Stalin inaugurates 'Bharathi Illam' in Varanasi

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday inaugurated a refurbished 'Bharathi Illam', the house where Bharathiyar lived in his teenage years, in Varanasi, through video conference. The Chief Minister also inaugurated a bust sized statue of Bharathiyar in the 'Bharathi Illam'.

The State government entered into an agreement with the owner of the house in Varanasi, in which Bharathiyar lived from the age of 15 to 19, and a part of the 'Bharathi Illam' was renovated to turn the house into a memorial. Along with the renovation, a bust sized statue was installed at the cost of Rs 18 lakh.

The announcement to renovate the 'Bharathi Illam' and to construct a bust-sized statue was announced by the Chief Minister in the state Assembly, September 10, 2021. Based on the announcement, a GO was issued by the State government in which the 15*12 square feet sized room will be renovated and will be maintained at the cost of Rs 7,500 per month.

The memorial apart from the statue has a small library. A documentary movie on Bharathiyar was shown to the Chief Minister followed by the Chief Minister releasing a special book on Bharathiyar, prepared by the Department of Information and Public Relations. The first copy of the book was obtained by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi.

Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Publicity MP Saminathan who was at the 'Bharathi Illam' in Varanasi joined the Chief Minister through video conference. The Minister honoured Bharathiyar's nephew professor Kedara Venkata Krishnan and other relatives who visited the 'Bharathi Illam' on the occasion of Bharathiyar's 141st birth anniversary.

Mayor pays respect to Bharathiyar:

Meanwhile, Chennai Mayor R Priya along with Mylapore MLA T Velu and Deputy Mayor M Mukesh Kumar, paid respect to Bharathiyar by garlanding a photo of Bharathiyar kept near his statue in Marina beach.