Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Tributes paid to Chithira Tirunal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Justice of India K.G. Balakrishnan on Saturday paid glowing tributes to the ruler of erstwhile Travancore State Sree Chithira Tirunal Balarama Varma.

‘A true Mahatma among the Indian monarchs,’ said Mr. Balakrishnan.

Presenting this year’s Sree Chithira Tirunal Award for outstanding contributions to the nation to the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan at a function here, Justice Balakrishnan quoted Mahatma Gandhi’s words of praise for the late monarch who defied the evil social custom of centuries barring people, on the basis of caste, from offering worship at temples with the Temple Entry Proclamation.

Referring to Mr. Narayanan, the award winner, Mr. Balakrishnan said the national security team under the Prime Minister worked behind the scene and its role in protecting the country from external threats would never be known outside.

Under Mr. Narayanan, the team had the wherewithal to foresee any threat to the nation and initiate pre-emptive action, he said.

Mr. Narayanan, accepting the award, said that the foundation for Kerala’s achievements in the social sectors, education and development was laid by the late Sree Chithira Tirunal Balarama Varma during his reign in the State.

Mr. Narayanan donated the award money of Rs.1 lakh to the educational institutions run by the trust in the name of the former monarch to be given to the student topping the Plus Two examinations.

The present head of the ruling family of erstwhile Travancore, Uthradam Tirunal Marthanda Varma, presented mementos to Justice Balakrishnan and Mr. Narayanan.

Speaker K. Radhakrishnan presided.

Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran delivered the keynote address. at the function

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