CHENNAI: Amid growing concerns over cultural reinterpretations, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin used the International Vallalar Conference to draw a firm line. Inaugurating the prestigious gathering hosted by the state’s Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, he condemned any move to undermine or misrepresent Saint Vallalar’s foundational ideals of empathy, equality, and universal love.
‘We will not endure efforts to repaint our cultural identity,’ Stalin proclaimed, invoking Vallalar’s revolutionary concept of infinite compassion. The saint’s view of hunger as a curable ailment and selfless feeding as divine service remains a guiding light, one that the CM vowed to protect from distortion.
Stalin seamlessly connected Vallalar’s wisdom to modern welfare. Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister Breakfast Scheme nourishes young minds, while elder care programs alleviate geriatric hardships – all rooted in the saint’s anti-hunger crusade.
Progress in sacred infrastructure was a highlight. Stalin revealed that 4,192 temples dormant for consecration rituals have been revitalized. An ambitious ₹8,100 crore program is restoring 12,900 more temples, with numerous completions marking a renaissance in heritage conservation.
In a flurry of announcements, seven tributes to Vallalar took center stage: a symbolic pillar at the venue, Vadalur’s new Sanmarga school, music classes for Thiruvarutpa hymns, herbal gardens, the book ‘Spiritual Alchemy,’ annual three-day jayanti festivities, annadanam facilities across key sites, a namesake park near Cuddalore, and Chennai’s Vallalar Research Center.
True progressivism, Stalin stressed, lies in practicing equality and justice. He rallied attendees to champion Vallalar’s humane legacy, ensuring it inspires generations and fortifies Tamil Nadu’s unique cultural fabric against unwarranted changes.