Madurai witnessed a significant gathering of business minds and leaders as the Tamil Entrepreneurs Conference, 'Sangam 5', culminated with notable honors and celebrations. The event, organized by the private body The Rise, saw Tamil Nadu's Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services, Palanivel Thiagarajan, being recognized for his contributions to the field of innovation.
Minister Honored for Supporting Innovation
In a key highlight of the conference, Minister Palanivel Thiagarajan was presented with the 'Arivu Perunchudar' award. The honor was bestowed upon him by The Rise to acknowledge his consistent support and efforts towards fostering innovation within the state and beyond. This recognition underscored the government's role in enabling a conducive environment for entrepreneurs and tech pioneers.
Celebrating Educational Excellence and Women Entrepreneurs
The days leading up to the award ceremony were packed with insightful sessions. The third day of Sangam 5 featured specialized conferences on international medical and higher education, dedicated IT discussions, and exclusive forums designed for women entrepreneurs. These sessions aimed to provide knowledge, networking opportunities, and empowerment across different sectors.
Later in the evening, the focus shifted to academic leadership. Minister Thiagarajan presided over the 'NextGen Education Leadership Awards' ceremony, where he presented accolades to several distinguished educators. The award recipients included:
- AV Senthil from AVS Educational Institutions
- Brinda J Raghavan and Ajith Moorthy from Renganayagi Varatharaj Engineering College
- Arun Babu from Skate Educational Institutions
- Dr Shashi Anand Sridharan from Kalasalingam Educational Group
- Dr MY Abdul Jaleel from MIET Educational Institutions
A Historic Pongal for Global Tamil Unity
The conference concluded on its fourth and final day, Sunday, with a landmark event symbolizing cultural unity. A special Pongal celebration was organized at Keeladi to promote global Tamil solidarity. This was noted as the first traditional event of its kind in the conference's history.
The celebration was a grand affair, featuring more than 250 Pongal pots, each representing the Tamil diaspora from 55 different countries. The event was led by Father Jegath Gaspar Raj, the founder of The Rise, and served as a powerful visual and cultural testament to the worldwide Tamil community's shared heritage.
The Sangam 5 conference successfully blended recognition of political support for innovation, celebration of educational leadership, and a profound cultural gathering, marking it as a multifaceted event for Tamil entrepreneurs and the community at large.
