The minister said Sivanthi Adithanar was a pioneer in many fields besides a media baron who ran Tamil newspapers Daily Thanthi and Maalaimalar.
He was also an educationist, an industrialist and a philanthropist, the minister said.
He said no capitation fee or donation was charged from students in the educational institutions run by Adithanar.
Actor Kamal Hassan, who also spoke, said Adithanar had run seven colleges only the fee fixed by the government was charged there.