Tamil scholar Sathiyavel Muruganar to receive Ayyan Thiruvalluvar Award

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday (January 13, 2026) announced various awards to eminent personalities for their contributions to society as well as the Tamil language and culture. The recepients are: scholar M.P. Sathiyavel Muruganar, Dravidar Kazhagam’s propaganda secretary and advocate A. Arulmozhi, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) legislator M. Sinthanai Selvan, senior DMK leader and Minister Duraimurugan, Congress functionary S.M. Hidayathullah, poet Nellai Jayantha, lyricist Yuga Bharathi, retired IAS officer and former Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu, teacher and scholar Su. Chellappa, and former Rajya Sabha MP Vidhuthalai Virumbi.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will present these awards to the recipients during a function as part of the Thiruvallur Day celebrations on January 16, an official release stated. Each of them will get a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, a one-sovereign gold medal, a citation, and a shawl, it further said.

Mr. Muruganar will receive the Ayyan Thiruvalluvar Award, which is presented annually to an eminent personality who works towards spreading the ideals of Thiruvalluvar. Ms. Arulmozhi has been named for the Thanthai Periyar Award, which honours the work of those striving towards social justice.

Mr. Sinthanai Selvan is set to receive the Annal Ambedkar Award, which is conferred on a person from Tamil Nadu who has been working for the welfare of the Adi Dravidar and tribal communities. Mr. Duraimurugan will be presented the Perarignar Anna Award, given to an individual who has been working with the people for the betterment of society, by following in the footsteps of late leader and former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.

Mr. Hidayathullah will receive the Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Award that is presented annually to individuals who, like Kamarajar, have contributed to the progress of the Tamil people. Mr. Jayantha has been named the recepient of the Mahakavi Bharathiyar Award, which is presented to individuals who have studied and researched Bharati’s works thoroughly and have created poems, prose works, and other forms of literary and social services.

Mr. Yuga Bharathi is set to receive the Pavendhar Bharathidasan Award, presented to an outstanding poet who has served the Tamil language, abiding by the tradition and legacy of the great revolutionary poet Bharathidasan. Mr. Irai Anbu will receive the Thamizhthendral Thiru.Vi.Ka. Award, given to a Tamil writer who excels in the field of literature, following the literary style of Thiru.Vi.Ka.

Mr. Chellappa will be given the award named after Muththamizh Kavalar Ki. Aa. Pe. Viswanatham, who dedicated his life to the revival and upliftment of the Tamil language and worked tirelessly throughout his life in three key areas: language preservation, language development, and the spreading of the language. Mr. Vidhuthalai Virumbi has been named for the Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar Award, which recognises individuals who work in the service of the Tamil language and culture, following the path laid by the late leader and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.