Chennai – Statement by V. Annamalai, National Secretary of AIFETO and Senior President, Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Alliance: We, at the ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF ELEMENTARY TEACHERS ORGANISATIONS (AIFETO), extend our wholehearted appreciation to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin, for his historic announcement regarding the installation of a statue of the great German philosopher and revolutionary socialist, Karl Marx, in Chennai.
This declaration, announced on April 3rd in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, is not symbolic—it is a milestone on the ongoing road of the labour movement and socialist principles in Tamil Nadu and India as a whole.
Karl Marx is not only a giant of the 19th century—his ideas provided the ideological basis for international movements that aimed to end exploitation, overthrow inequality, and defend the dignity of labor.
His utterances, “He who sows sleeps, but the seeds never sleep,” reverberate across time and geographies. In fact, the seeds of socialism and communism that he planted have sprouted as strong notions of justice, equality, and fraternity in the entire globe, including right here in Tamil Nadu.
The city of Chennai has a rich heritage in the history of the Indian labour movement. It was here that South India’s first communist, Comrade Singaravelar, held the country’s first May Day celebration. It was in Tamil Nadu that great leaders such as Comrade P. Jeevanandham propagated Marxist principles while mixing them with Tamil identity and social reform, demonstrating that Marxist ideology could march hand-in-hand with cultural pride and the struggle against social injustice.
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In this regard, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s announcement is both an ode to the past and a message to the future. It pays homage to the material contribution of Marxist ideas to Tamil Nadu’s social development and the state’s adherence to egalitarian principles.
The late Thiru M. Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister’s father, was renowned for his respect for Marxist thought and was often heard proudly proclaiming himself to be a ‘communist at heart.’ This declaration is an extension of that ideological heritage.
In the name of AIFETO, a prominent organisation based on the very cause Karl Marx believed in and presently operating in 22 states throughout the country, we embrace this verdict with profound respect and eagerness. It reiterates our faith in the potential of progressive politics to build a better society for the working class, teachers, and the masses.
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We are also glad to mention that other top leaders of the Communist Party of India, such as General Secretary D. Raja, Tamil Nadu State CPI Secretary R. Mutharasan, and Prabhakar ARADE G, National President AIFETO (Most Senior Leader) have welcomed and appreciated this bold and reflective decision.
The new statue of Karl Marx won’t just be some stone or bronze structure—it will be a sign of common struggle, solidarity, and desire for an equal society. At a moment when economic inequality and social injustice continue to afflict much of our country and world, reminders of such values are needed, and we need them because these values are what we must work towards: justice, equality, and respect for labour.
We wholeheartedly welcome Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for this historic step and reaffirm our unflinching support to this endeavour. May this statue of Karl Marx in Chennai stand as a symbol of socialist ideology, historical awareness, and the indomitable will of the working class.
Long live Karl Marx. Long live the unity of the working people. Long live progressive Tamil Nadu.” He said in his Statement.
Contact AIFETO Annamalai @ 94442 12060 / 9962222314. annamalaiaifeto@gmail.com
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