Tamil Nadu, which produced patriots, must continue on the path of nationalism: Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan

Vice President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan participates in V.O. Chidambaram College’s platinum jubilee celebrations on Wednesday

Tamil Nadu, which produced innumerable great patriots and nationalists during the freedom struggle and after Independence, should continue on the path of nationalism to reach greater heights, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan has said.

Addressing the platinum jubilee celebrations of V.O. Chidambaram College in Thoothukudi on Wednesday (November 11, 2026), Mr. Radhakrishnan, an alumnus of the institution (Bachelor of Business Administration, 1975-1978 batch), said Tamil Nadu, which stood tall among the Indian States during the freedom struggle, thanks to the sacrifices of great leaders like V.O. Chidambaram, K. Kamaraj, Subramania Siva, and others, should continue to be nationalistic.

The country, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “who had liberated over 50 crore people from poverty in the past 12 years,” would become a ‘superpower’ and ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047, according to Mr. Radhakrishnan. Tamil Nadu would also be a well-developed State by continuing to remain on the path of nationalism, he said.

“By eliminating poverty and facilitating development, India has become an emerging superpower now. Without eliminating poverty and sharing the existing resources, India can never become a developed nation and a superpower. Realising this, Mr. Modi is in the process of eradicating poverty while also ensuring development. This is where communism failed, as it advocated only the sharing of what the country has, without creating wealth and development,” Mr. Radhakrishnan opined.

While appealing to students to stay away from alcohol and narcotic substances, Mr. Radhakrishnan appealed to the younger generation to be nationalists with self-discipline and support nationalism to achieve Mr. Modi’s dream of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

Recounting his stay on the premises of VOC College as a BBA student, the Vice-President fondly recalled the names of almost all his professors, classmates, batchmates, and hostel mates. He was seen enthusiastically interacting with the college union chairman A.V. Murugesan on the dais.

“Even though the VOC College administration was affiliated with the ruling Congress then, we, a group of friends, were opposed to the Emergency clamped on the nation by the Congress government at the Centre. After we said something against the Emergency in the Rotaract meeting presided over by the son of our principal Subbaiah Pillai, the police entered the college campus, within minutes, in search of those who spoke against the Emergency. However, our principal’s son saved us saying that we, as the Rotaract members, were just discussing about keeping the college premises clean,” said Mr. Radhakrishnan, who also recollected mobilising funds to help the families of MISA detenus.

He fondly recalled the coffee, tea, and snacks served on the “not-so-clean” college canteen premises. “It is still the tastiest tea I have tasted in my life so far,” the Vice-President said, with the audience, including his classmates and batchmates, acknowledging it with applause.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Correspondent of the College A.P.C.V. Chockalingam and principal Veerabahu participated.