Dinamalar Editorial Director Honored with the Kalaignar Ezuthukol Award

Kokila Chokkanathan
Chennai:
Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin on monday conferred the prestigious Kalaignar Ezuthukol Award on T.E.R. Sukumar, Editorial director of the Dina Thanthi newspaper, in recognition of his remarkable contribution to journalism for over five decades.

The award ceremony took place at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, where the chief minister personally felicitated the veteran journalist.

A Prestigious Award Recognizing Socially Impactful Journalism

The Kalaignar Ezuthukol Award was instituted in 2021 in memory of former chief minister Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, himself a celebrated writer, orator, and journalist.

According to the 2021–22 policy announcement of the Department of Information and Public Relations, the award is presented annually to a journalist who has:

  • Contributed significantly to social upliftment
  • Worked for the welfare of marginalized communities
  • Displayed excellence and integrity in the field of journalism
The award includes:

  • A cash prize of ₹5 lakh
  • A citation
  • A ceremonial presentation by the Chief Minister
T.E.R. sukumar Honored for 50 Years of service to Journalism

For the year 2024, the award was presented to T.E.R. Sukumar, who has been a pillar of the tamil media industry for the past 50 years.
Under his leadership, Dina Thanthi has significantly contributed to public awareness, social development stories, and people-centered journalism.

Chief minister stalin congratulated sukumar for his decades of dedicated work and his role in shaping responsible media discourse in the state.

Inauguration of New government Press Employees' Housing Complex

Following the award ceremony, the chief minister also inaugurated the newly built Tamil Nadu government Press Employees Housing Complex in Chennai.
Key details of the project:

  • Cost: ₹39.30 crore
  • Location: Kamarajar Nagar, Tondiarpet
  • Units: 96 modern housing units with upgraded facilities
This initiative aims to provide secure and modern living spaces for government printing department employees.

Past Recipients of the Kalaignar Ezuthukol Award

Since its inception in 2021, the award has been given to leading figures in tamil journalism:

  • 2021: Senior Journalist I. Shanmuganathan
  • 2022: V.N. Sami
  • 2023: Nakkeeran R. Gopal and Sughitha Sarangaraj
T.E.R. sukumar joins this esteemed list as the 2024 award recipient.

A Tribute to Kalaignar’s Legacy in the Literary and media World

The Kalaignar Ezuthukol Award continues to stand as a tribute to Karunanidhi’s literary vision, promoting high-quality journalism that uplifts society and amplifies the voices of the underserved.

It also highlights the tamil Nadu government's commitment to recognizing journalists who bring meaningful change through the power of the written word.

 

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