Stalin pays tribute to centenarian freedom fighter Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi
Synopsis
DMK president M. K. Stalin invoked a Thirukkural verse on wisdom and elders after centenarian freedom fighter and former IAS officer Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi visited his home, with Stalin calling the Valluvam principle his personal creed.
Key Takeaways
Stalin posted his tribute on 12 August 2026 .
He quoted Thiruvalluvar's couplet on seeking the counsel of wise elders and declared it his guiding principle.
Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi , a freedom fighter and former IAS officer who has crossed 100 years of age , visited Stalin at his home.
Stalin thanked both Bharathi and his family for the visit and the warm words exchanged.
DMK regularly invokes Thirukkural verses to connect political messaging to Tamil ethical and Dravidian cultural tradition.
A Thirukkural couplet on the value of wise counsel, and a visit from a man who lived through India's freedom struggle — DMK president M. K. Stalin marked both in a single heartfelt post on Wednesday, 12 August 2026.
Stalin opened with the Thiruvalluvar verse: 'அறனறிந்து மூத்த அறிவுடையார் கேண்மை திறனறிந்து தேர்ந்து கொளல்' — broadly rendered as 'Seek the friendship of the wise elder who knows virtue; discern his worth and hold it dear.' He declared this Valluvam principle his own guiding creed.
A century of living history walks through the door
The occasion was a home visit by Shri Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi, described by Stalin as a freedom fighter who has crossed 100 years of age and a former IAS officer. Stalin wrote that Bharathi arrived at his residence and filled his heart with kind words — an encounter he received with evident reverence. Stalin extended his gratitude to both Bharathi and his family for the visit.Thirukkural as political compass
The choice of verse is deliberate and characteristic. DMK communications have long reached for Thirukkural couplets to anchor positions in Tamil ethical tradition — a practice that simultaneously signals Dravidian cultural identity and claims the moral high ground without partisan framing. By invoking Thiruvalluvar at the moment of meeting a centenarian freedom fighter, Stalin weaves together two threads the party holds sacred: classical Tamil wisdom and the living memory of the independence movement. Public recognition of elderly freedom fighters remains a consistent strand of Tamil Nadu's civic culture, cutting across party lines. A visit from a former IAS officer who also participated in the freedom struggle — and who has lived past a hundred — carries a symbolic weight that few ceremonial moments can match.Point of View
A soft but consistent signal to an older voter base. The gesture costs nothing politically and earns goodwill across generational lines. As Tamil Nadu's political competition intensifies ahead of future electoral cycles, such displays of cultural rootedness serve as low-risk, high-symbolism messaging.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi?
Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi is a freedom fighter and former IAS officer from Tamil Nadu who has crossed 100 years of age, according to DMK president M. K. Stalin's post on 12 August 2026.
What Thirukkural did Stalin quote?
Stalin quoted the couplet beginning 'அறனறிந்து மூத்த அறிவுடையார் கேண்மை' — meaning one should seek and cherish the friendship of wise elders who know virtue — and declared it his personal guiding principle.
Why does DMK use Thirukkural in political posts?
DMK regularly cites Thirukkural verses to anchor its messaging in Tamil ethical tradition and Dravidian cultural identity, presenting its positions as rooted in classical Tamil wisdom rather than narrow partisanship.
What was the occasion for Stalin's post?
Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi visited Stalin at his home and spoke warmly with him, prompting Stalin to post his gratitude to Bharathi and his family on 12 August 2026.
How old is Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi?
According to Stalin's post, Lakshmi Kanthan Bharathi has crossed 100 years of age, making him a centenarian.
