Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, is on a visit to the United Kingdom aimed at strengthening economic, educational, and cultural ties between Tamil Nadu and the UK.
Prior to this, he visited Germany, where he was warmly received by German officials and the Tamil diaspora. The tour seeks to bolster investment partnerships, engage with the global Tamil community, and includes a diaspora event and meetings with key leaders. He interacted with businesses in the UK on 2 and 3 September.
On 4 September, at the University of Oxford, as part of the ‘Self-Respect and Legacies’ conference commemorating the centenary of the Dravidian movement, Stalin to unveil the portrait of revered social reformer Thanthai Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and deliver a speech in Tamil at St Antony’s College.
The chief minister’s speech at University of Oxford will be keenly anticipated as it will provide a window to the thought process of a major opposition party leader in India. It is also of huge significance that the speech will be in Tamil. A two-day conference titled 'The Self-Respect Movement and its Legacies' sponsored by the Asian Studies Centre and Balliol College will also take place where scholars from around the world will be presenting papers.
On 6 September, he is due to meet the UK’s Tamil diaspora at the event ‘Maaperum Tamil Kanavu,’ organised by the Non-Resident Tamil Welfare Board, at a London hotel, celebrating Tamil culture and heritage.
M.K. Stalin has served as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister since 2021, following the DMK’s emergence as the state’s single-largest party. During his tenure, he introduced the state’s first-ever agricultural budget and launched initiatives including the ‘Green Tamil Nadu Mission’ and the ‘Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme.’
Dr Prabhu Rajendran, Vice Chair of the World Tamil Organisation (WTO-UK), said, “The Non-Resident Tamil Welfare Board (NRTWB) has organised a distinguished cultural outreach event titled ‘Maaperum Tamil Kanavu’ on 6 September at Hotel Peninsula, celebrating the richness of Tamil culture and heritage while providing a meaningful platform for diaspora engagement. The event will begin with the recital of the Tamil Thaai Vazthu, the State song of Tamil Nadu, followed by a cultural programme and an interactive session with the diaspora.
“On behalf of the World Tamil Organisation (WTO-UK), I extend our heartfelt wishes for the success of this visit. We are confident that it will further elevate Tamil Nadu’s global standing, both in terms of industrial advancement and the celebration of its rich cultural heritage.”
He returns to India on 8 September.
