Kamban Academy and Kamban Trust have lined up a galaxy of poets, scholars and politicians to eulogise Kamban, the emperor of poets who authored ‘Kamba Ramayanam’, the 12th century Tamil epic, during the four-day annual Kamban festival to be organised here from March 21.
Kamban Academy, led by its secretary Pala. Palaniappan, is organising ‘Kamban Thiruvizha’ at Krishna Kalyana Mandapam, and Kamban Trust, led by its president Sakthi A. Thirunavukarasu, is organising ‘Kamban Thirunal’ at Kamban Manimandapam from March 21. Kamban Academy has lined up guests such as Civil Servant U. Sagayam, former Union Minister E.M. Sudarasana Natchiappan, DMK Rajya Sabha member and poetess Kanimozhi, expelled AIADMK MLA Pazha. Karuppaiah, Tamil scholar Nellai Kannan and poetess Salma to talk on different aspects of ‘Kamba Ramayanam’ and Kamban.
Mr. Sagayam would deliver the presidential address on the inaugural day after releasing books and distributing awards along with Valli Muthiah, the poetess from the family of philanthropist Algappa Chettiyar, said ‘Kamban Adisudi’ Palaniappan.
‘Kamban Thirunal’ has invited industrialists A.C. Muthiah to address the inaugural ceremony to be chaired by former Supreme Court Judge A.R. Lakshmanan. Lyricist and poet Vairamuthu would deliver an address on ‘Kamban, a poet’ on March 22, Mr. Thirunavukarasu said.
Popular Tamil scholar and television ‘pattimandram’ moderator Salamon Pappaiah would chair a debate on ‘Kamban’ on March 23 and the festival would draw to a close on March 24 with special addresses by Tamil scholar Kundrakudi Ponnambala Adigalar and BJP leader H. Raja, he said.