The 109th birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, will be celebrated in Tiruppur on August 16. The event will be held at Harvey Marriage Hall in Valipalayam, Tiruppur, and is expected to draw thousands of MGR supporters, party workers, and members of the public from different parts of Tamil Nadu.
The celebration will be presided over by Saidai Duraisamy, Chairman of the Manithaneyam Trust, former Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, and former Mayor of Chennai. During the event, he is expected to speak about MGR's contributions to Tamil Nadu, his legacy in public welfare, and the importance of continuing social service initiatives inspired by the late leader.
According to the organisers, the event aims to commemorate MGR's life and achievements while highlighting the values of public service, education, and social welfare that he promoted during his political career. Several MGR admirers and social organisations are expected to participate in the function.
Saidai Duraisamy has had a long political and social service career. He was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Saidapet constituency in 1984. In 2011, he was elected Mayor of Chennai, becoming the first AIADMK leader to hold the post after the corporation's restructuring. During his tenure, he was associated with various civic development initiatives in the city.
Apart from his political career, Saidai Duraisamy is widely known for his educational and philanthropic activities through the Manithaneyam Trust. The trust operates a free coaching academy in Chennai for students from economically weaker and middle-income families preparing for competitive examinations such as the Union Public Service Commission and the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission.
The academy provides free coaching, study materials, library facilities, and academic guidance to aspirants without charging any fees. Its objective is to help deserving students secure careers in the civil services and other government departments irrespective of their financial background.
According to information released by the trust, 78 students from the academy qualified in the 2026 UPSC Civil Services Examination and became eligible for appointments to services including the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Revenue Service, and other Central Government services.
The trust also states that more than 5,500 students trained at the academy have secured positions in various Central Government departments over the years. In addition, over 44,200 candidates who received coaching through the institution have reportedly been selected for Tamil Nadu Government services through examinations conducted by the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission.
The Manithaneyam Trust is also involved in several charitable initiatives beyond education. These include providing financial assistance to economically disadvantaged students, supporting disaster relief activities, and making marriage hall facilities available free of cost for economically weaker families in Chennai's Velachery area.
Organisers believe that the Tiruppur event will not only commemorate MGR's enduring legacy but also highlight the importance of education, social responsibility, and public service. The programme is expected to bring together MGR followers from across the state to remember the former Chief Minister's contributions and discuss initiatives aimed at empowering future generations through education and community welfare.