CHENNAI, February 5, 2026 — Tomorrow, the iron-wrought gates of the historic Connemara Public Library will witness more than just the usual arrival of scholars and students. At the library's very entrance, a bronze tribute to Karl Marx is set to be unveiled, marking a significant ideological and historical milestone for Tamil Nadu.
The inauguration, to be led by Chief Minister MK Stalin on February 6, is being hailed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPIM] not merely as a civic gesture, but as a victory for the working class and a "red salute" to the city’s storied labor history.
From a Request to a Reality
The journey of the statue began nearly a year ago. In March 2025, CPIM State Secretary P. Shanmugam made a public appeal on the anniversary of Marx’s death, pointing out a glaring absence: while Chennai was adorned with statues of linguistic and local heroes, the man who shaped global revolutionary thought remained unrepresented.
CM Stalin responded swiftly. In April 2025, during a session of the State Assembly, he issued a Rule 110 announcement, declaring that the "Dravidian Model" government would honor the philosopher who "altered the course of history."
"It was Marx who gave the clarion call: 'Workers of the world, unite!'" Stalin told the Assembly. "It is only appropriate that he stands in Chennai, the city where India's trade union movement was born over a century ago."
The Significance of the Site
The choice of the Connemara Public Library was a strategic and deeply symbolic decision. Initially, the government considered a location at Nandanam College, but Shanmugam urged for the library site.
The reasoning was two-fold:
A Life in Libraries: Marx famously spent decades in the British Museum Library researching Das Kapital. Placing him at the Connemara—one of Asia's oldest libraries—honors his identity as a tireless intellectual.
The Periyar Connection: In 1931, the father of the Dravidian movement, E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar), personally translated the Communist Manifesto into Tamil. By placing Marx at a center of Tamil learning, the government is highlighting the historical "Red-Black" (Communist-Dravidian) alliance.
A "Red" Identity for a Chief Minister
The inauguration follows another symbolic event just days ago. On January 30, while unveiling a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi and the legendary Tamil Communist leader P. Jeevanandam in Siravayal, Stalin spoke of his personal connection to the ideology.
"My very name—Stalin—carries the color red within me," the Chief Minister noted, referring to his father Karunanidhi naming him after the Soviet leader. He reiterated that the friendship between the DMK and the Left parties is one that "transcends elections and politics," rooted in a shared fight against communalism and oppression.
The Vigil Ends
As of this evening, workers are putting the finishing touches on the pedestal at the library entrance. Social media is already abuzz with photos of the veiled monument, with CPIM cadres planning to gather in large numbers for tomorrow's event.
For the CPIM, this statue is a permanent validation of their presence in the state's fabric. For the city, it is a reminder that the "Queen of the Coromandel" was built not just by commerce, but by the hands of workers who found their voice in the words of a philosopher from Trier.
Would you like me to create a "Live Coverage" style script for tomorrow's unveiling ceremony or a brief history of the labor movement in Chennai to provide more context?
