Tamil Nadu: Birth anniversary of Ukkirapandi Muthuramalingam Thevar

The Mukkulathors treat Muthuramalingam Thevar as a 'deity' and since 1993 that the Jayanthi shifted from being a fairly minor affair to one of considerable significance.

The birth anniversary of freedom fighter, Ukkirapandi Muthuramalingam Thevar, is being celebrated in Tamil Nadu on Monday. In fact, the three-day Thevar Jayanthi celebrations are culminating today.

According to Indiatoday reports, around 7,000 personal from various districts have been deployed in Ramanathapuram and there will be four IGSs, four DIGs and 16 SPs supervising the event.

In 2014, then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had donated a golden armour weighing 13 kgs for the statue- to be adorned every Thevar Jayanti. But with split in AIADMK ranks, the armour was handed over to Thevar Memorial caretaker by the bank due to confusion over who will offer it.

The leader's last name suggests the name of his community 'Thevar' , also known as the Mukkulathor people, native to the central and southern districts of Tamil Nadu, India. They comprise the Agamudayar, Kallar and Maravar social groups that share a common myth of origin and claim to have once been members of various ancient South Indian dynasties.

The Mukkulathors treat Muthuramalingam Thevar as a 'deity' and since 1993 that the Jayanthi shifted from being a fairly minor affair to one of considerable significance.

Ukkirapandi Muthuramalingam was a noted politician from the community and the event 'Thevar Jayanthi', gained the approval of the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1993, which enabled the event to obtain police protection, road closures and the like.

He was the leader of the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB) in Tamil Nadu, and was national deputy chairman of the party from 1952 onwards. He was elected thrice to parliament.

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