ERODE: The 221st death anniversary of freedom fighter and martyr Dheeran Chinnamalai was observed with state honours at his memorial in his native village, Odanilai, in Erode district on Monday. Ministers K A Sengottaiyan, Vijay Balaji, S Kamali, C Vijayalakshmi and Lokesh Tamilselvan, district collector S Kandasamy, superintendent of police Kiran Suruthi and others offered floral tributes to the statue of Dheeran Chinnamalai. Ministers Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, Lokesh Tamilselvan and Vijayalakshmi joined the district administration in paying homage to the freedom fighter at the historic Sankari Fort where Dheeran Chinnamalai was executed by the British in 1805. After paying tributes to the freedom fighter at Odanilai, Sengottaiyan told reporters, “Dheeran Chinnamalai’s sacrifice is a beacon of courage and patriotism. It is our duty to honour him and inspire future generations. His memorial day is observed as a govt function thanks to initiatives taken during the AIADMK regime. Today, under chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s leadership, we continue to uphold that tradition with dignity.” He recalled that former chief minister J Jayalalithaa released a book on Dheeran Chinnamalai in 1992 and established the mani mandapam. Sengottaiyan added, “This memorial is not just a structure; it is a symbol of Tamil Nadu’s pride in its freedom fighters.” He said chief minister Vijay insisted that every leader’s birth and memorial death anniversaries should be observed with respect. “Today’s tribute is part of that vision,” he said. Sengottaiyan linked the abundant water in the Cauvery river to good governance. “When righteous leaders are in power, rain blesses the land. Under chief minister Vijay’s administration, the rivers are full, the dams are brimming, and people see prosperity. This is proof of clean and effective governance,” he said. He noted that the central govt had praised Tamil Nadu’s welfare administration under Vijay, calling it a model for the nation.
