: A life-size portrait of S S Ramaswamy Padayatchiar, freedom fighter and leader who worked for the uplift of Backward Classes, was unveiled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday by Chief Minister K Palaniswami.
Speaking after unveiling the portrait, he said it should not be forgotten that the sacrifice of freedom fighters was behind today's quick paced growth of the country and that Ramaswamy Padayatchiar was among such selfless leaders who worked for a free India.
Hailing Padayatchiar (1918-92) as a "frontline leader," who worked for the welfare and growth of the backward and most backward people, the Chief Minister said the late leader was responsible for creation of the Most Backward category.
He was the first leader to pass a resolution seeking quotas -- 20 and two per cent in the State and Centre respectively- for Vanniyars for the first time in a conference of his Tamil Nadu Toilers party.
The late leader exerted pressure over the State and Central governments to take appropriate action on his demand for quota, the chief minister said.
A memorial for him at Manjakuppam in Cuddalore district, at a cost of Rs 2.15 crore on 1.5 acres, would be unveiled soon, he said, adding it would also feature a bronze statue of Padayatchiar.
Palaniswami recalled that his government had last year declared that Padayatchiyar's birth anniversary on September 16 would be observed as a government event every year.
A plaque with three embossed words "Veeram, Dheeram, Thiagam" was hung right below the portrait, which meant "valour, courage and sacrifice," symbolising the qualities of Padayatchiar.
The Chief Minister honoured Padayatchiar's son Dr Ramadoss on the occasion.
Palaniswami also appreciated the portrait as "lively" and "realistic" and honoured the painter Mathialagan.
Speaker P Dhanapal chaired the event and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam presided.
Leader of the Opposition in the assembly M K Stalin, MLAs and MPs, including the newly elected Rajya Sabha member Anbumani Ramadoss took part.
PMK leader G K Mani, former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief M Krishnasamy participated.
Padayatchiar's Tamil Nadu Toilers Party contested in the first general elections in free India in 1952.
TNTP's 19 candidates, including the freedom fighter, won Assembly elections and four nominees of the party also were elected to the Lok Sabha.
In 1954, he became Local Administration Minister in the cabinet of freedom fighter and Congress stalwart K Kamaraj.
Later, he was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1980 and 1984. He was also a member (1966-67) of the now defunct TN legislative council.
The historic Assembly hall was decked up for the occasion and portraits of all leaders, including late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa were decorated with garlands and flowers.
Garlands over the paintings of all other leaders, including C N Annadurai and M G Ramachandran were in white while the one over the portrait of Jayalalithaa sported a red, -rose- garland.
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