CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday announced a series of initiatives to honour the legacy of 19th-century saint-poet Ramalinga Adigal, popularly known as Vallalar, including the renaming of the Tiruvottiyur High Road and the organisation of an international conference in Chennai.
In a social media post, Stalin said the Tiruvottiyur High Road would henceforth be known as Vallalar High Road, responding to long-standing demands from Vallalar followers.
"As part of the Dravidian Model of governance, we are committed to taking Vallalar's ideals of compassion and social equality to the people," the Chief Minister said.
He announced that Vallalar's birth anniversary would be observed as 'Thaniperum Karunai Day', and that a year-long celebration titled 'Vallalar Mupperum Vizha' would be conducted across the State. The Chief Minister also said the house at Maruthur, where Vallalar lived, would be renovated and preserved.
To take Vallalar's message to a global audience, Stalin announced that an International Vallalar Conference 2026 would be held on February 15 at the Ekamparanathar school campus in Kilpauk, Chennai.