TN govt to establish university in honour of Karunanidhi

CHENNAI: Chief minister M K Stalin on Thursday announced the establishment of a new university in Kumbakonam in honour of his father and former chief minister M Karunanidhi. This announcement followed requests from political parties who praised Karunanidhi's extensive contributions to the state’s development, particularly in education.

The announcement came after a special calling attention motion moved by parties like Congress, PMK, VCK,MDMK, and Left parties, excluding AIADMK and BJP. Stalin asserted Karunanidhi's significant role in the state's educational development. He hailed his father as the “University of all Universities,” echoing sentiments of other leaders, who underscored Karunanidhi's influence on public service, literature, media, and politics.

The chief minister pointed to the growth and prosperity of Tamil Nadu's educational institutions, emphasizing their recognition both nationally and internationally. Karunanidhi was one of the most significant leaders, instrumental in establishing those institutions that have risen to prominence in the country, Stalin said. He announced that his govt would soon establish a university in the erstwhile unified Thanjavur district, Karunanidhi’s native place. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami remained in the house for a significant portion of the debate before leaving.

Taking to X, Stalin said Tamils excel in higher education and hold prominent positions globally after pursuing education diligently. He listed several initiatives of Karunanidhi, including making Tamil compulsory in schools and prioritizing jobs for students who studied in Tamil. Tuition fee concessions for first-generation graduate students, the introduction of engineering courses in Tamil, and free bus passes, and abolishing entrance exams for engineering programmes are among others.

Stalin noted Karunanidhi's achievement of setting up 10 Universities. “With this long list, Kalaignar who created modern Tamil Nadu will live forever in the glory of Tamils,” Stalin said.

Earlier, PMK floor leader G K Mani suggested that the CM should proceed with the announcement and not hesitate, as the state had previously established universities in the name of several towering personalities.

TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai highlighted Karunanidhi's advocacy for state autonomy five decades ago and his securing of the rights of chief ministers to hoist the national flag during Independence Day. CPI MLA T Ramachandran hailed Karunanidhi as an architect of modern Tamil Nadu, while MDMK MLA T Sadhan Thirumalaikumar viewed the university as long-overdue to honour the leader.