Malaysian Tamil writers visit Anna memorial

Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, Dec 10 (UNI) A 34-member team of Tamil writers from Malaysia today visited the memorial of late Chief Minister C N Annadurai here this evening.

The team, on a fortnight-long trip to Tamil Nadu from November 28, arrived in this culturally-rich town to a rousing welcome after visiting Chennai, Thanjavur, Madurai, Pollachi, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Salem, Dharmapuri and Vellore in Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry.

Led by Malaysian Tamil Writers Association President P Rajendran, the team saw the personal belongings of the Dravidian leader, read his poems and articles, besides listening to his oratorical skills.

Talking to newspersons here, an emotional Mr Rajendran noted that ''after coming here, we have seen for ourselves that our umbilical cord connection is still continuing, despite our forefathers migrating to Malaysia about 150 years ago. The Tamil language, culture and history that they carried with them is still alive in that country.'' Thanking Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and the people of the State for making the visit a memorable one, he said 523 Tamil schools were being run in Malaysia with Government support.

The team then visited the music and dance school at Chinna Kancheepuram.

Elaborate security arrangements were made in view of the team's visit.

UNI