dravidian Stockists to refer Central Government) that transferred the education to the concurrent list. Therefore, my demand is for a separate Tamil country, much like Periyar’s dream. I’m not sure if it’s achievable or not, but I am committed to advocating for it through my words. This is why I selected the topic ‘State’s Autonomy as envisaged by Karunanidhi,’ and I am thrilled to have received recognition for my speech. I have won a prize for my speech and I am very happy.”
In a surprising turn of events, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, awarded Narmada a cash prize despite the contentious nature of her statement. This move has generated mixed reactions, with several expressing concerns over the endorsement of a divisive idea.
(with inputs from Polimer News)
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