Tamil Nadu Day: Vijay government celebrates November 1; DMK says July 18 is the right date

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay said the State’s unique features and historical greatness should be celebrated on the day it was formed on linguistic lines. File

The Tamil Nadugovernment on Sunday (November 1) celebrated Tamil Nadu Day, with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay extending their greetings.

Mr. Vijay said the State’s unique features and historical greatness should be celebrated on the day it was formed on linguistic lines.

In a social media message, he said the history of those who fought for the merger of Tamil-speaking areas with Tamil Nadu and protected the Tamil language would serve as a guide for Tamil unity and the protection of its rights.

“Let us pledge to protect the art and culture of Tamils and make Mother Tamil proud,” he said.

In Chennai, the government organised various folk and cultural events at public places to celebrate the day. Besides, several ministers including Minister for Tamil Development Rajmohan participated in an official function to mark the day.

Governor Arlekar organised a function at Lok Bhavan to mark the occasion.

However, the opposition DMK took exception to the celebrations, contending Tamil Nadu Day fell on July 18, while November 1 marked the reorganisation of States on linguistic lines and was an occasion to remember the martyrs who fought for the merger of Tamil-speaking areas with Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, the DMK headquarters said November 1 was certainly a day deserving of celebration, but it could not be celebrated as Tamil Nadu Day.

“It is not about a date. The debate is about how we understand the history of Tamil Nadu and its cultural identity and pass them on to future generations. There was a strong demand for the creation of linguistic States after Independence. Potti Sriramulu sacrificed his life demanding a separate Andhra State, which was formed on October 1, 1953. Other States were created on linguistic lines on November 1, 1956,” the party said.

“These boundary struggles were not merely about territory. They were struggles for linguistic rights, identity and the will of the people. November 1 is a historically significant day to remember with gratitude those who laid down their lives, went to prison and dedicated their lives to these struggles. It is the day to commemorate the martyrs of the boundary movements,” the party said.

The DMK said the government led by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai had adopted a resolution in the Legislative Assembly on July 18, 1967, to rename Madras State as Tamil Nadu. The name officially came into effect on January 14, 1969.

“It was not merely an achievement of one political party. It was a recognition of the sacrifice of Sankaralinganar, who fasted unto death demanding that the State be named Tamil Nadu, and of the Tamil scholars who fought for the cause,” the party said.

The DMK said Tamil scholars, including Solomon Pappaiah, had met the then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and urged him to declare July 18 as Tamil Nadu Day. “He accepted the demand and announced on October 30, 2021, that July 18 would be celebrated as Tamil Nadu Day,” the party said.

Mr. Stalin, in a separate message, said November 1 was the day to commemorate the linguistic reorganisation of States and remember those who had laid down their lives in the struggles for linguistic rights.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam / Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam / government