Chennai: “Poets should honor writers while they are still alive,” said VIT University Chancellor G. Viswanathan.
The 77th Bharathi festival and Bharathi Awards ceremony, organized by the Bharathiyar Association, was held yesterday at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Mylapore, Chennai.
Vellore VIT University Chancellor G. Viswanathan attended the event and presented the Bharathi Awards.
John Raja Das of the VGP Group, writer Bharathi Krishna Kumar, Professor Kalakkadu Ramaseethalட்சumi, Komal Theatres manager Dharani Komal, and Bharatanatyam artist H.N. Nandhini Suresh received the awards.
Speaking at the event, G. Viswanathan said: Today we remember Bharathiyar. We praise him. But during his lifetime, no one recognized him. Poets and writers should be appreciated while they are still alive.
There are 23 government universities in Tamil Nadu. Of these, the vice-chancellor posts are vacant in 17 universities. In the prestigious University of Madras, there has been no vice-chancellor for the past three years.
The reason for this is the dispute between the government and the governor. Now that the new government has taken charge, steps should be taken to appoint vice-chancellors. He said this.
At this event, writer Sivashankari and industrialist V.G. Santhosham were honored. Industrialist Nalli Kuppusamy, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Director K.N. Ramasamy, and Sri Krishna Sweets Managing Director M. Murali delivered felicitations. Earlier, Bharathiyar Sangam president Professor Ulaganayaki Palani welcomed the gathering and gave the introductory address.