Thevar Jayanthi

Thevar Jayanthi is an annual observance held on 30 October to commemorate the birth anniversary of Indian politician Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar (1908–1963). The event is marked primarily in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu, India, particularly among members of the Thevar (Mukkulathor) community.^[1] Although it is not a state-declared public holiday, many schools and businesses in the region voluntarily close in recognition of the celebration.^[2]

Garlanding Pasumpon Muthuramalingam Thevar’s statue in Madurai during the 2007 centenary celebrations

Background

Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar was a political leader and activist associated with the All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), founded by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939. Thevar became a prominent figure in rural politics in southern Tamil Nadu during the 1930s–1950s, especially through campaigns concerning agrarian issues and opposition to the Criminal Tribes Act.^[3]

Thevar also acquired a reputation as a spiritual figure. Over time, observances held on 30 October to commemorate his birth developed into Thevar Jayanthi, drawing community members, pilgrims, and political leaders from across the region.^[4]

Observances at the Pasumpon Memorial

Central annual events take place at Thevar’s samadhi (memorial) in Pasumpon village, near Ramanathapuram. Pilgrims gather on 30 October to participate in rituals and public ceremonies. In recent decades, these ceremonies have also attracted political figures from Tamil Nadu political parties.^[5]

A 16-foot statue of Thevar was installed at the Goripalayam intersection in Madurai by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on 5 January 1974. A memorial at Pasumpon village was also constructed during Karunanidhi's tenure.^[6]

Official Recognition and Political Participation

In 1979, Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran declared the observance of Thevar’s birth anniversary as a government event.^[7]

On 19 October 1994, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa unveiled a life-size bronze statue of Thevar at the Nandanam junction on Anna Salai, Chennai.^[8]

Golden Armour

J. Jayalalithaa garlanding Thevar’s statue at Nandanam (2004)

In 2010, members of the Thevar community requested that Jayalalithaa donate gold armour (thanga kavacham) for the statue. On 9 February 2014, as Chief Minister, she donated a 13-kg gold armour piece valued at approximately ₹4 crore.^[9]

The armour is stored in a nationalised bank vault in Madurai and is temporarily used each year between 28 and 30 October for the observances.^[10]

Political and Social Debate

The All India Forward Bloc has repeatedly urged the Tamil Nadu government to declare Thevar Jayanthi an official public holiday.^[11]

Conversely, organisations such as the CPI(ML) Liberation have criticised state involvement, arguing that the event has been used to reinforce caste-based class structure.^[12]

2007 Centenary

Women paying respects at the Madurai statue during the 2007 centenary

On 30 October 2007, the birth of Thevar was observed. Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi participated in the commemorations in Pasumpon for the first time in two decades.^[13]

During the event, he proposed renaming Madurai Airport after Thevar, a statement often interpreted in the context of political competition between the DMK and AIADMK over influence in the Thevar-dominated southern districts.^[14]

Recent Observance (116th Jayanthi, 30 October 2023)

On 30 October 2023, marking the 116th Thevar Jayanthi, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin commissioned a statue at Goripalayam in Madurai. He later visited Pasumpon to pay respects at Thevar’s memorial and laid foundation stones for infrastructure projects in Madurai.^[15]