Tamil Nadu Chief Minister handed over ‘Ilakkiya Maamani’ awards to nine Tamil scholars - Aranga. Ramalingam, K.N. Kothandam, Suryakanthan alias M. Marudhachalam, Mani Arjunan, Ara. Thiruvidam, K. Poornachandran, G. Manikkavasagan, S. Shanmugasundaram, Ilakkiya Natarasan alias S. Natarasan.
The award carries a cash component of ₹5 lakh, a gold medal and a citation.
The CM also virtually unveiled statue of late Tamil scholar Mu. Varadarasan in Ranipet.
The statues of late Tamil scholar and freedom fighter Annal Thango was unveiled at Gudiyatham in Vellore district and late anti-caste activist Rettaimalai Srinivasan unveiled at Acharapakkam in Chengalpattu district.