Sun Jul 13 17:11:54 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by a news article rewrite:
**Summary:**
On Sunday, July 13, 2025, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin released a new commentary on The Thirukkural, a classic Tamil text, written by lyricist Vairamuthu. Stalin emphasized the need to promote The Thirukkural as a national book and establish an organization in Delhi to promote the teachings of Thiruvalluvar, its author. He accused some groups of attempting to misrepresent Thiruvalluvar by portraying him in a saffron context and appropriating him with Aryan ideologies. Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram praised Vairamuthu’s commentary and highlighted the secular nature of The Thirukkural. Vairamuthu explained the need for a new commentary due to the evolution of language.
**News Article Rewrite:**
**Stalin Calls for National Recognition of Thirukkural, Condemns Cultural Appropriation**
**CHENNAI, July 13, 2025** – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched a fervent call for the national recognition of The Thirukkural, a revered Tamil literary work, at a ceremony in Chennai on Sunday. The event marked the release of “Valluvar Marai Vairamuthu Urai,” a new commentary on the text penned by acclaimed lyricist Vairamuthu.
During his address, Chief Minister Stalin stressed the importance of establishing an organization in Delhi dedicated to propagating the teachings of Thiruvalluvar, the author of The Thirukkural. He hailed Thiruvalluvar not merely as a poet, but as a revolutionary thinker whose ideas deserve wider dissemination.
Stalin also voiced strong criticism against attempts to appropriate Thiruvalluvar and his teachings, alleging that some groups were attempting to portray him in a saffron context and associate him with Aryan ideologies. “Cheating is the appropriate word to describe this appropriation,” he stated, arguing that Thiruvalluvar was a poet of rationalism, social justice, and self-respect, values incompatible with such appropriation.
Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram lauded Vairamuthu’s commentary, noting its accessibility to scholars, academics, and elected officials alike. He emphasized the secular nature of The Thirukkural, positioning it as a moral compass rooted in reason rather than religious doctrine. Chidambaram also relayed a message from writer Indira Parthasarathy, urging Vairamuthu to retain the traditional title ‘Kaamathupal’ in his commentary.
Vairamuthu defended the necessity of a new commentary, citing the significant evolution of language over time. He explained that the meanings of words shift and sometimes become distorted, necessitating a fresh interpretation of the classic text for contemporary readers.
The event was attended by prominent figures including former Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu and writer Parveen Sultana. The renewed focus on The Thirukkural and its message of social justice and rationalism is expected to spark further debate and discussion across India.
First Piper 