New Delhi: DMK MP Tamilachi Thangapandian while speaking in the Lok Sabha today demanded that the Coast Guard ship should be named after Rani Velu Nachiyar.
Tamilachi Thangapandian, MP, South Chennai Constituency, said: “Rani Velunachiyar was born in Sivagangai on January 3, 1730. He is an inspirational personality icon. She was the first Indian queen to wage war against the British. Rani Velu Nachiar rebelled against British East India Company rule 85 years ago and reclaimed her kingdom.
In 2008, the Government of India honored his bravery and spirit of freedom struggle by issuing a commemorative postage stamp. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin had ordered that Rani Velu Nachiyar’s portrait should be widely circulated in appreciation of her bravery. Accordingly, his real-life struggle was staged across Tamil Nadu by the Department of Arts and Culture, Government of Tamil Nadu, with the participation of 62 drama artists.
Currently the ships of the Indian Coast Guard are named after women who are brave and have excelled in various fields. Some ships are named after brave women like Rani Kittur Chennamma, Rani Lakshmi Bai. But the name of Rani Velu Nachiyar is yet to be named.
Therefore, as a tribute to Rani Velu Nachiyar, I urge the central government to name a fast patrol vessel of the Coast Guard after her,” he said.
