States » SouthPosted at: Nov 6 2026 6:17PM


Akademi award winner blows lid off corruption: Previous Stalin govt in dock over procuring trash, junk for iconic Periyar library

By MC Rajan
Chennai, Nov 6 (UNI) Celebrated award-winning author Perumal Murugan has blown the lid off corruption in the purchase of junk books by ghost writers and fake publications at exorbitant prices for the iconic state-of-the-art library, Periyar Arivulagam (Periyar Knowledge World) in Coimbatore, putting the opposition DMK leadership and the embattled former Minister Anbil Mahes Poyyamozhi in the dock.
Following the revelations, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C.Joseph Vijay slammed the DMK, accusing it of using an institution named after the icon of social reforms to swindle public money.
In a statement on Friday, he expressed anguish at the DMK exploiting the name of Periyar for corruption, vindicating his oft-repeated criticism of the party. “It is a betrayal of Periyar,” he said.
On a visit to the library, the author of the critically acclaimed ‘One Part Woman’ and other novels found the Tamil section filled with trash and junk by writers faking as scholars. All had catchy titles, from literature to history and archaeology, among others. “1800 titles from a single publication, ‘Akal Vilakku’, a name unheard of in the Tamil publishing industry, are tacked in the Tamil section on the fourth floor of the library. We counted it purposely. Except for a few, all are hard-bound and all priced around Rs 1500, when publications price their books at not more than Rs 350 or Rs 400”, Perumal Murugan said
“The quality of content is atrocious. Having studied Tamil and been a teacher for over 30 years, I was bewildered at the ‘scholarship’
of these writers. ‘Naladiyar’ is an anthology of 400 ethical quatrains by Jain monks, but for an author of a book with the same title, ‘Naladiyar’, is a philosopher and a poet! The address of Akal Vilakku publication in Chennai itself is fake. This is a sample. There are still boxes of books yet to be opened,” he says and demanded a thorough probe and to bring to book those involved in the scam", he added.
The library, conceived as a modern monument and built for Rs 301.71 crore by the previous DMK government of MK Stalin on the lines of the ones in Chennai and Madurai, was inaugurated last month by Vijay and thrown open to the public.
Ironically, the DMK, sulking over its efforts to bring up the library, having been erased at the inauguration, held a felicitation for Stalin on Wednesday, unaware of the impending startling revelation by Perumal Murugan. At the felicitation after his visit to the library, the DMK president launched a scathing attack on Vijay, describing the TVK government as a curse on the state.
Now, with a literary celebrity coming out with this revelation, the TVK and its allies, including the Congress, CPI(M), as well as the NDA constituents PMK and AMMK, were quick to demand a vigilance probe into the scam. Libraries come under the School Education Department, and former DMK Minister Anbil Mahes held the portfolio in the Stalin government. As such, this adds up to his woes as he is already behind bars in the multi-crore private school recognition scam.
The CPI(M) has pressed for a Special Investigation Team to probe the irregularities, while TNCC president Manickam Tagore wondered what would have been the scam in the construction of the library. “DMK’s Dradividian façade is only for looting,” he quipped in a letter to the Chief Minister, while PMK President and Rajya Sabha MP Anbumani demanded a Commission of Inquiry to probe the scam.
UNI MCR GV 1815
Tags: #Akademi award winner blows lid off corruption: Previous Stalin govt in dock over procuring trash# junk for iconic Periyar library
More News

Karnataka flags excess ethanol in petrol, seeks Centre's compensation

06 Nov 2026 | 7:29 PM

Bengaluru, Nov 6 (UNI) Karnataka has opened a fresh front against the Centre's ethanol-blending policy, alleging that petrol supplied by major oil marketing companies contains ethanol well beyond the prescribed 20 per cent limit and demanding compensation for motorists who may be bearing the cost through reduced mileage and higher vehicle maintenance expenses.

see more..

ECI approves restructuring of polling stations in Keralam; total rises to 30,682

06 Nov 2026 | 6:59 PM

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 (UNI) The Election Commission of India (ECI) has approved the Kerala government's proposal to restructure polling stations across the state, increasing their total number from 30,471 to 30,682 to facilitate smoother election management and provide greater convenience to voters.

see more..

‘Campus to Booth’ campaign launched to enrol young voters in electoral rolls

06 Nov 2026 | 6:56 PM

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 (UNI) The Election Department in Kerala has launched a special week-long campaign to encourage eligible students aged 17 and above in schools and colleges to register themselves in the electoral rolls, with Chief Electoral Officer Dr Sajith Babu inaugurating the initiative at Government Arts College here on Friday.

see more..

Technopark to host maiden IT Kalolsavam from Nov 19; 50 events lined up, registration ends Nov 7

06 Nov 2026 | 6:54 PM

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 6 (UNI) In a first-of-its-kind initiative to bring the artistic talents of Kerala's technology workforce to the forefront, Technopark here will host a six-day IT Kalolsavam from November 19 to 24, featuring 50 competition categories for IT employees and a special festival for their children.

see more..

Kochi Declaration seeks global ocean monitoring network: Centre stresses science-based solutions for climate-hit communities

06 Nov 2026 | 6:52 PM

Kochi, Nov 6 (UNI) The Centre is stepping up efforts to translate scientific research and technological advancements into practical solutions for communities vulnerable to climate change, with particular emphasis on coastal populations, fisheries and other marginalised sections, union Secretary in the Ministry of Earth Sciences Dr T Srinivasa Kumar has said.

see more..