75th R-Day celebrations: Guv Ravi unfurls national flag at Marina

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi on Friday unfurled the Tricolour national flag near the labour statue on the Marina beachfront during the 75th Republic Day celebrations in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Stalin, cordially welcomed the governor Ravi, burying their bitter differences and lady governor Laxmi Ravi with a basket of flowers and introduced the Governor to the officers of army, navy, air force, coast guard, DGP Shankar Jiwal, Sandheep Rai Rathore - CoP, Chennai and A Arun - ADGP-L&O.

After the Governor unfurled the Tricolour, Floral petals were showered by the Indian Air Force helicopters.

Governor Ravi also took the salute of the 75th Republic Day parade.

The celebrations were marked by a march past of contingents of the Armed forces, the state police and colourful cultural events that showcased the Tamil pride.

Besides the traditional parade, cultural performances of troupes from Odisha, Manipur and Karnataka attracted attention.

A key highlight was the cultural events by the students with the revolutionary Tamil poet Bharathidasan’s ‘Tamizhuum Amudhendru Per’ song forming the theme.

Subsequently, a tableau by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has a portrait of Tamil saint-poet Tiruvalluvar in white robes and a couplet (Kural 382) “Never to fail in these four things, fearlessness, liberality, wisdom and energy, is the kingly character.”

Like the previous year (2023), artists displayed their skills in front of the Governor and CM.

R-Day awards

During the Republic Day celebrations, Chief Minister MK Stalin handed over the Anna Medal for Gallantry to Yasaar Arafat of Thoothukudi, D Daniel Sevasingh of Tirunelveli and S Siva Kumar of Thoothukudi for their voluntary involvement in the rescue operations during the unprecedented torrential rainfall in December, 2023.

Stalin also handed over the Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award - 2024 to Alt News’ co-founder Mohammed Zubair of Krishnagiri district.

“Zubair, a native of Thally panchayat in Denkanikottai in Krishnagiri district, through his Alt News portal has been analysing the veracity of the news coming out on social media and his work helps to prevent the occurrence of violence in society likely to be caused by fake news,” the citation read and went on to recall that in March 2023, there was a rapid spread on social media that migrant workers were being attacked in Tamil Nadu.

Further, C Narayanasamy Naidu Paddy Productivity Award was handed over to S Balamurugan of Salem for cultivating the paddy under SRI method of cultivation continuously.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister’s Special Award was presented to U Aayi Ammal alias Pooranam of Madurai district for her donation of the land (1 acre and 52 cent worth Rs 7 crore) to the Madurai East Panchayat Union Middle school for its upgradation.

Chief Justice of the Madras High Court SV Gangapurwala, other Justices, Ministers, MLAs, MPs, IAS officers and other dignitaries witnessed the celebration at Kamarajar Salai.