Thirukkural-era literature misrepresented, a Chief Minister who never existed, and books priced at thousands of rupees! Serious allegations surrounding book purchases at Coimbatore's Periyar Arivulagam have triggered a major political controversy in Tamil Nadu.
A magnificent library constructed at a cost of approximately ₹300 crore in Coimbatore, the Periyar Arivulagam, was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on October 16.
Built to promote knowledge, encourage reading habits and provide educational resources to students, the library has now become the centre of a controversy over alleged irregularities in book procurement.
One Book Opened… And the Controversy Began!
Renowned Tamil writer Perumal Murugan reportedly discovered several shocking inaccuracies while examining books in the Tamil literature section on the fourth floor of the library.
First Shock: Was Naladiyar a Person?
Naladiyar is one of Tamil literature's most celebrated ethical texts, consisting of 400 verses traditionally attributed to Jain monks.
However, according to Perumal Murugan, a book in the library describes Naladiyar as a famous poet and philosopher!
Second Shock: A Chief Minister Who Never Existed!
Another book reportedly identifies a person named "Muthuvelu Subbaiya Iyer" as Tamil Nadu's first Chief Minister in 1947.
The problem?
No such Chief Minister exists in Tamil Nadu's political history!
Perumal Murugan also questioned several other claims, including incorrect details about the author of Maduraikanchi, questionable stories attributed to Subramania Bharati, and a photograph allegedly depicting a Nandi statue excavated at Keezhadi.
These findings have raised serious concerns about the accuracy and credibility of the books available in the library.
A ₹350 Book Priced at ₹1,445?
One of the most controversial aspects of the allegations concerns the pricing of books.
A book titled Naladiyar Vazhvin Vazhikatti, containing approximately 300 pages, reportedly carries a price tag of ₹1,445.
When comparable Tamil books are available for around ₹350, the unusually high price has raised questions about how the books were valued and purchased.
Perumal Murugan also reportedly highlighted the presence of nearly 1,800 books associated with a lesser-known publisher named Agalvilakku Pathippagam.
Questions have been raised about the authenticity of certain author names, ISBN numbers, publishing addresses and other details.
Some books are suspected of having been generated using artificial intelligence (AI), possibly under fabricated author names.
However, there has been no conclusive official confirmation that these books were AI-generated.
Vijay Blames the DMK… DMK Hits Back at the TVK Government!
The controversy has quickly escalated into a political confrontation between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Chief Minister Vijay's Position:
According to the TVK government, the Periyar Arivulagam project and the committee responsible for selecting books were established during the previous DMK administration.
Vijay's side argues that the earlier government must therefore answer questions about the book selection and procurement process.
The government has also stated that those responsible for any wrongdoing involving public money should face action.
DMK's Response:
The opposition DMK has rejected attempts to place the entire responsibility on its previous administration.
The party has pointed to library stamps reportedly dated June 22 on some of the disputed books, raising questions about whether the books were received after the change in government.
It has demanded the publication of procurement orders, book recommendation lists, delivery dates and payment records.
The DMK has also called for an independent investigation to establish responsibility.
Government Orders Investigation — What Happens Next?
Following the controversy, School Education Minister A. Rajmohan has reportedly ordered an inquiry into the allegations.
A complaint concerning the alleged procurement irregularities has also reportedly been submitted to the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption.
Calls have emerged to examine not only the procurement process at the Coimbatore library but also purchases made for other government libraries.
Meanwhile, members associated with the book selection process have reportedly maintained that the disputed books were not included in their recommended lists.
They have demanded that the government release the original recommendation records, including the relevant Google Sheets, to establish what was actually approved.
The investigation will need to answer several important questions:
- Who selected and approved the disputed books? - When were the books purchased and delivered? - Who authorised the payments? - Were the prices inflated? - Did any individuals or publishers receive improper financial benefits?
Only a transparent examination of the original procurement documents can determine whether corruption occurred and who, if anyone, should be held accountable.
The Biggest Irony: A Controversy Inside a Library Named After Periyar!
Periyar devoted much of his life to promoting rational thinking, scientific reasoning and the importance of questioning misinformation.
Now, a major library established in his name faces allegations that it contains books with historically inaccurate and potentially fabricated information.
The controversy is not simply about how much money was spent on purchasing books.
It also concerns the reliability of educational resources that students, researchers and future generations may depend upon.
One important distinction must be made: ₹300 crore is the reported cost of the library project, not an established amount of corruption in book procurement.
Whether any financial wrongdoing occurred, and the actual value involved, remain matters for investigation.
As the TVK and DMK continue exchanging allegations, the public is left with one central question:
Will the complete procurement records be released, or will the truth remain buried beneath political accusations?
A library is supposed to be a place where people discover the truth.
The greatest irony of this controversy is that the truth itself has now become the subject of investigation inside a library built to promote knowledge.
