Chennai, April 2, 2025 \u2013 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced in the State Assembly that a statue of German philosopher and socialist leader Karl Marx will be installed in Chennai. The decision aims to honor Marx’s contributions to the labor movement, which has flourished in the region for over a century.<\/p>\n
Making the announcement under Rule 110 of the Assembly, Mr. Stalin stated that the Dravidian model government wished to pay tribute to Marx, a revolutionary thinker who formulated the philosophy of communism and called for workers\u2019 unity. The announcement coincides with the ongoing 24th national congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Madurai, where the Chief Minister is scheduled to participate.<\/p>\n
Mr. Stalin emphasized that Karl Marx was a social thinker who shaped history, with his ideas influencing several global revolutions. He highlighted that Marx was among the few intellectuals who wrote accurately about India during his time. He also recalled that in 1931, Periyar E.V. Ramasamy translated and published The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Friedrich Engels in Tamil.<\/p>\n
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Memorial for P.K. Mookiah Thevar in Madurai<\/strong><\/p>\n In addition to the statue of Marx, Mr. Stalin announced that a memorial building would be constructed for the late All India Forward Bloc leader P.K. Mookiah Thevar in Usilampatti, Madurai district. He praised Thevar\u2019s legacy, recalling that he was a trusted associate of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar and won multiple elections from Periyakulam and Usilampatti constituencies. In 1971, he also secured a victory in the Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha seat.<\/p>\n Mr. Stalin acknowledged Thevar\u2019s role as the pro-tem Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1967, during which he administered the oath to newly elected MLAs. Thevar was instrumental in advocating for educational institutions for the Thevar community, leading to the establishment of government colleges in Kamuthi, Usilampatti, and Melaneelithanallur during the DMK regime. The Chief Minister also noted Thevar\u2019s strong opposition to the Katchatheevu agreement in Parliament.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Widespread Support from Political Parties<\/strong><\/p>\n The announcement received widespread support across political parties in the Assembly, including the principal opposition AIADMK. Leaders from the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Dravidar Kazhagam, and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) welcomed the move.<\/p>\n CPI(M) State Secretary P. Shanmugam thanked the Chief Minister, noting that the party had earlier requested the installation of Marx\u2019s statue. Dravidar Kazhagam President K. Veeramani lauded the announcement, calling it a significant achievement of the Dravidian model government. CPI State Secretary R. Mutharasan stated that the decision would be remembered in history, while PMK founder S. Ramadoss described it as a fitting tribute to Marx, a global leader who championed the cause of laborers.<\/p>\n The Tamil Nadu government\u2019s decision marks a significant moment in recognizing historical figures who influenced both global and local social movements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"