Renowned epigraphist dead

Well-known epigraphist and Padma Shri recipient Iravatham Mahadevan died here Monday following brief illness.

A scholar on the Indus valley and Tamil brahmi scripts, Mahadevan's death was mourned by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami and DMK president MK Stalin, among others.

Mahadevan, 88, died following brief illness, sources close to the family said, adding, he is survived by a son.

A former civil servant, he also helmed the well-known Tamil daily 'Dinamani' as its Editor in the late 1980s.

He had earlier taken voluntary retirement from government service to pursue his interest in research, epecially epigraphy.

Condoling his death, Palaniswami said Mahadevan was a 'honest' IAS officer, and recalled him being honoured with the Padma Shri in 2009.

He had carved a name for himself in the field of archaeology, the chief minister said in a statement.

"He was an affable person and his death is a great loss to the media and archaeology fields," Palaniswami added.

Stalin, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, also condoled Mahadevan's death.

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran, Dravida Kazhagam leader K Veeramani and Tamilnadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association also mourned the death.