CHENNAI: MDMK leader Vaiko on Friday urged the DMK government to restore the legacy of the official portrait of saint-poet Thiruvalluvar and direct officials to display the approved portraits in government offices.
Recalling the government order passed in 1967 by then C N Annadurai-led DMK government, Vaiko stated that the then CM had taken efforts to create the portrait of the saint-poet with the creativity of K R Venugopal Sharma.
It was unanimously accepted by intellectuals, poets and people from different sections of the society.
The Union and state governments had approved the portrait and a patent was obtained for the same.
“The portrait was installed in government offices, courts, police stations, educational institutions and government buses,” said Vaiko in a statement.
Following this, former chief minister M Karunanidhi established Valluvar Kottam and erected a massive statue of the saint-poet at Kanyakumari to popularise his fame globally, he added.
However, the erstwhile AIADMK government had paved the way for dilution of the officially approved portrait of Thiruvalluvar by communal and religious forces.
Subsequently, the government-approved portrait of the poet disappeared from ministers’ and government offices.
The government print press had also stopped printing the portrait of the poet.
“Poet Thiruvalluvar’s portraits and pictures were given communal and religious colour to him,” said Vaiko and urged the DMK government to take course correction measures.