Senior DMK leader and former Minister for Archaeology Thangam Thennarasu has urged both the Union and State governments to take immediate steps to bring the Anaimangalam copper plates back to Tamil Nadu. He said the artefacts originally belong to Tamil history and should be preserved in the State.
He described the copper plates as highly important historical records that provide valuable information about ancient Tamil society, administration, and culture. According to him, keeping such artefacts outside Tamil Nadu prevents people in the State from fully understanding their own heritage.
Thennarasu said the Union government should ensure that the copper plates are officially transferred and returned to Tamil Nadu. He also appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to take proactive steps without delay to secure their return.
He called Tamil Nadu the “motherland” of these artefacts and said they should be displayed in museums within the State so that students, researchers, and the public can study them easily.
He further emphasized that preserving historical objects within their place of origin helps protect cultural identity and strengthens awareness about Tamil history.
The demand adds to ongoing discussions about the repatriation of important historical artefacts and the need to protect regional heritage.