'Tholkappiar Award' to Karunanidhi from Kalam

Chennai, Aug 20: President A P J Abdul Kalam will present the ''Tholkappiar Award'' instituted by the city based 'Alwargal Aaivu Maiyam', a Research Centre, to DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at a function here on September 4.

Mr R M Veerappan and Dr S Jagatratchagan, President and founder- secretary of the Research Centre, respectively, told newsmen here today that the centre has chosen Mr Karunanidhi for this prestegious award in recognition of his service to Tamil litrature, life time contributiion to Tamil literature, creative works in all branches of literature, for his incomparable creations and for engaging himself in writing constantly.

They said the award, consist of a cash amount of Rs 1 lakh, a picture of Tholkappiar, inscribed gold medal and a citation.

They said in a departure from the normal practice of a lengthy citation in words, the silver coated citation will have a picture inscribed on it depicting the image of Tholkappiar, the earliest Tamil grammarian who wrote his works 3000 years ago and the picture of Mr Karunanidhi.

UNI