Chennai: “What does it matter who opens it! Is there any pride in merely opening it? The real pride lies in creating something through planning and effort! In Tamil Nadu, that pride belongs only to the DMK, the force of creation,” said DMK president M.K. Stalin in connection with the opening of the Periyar Intellectual Center in Coimbatore today.
In a statement issued by M.K. Stalin in this regard, “Following the Poonamallee - Porur Metro corridor, another major project of our Dravidian model government is being dedicated to the people today. The knowledge center named after Periyar, who regarded spreading self-respect and rationalism as the lifelong duty of his life and worked until his last breath for the upliftment of the Tamil people, is being opened today in Coimbatore. My heart is dancing with joy!
In the budget for the year 2024-25, we announced that a grand library and science center would be established to further stimulate the thirst for knowledge among the general public of Coimbatore, especially the younger generation.
Following that, on 6-11-2024, we laid the foundation stone and completed this on land belonging to the Coimbatore Central Prison, over an area of 1.98 lakh square feet, with a ground floor and seven upper floors, at an estimated cost of about 300 crore rupees. Periyar Arivulagam is this temple of knowledge that we have built swiftly and with care.
We have designed this in a world-class manner to captivate the eye and stimulate the mind, with an auditorium on the ground floor, a library for persons with disabilities and a space travel elevator, a reception hall and science center on the first floor, a children’s library and a personal reading section on the second floor, a library for competitive examinations and the chief librarian’s office on the third floor, a Tamil book section and periodicals section on the fourth floor, English book sections and an incubation center on the fifth and sixth floors, and a science center and digital library on the seventh floor. With 125,000 books, it is set to become a vast treasure trove of knowledge for the western region.
When I went to Coimbatore this February, most of the work had already been completed. When many people said then that it could be inaugurated at that time itself, I said, “There is no need to hurry; it is enough to inaugurate it after the work is fully completed.” What does it matter who inaugurates it! Is there any pride in merely opening it? The real pride lies in planning and creating something, doesn’t it? In Tamil Nadu, that pride belongs only to the creative force, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
To mark Anna’s centenary, Karunanidhi created the grandest and most beautiful library in Asia at Kotturpuram in Chennai. After his tenure, many attempts were made to move it from there and ruin it. Putting a stop to all of that, when the Dravidian model government came to power in 2021, we revived the Anna Centenary Library. Even today, it continues to serve as a sanctuary for thousands of students every day.
Following that, in honor of the centenary of Karunanidhi, the architect of modern Tamil Nadu who created colleges, universities, parks, libraries, hospitals, factories, IT parks, flyovers, and symbols of Tamil culture across Tamil Nadu, I established and inaugurated the Kalaignar Centenary Library in Madurai. I also established and inaugurated Chief Minister’s creative spaces and libraries across Chennai.
We renovated Tamil Nadu’s first public library, the Egmore Connemara Library, in a highly impressive manner and opened it with new facilities such as a modern children’s library, a science center, a self-reading section, and a modern conference hall. In addition, we also renovated the dilapidated Gosha Library in Chintadripet, preserving its old character as it marked its centenary. Both were inaugurated by the then Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi.
Following Chennai and Madurai, we decided in our Dravidian model government to establish grand libraries in other regions as well. In that way, what we have set up in Coimbatore for the people of the western region is the Periyar Arivulagam, which is being inaugurated today.
Not only in Coimbatore, but also in Tiruchirappalli, a grand library in the name of Kamarajar at an estimated cost of Rs. 290 crore; in Nellai, a massive library in the name of Quaid-e-Milleth at a cost of Rs. 100 crore; in Salem, Bharathidasan Arivulagam at a cost of Rs. 104 crore; and in Cuddalore, Anjalai Ammal Arivulagam to be established at an estimated cost of Rs. 98.26 crore — we have been setting up grand libraries across Tamil Nadu under the Dravidian Model government. All of these are set to be inaugurated one after another very soon.
In that sense, it is not only while in power, but even when out of power, that the achievements of the Dravidian model government shine every day. DMK members can proudly hold their heads high and say that no other government except the DMK government has ever established libraries like this. These monuments of knowledge, standing tall in every corner of Tamil Nadu, were conceived in the DMK government’s thinking. They were built by the DMK. No other government has done this.
Not only libraries, but also the flyover in Chennai from Saidapet to Teynampet, the remaining routes of Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail project, and the Kalaignar International Arena established in Muttukadu are among the projects set up by the Dravidian model government that this new government may continue to inaugurate for many more years. We have laid such a strong foundation in every district.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a movement that has always functioned with knowledge, knowledge, knowledge at its core. That is why Anna named the DMK’s first headquarters Arivagam. We address him as “Arignar,” and Kalaignar as the “Muthamizh Arignar.” The office building established by Kalaignar, which continues to serve as the DMK’s headquarters to this day, was named “Arivalayam” by Karunanidhi, again by Anna. As a continuation of this tradition of knowledge, an Arivuthiruvizha was held last year on behalf of the DMK Youth Wing.
We created libraries across Tamil Nadu because we wanted the flame of knowledge to spread everywhere, knowledge to become democratized, and Tamil society to flourish as a cultured society with a growing reading habit. We organized book festivals. We established museums such as Keezhadi and Porunai. We conducted Great Tamil Dream lectures.
All of these have been etched into the hearts of the people of Tamil Nadu like a mark on green wood. But I saw the current rulers engaging in some foolish acts, as if trying to hide the rising sun with the palm of their hand.
It is said that in the science and technology hall of Periyar Arivulagam, the name of Naan Mudhalvan engraved on the pyramid-shaped computer desk has been concealed. Even after becoming Chief Minister himself, if our opponents fear that whenever people see the word “Mudhalvan,” they will think of this Stalin, then that is our victory! The victory of our Naan Mudhalvan scheme!
The antics of this bunch of fools, who have no connection to intellectual activities and are allergic to an enlightened society, will surely come to an end! In bringing that about, the libraries we have established and the books we have published will certainly contribute! The Periyar Knowledge World, which is to be opened today, will henceforth stand as one of Coimbatore’s proudest landmarks!
“My dear people of Coimbatore, just as we have been flocking to the Semmozhi Park opened in the Dravidian model government, everyone should go and see Periyar Arivulagam too. Go every day. If your relatives or friends come to Coimbatore, proudly take them and show them our Arivulagam, saying, ‘Look at our center of knowledge.’ Let the doors of Periyar Arivulagam open! Let ignorance be eradicated! Long live Periyar!” Stalin has posted.