Latest news with #Thisaiyayiram
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Epigraphy museum to come up in Madurai
Madurai: Finance minister Thangam Thennarasu on Sunday said that a dedicated museum focusing on epigraphy and inscriptions will be set up at the World Tamil Sangam in Madurai. This was revealed to The Times of India on the sidelines of a two-day conference organised by Archaeological Society in Madurai. Addressing archaeologists and scholars at the conference, Thennarasu stressed the need to accord equal importance to the study of inscriptions and coins alongside archaeological excavations. "We often speak about excavations, but inscriptions carry the voice of history. Epigraphy must receive the same attention," he said. Thennarasu also announced that a national conference on epigraphy and inscriptions will be organised in Tamil Nadu in Jan 2026. "The govt has sanctioned ₹30 lakh for the event," he said. Asked about the open-air museum being developed at Keeladi, he said the ₹18 crore project is nearing completion and would be inaugurated before year-end or in early Jan. He said the state govt recently raised the excavation budget from ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore following discussions in the Assembly. Thennarasu said that young people's growing interest in history, archaeology, and inscriptions is a welcome trend. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "Forums that simplify complex historical subjects for the public are playing a vital role in building awareness," he said. He added that thematic museums are being planned at heritage sites like Thirumalai Nayak Palace in Madurai to provide immersive experiences to visitors. Thennarasu assured activists and members of the public from Pudukottai who met him that a proposal to set up a museum at Porpanaikkottai, where important archaeological findings from the Sangam era have been unearthed since 2021, will be seriously considered. "The demand for establishing a museum there is completely valid and will definitely be taken into consideration," he said. Excavations at the site have revealed culturally significant findings, drawing parallels with sites like Keeladi. However, the second phase of excavation has now concluded and the pits have been closed. The minister released a commemorative book titled Thisaiyayiram, honouring veteran epigraphy scholar S Rajagopal at the event. Archaeologist and secretary of 'Pandiya Naatu Varalatru Aiyvu Mayam' C Santhalingam, and state archaeology department assistant director V P Yathees Kumar were also present.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu Government to conduct national conference on epigraphy: Minister Thangam Thennarasu
'A national conference on epigraphy and inscriptions is soon to be conducted in Tamil Nadu,' said Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu. Releasing a book 'Thisaiyayiram,' on epigraphy scholar S. Rajagopal during an event conducted by Archaeological Society in Madurai on Saturday (July 19, 2025), Mr. Thennarasu said that following several discussions in Legislative Assembly the fund allocated for excavation was raised from ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore. T.N. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu urges RBI to withdraw new restrictions on gold loans 'In addition to archaeology, the State Government was also keen on focussing on inscriptions and museums,' he added. 'A revival of the interest in archaeology in recent years could be attributed to the inception of museums and excavations sites,' he said. 'Moreover, in the last 10 to 15 years period, youngsters' interest in archaeology, excavations and its related subjects, has increased multifold, thanks to social media platforms and various forums,' he noted. Centre's desire is to treat Tamils as secondary citizens, says Thangam Thennarasu Mr. Thennarasu stated that the forums taking up the complex, technical subjects of history to the public in laymen's subject was an important development in the field. He pitched the government's idea of coming up with thematic museums in places such as Thirumalai Nayak Palace to provide the public with a holistic experience of the inscriptions and its history. Archaeologist and secretary of 'Pandiya Naatu Varalatru Aiyvu Mayam,' C. Santhalingam, Assistant Director of Tamil Nadu State Department of Archaeology V.P. Yathees Kumar, were also present during the event.
