COIMBATORE: DMK president and former chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday visited the recently inaugurated Periyar Knowledge Centre in Coimbatore along with Dravidar Kazhagam president K Veeramani and expressed his happiness over the completion of the institution, built in the name of Thanthai Periyar as part of the Dravidian Model govt’s ambitious vision.Speaking to the media after the visit, Stalin said although he had visited the facility earlier, he had now had the opportunity to see it after its inauguration and completion. “Due to the large crowd, we could not patiently explore every section of the centre. I wish to visit again and take a detailed look at the entire facility,” he said.Stalin appealed to youngsters and students to visit the centre and understand the principles and ideals of the Dravidian movement. “At a time when Tamil Nadu is progressing, it is important for the younger generation to understand what the Dravidian movement stands for, what Dravidian ideology means, and the thoughts, ideals and objectives of Periyar. I urge students and youngsters to make good use of this institution and enhance their knowledge,” he said.Stalin said nearly 99.75% of the work had been completed. “Fortunately, the Periyar Knowledge Centre has reached the stage of near completion. Had the project been left halfway, the current govt would have dropped the project and had brought it to a closure. Thankfully, it has escaped that fate,” he remarked.He expressed hope that the other library projects would also be completed and made accessible to the public.Stalin reiterated that such knowledge centres and libraries would play a significant role in nurturing reading habits, spreading awareness and helping younger generations understand Tamil Nadu’s social reform movements and ideological history.
