'Umaru Pulavar' award for Karunanidhi

Chennai, May 23 (UNI) The Islamic Ilakiya Kazhagam (Literary wing) has decided to confer the 'Umaru Pulavar' award on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for his outstanding contribution to literature and immense service to the Muslim community.

Kazhagam General Secretary Idayathullah, talking to newspersons here today in connection with the mega international Islamic Tamil Literary convention, beginning here on May 25, said the award would be presented on May 27 at the valedictory function of the event, hosted by the Kazhagam.

The award, named after the great Islamic poet who had rendered over 1,000 literary works including 'Seerapuranam' (an epic poem), 'Muthu Mozhi Malai' (poems) and 'Seethakathi Wedding poems', carried a purse of Rs one lakh and a citation, he said.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan would present the award to Mr Karunanidhi, he added.

Mr Idayathullah said that besides, 12 eminent personalities from different fields would be given cash prizes of Rs 10,000 and shields in recognition of their achievements in the respective fields.

Convention Organiser Kaviko Abdul Rahman said the main objective of the conference would be to revive some of the old Islamic literary works, which were facing extinction.

More than 400 Islamic and non-Islamic scholars who had done PhD and M Phil on Islamic literature would be presenting their thesis at the convention and they would be honoured with shields and certificates, he said.

He said the Kazhagam was planning to establish endowments at five universities and establish literary departments in three autonomus colleges in the State to further the cause of Islamic literature.

UNI