Republic Day 2023: Tamil Nadu's Tableau On Women Empowerment & Culture Radiates Kartavya Path, A Year After Rejection

Republic Day 2023: The tableau for the year focuses on the contribution made by Tamil women including Avvaiyar, MS Subbulakshmi and Muthulakshmi Reddy from Sangam era to the present day.

Chennai: A year since the major controversy over the union government’s rejection of the Republic Day tableau of Tamil Nadu government, the Union Defence Ministry gave nod for 23 tableaux including that of Tamil Nadu this year. As a result, the state has prepared a tableau depicting women empowerment and culture of the state. 

In 2022, the state designed a tableau with the theme 'Tamil Nadu in the Freedom Struggle'. The tableau featured freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu including VO Chidambaram Pillai, Veerapandia Kattabomman, the Maruthu Pandiyar brother, Subramania Bharati and Rani Velu Nachiyar. 

However, the Centre rejected the tableau and paved the way for a huge controversy. The rejection irked Tamil Nadu CM Stalin who went on to condemn the decision. He also wrote to PM Modi in the first year of his tenure seeking the PM’s intervention in the matter. However, as the request went in vain, Stalin announced that the tableau would be included in the state's Republic Day celebration 2022. 

Tamil Nadu also made arrangements for showcasing the tableau at various districts across the state to emphasize the contribution of Tamil leaders in the freedom struggle. The tableau was also widely recognized by the people of the state.

Against this backdrop, the Centre gave the nod to house the tableau of Tamil Nadu government in Kartavya Path during the Republic Day parade on January 26, 2023. The tableau for the year highlights women empowerment and culture of Tamil Nadu and focuses on the contribution of Avvaiyar, MS Subbulakshmi and Muthulakshmi Reddy among others. 

Tableau On Women Empowerment & Culture Of Tamil Nadu

The tableau highlights the efforts of women from the Sangam Era to the present day. The front portion of the tableau has a tall statue of a seated Avvaiyar from the Sangam era. Avvaiyar, an intellectual poet, is known for her works including Aathichoodi and Kondraiventhan.

The next part of the tableau showcases Veeramangai Velu Naachiar on her horse. Velu Naachiar's statue was part of the tableau proposed by the state government in 2022 too. Velu Naachiar, the queen of Sivanganga, is viewed as a reflection of bravery. She also waged a war against the East India Company. 

According to the PIB, "The middle portion of the tableau showcases statues of eminent women personalities namely Carnatic Singer Bharat Ratna MS Subbulakhsmi, the great Bharatanatyam exponent Padma Bhushan Tanjore Balasaraswati, pioneers of female doctors in India and a social reformer, Padma Bhushan Muthulakshmi Reddy, a social reformer, author and political activist of the Dravidian Movement, Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar and Padma Shri a popular organic farmer still active at the age of 105 in her agriculture field."

The last portion of the tableau showcases Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple which is recognised by UNESCO World Heritage Site.