Veteran epigraphist honoured with Tamil Wiki Thooran Award in Erode

Renowned epigraphist and archaeologist V. Vedachalam (75) was honoured with the Tamil Wiki Periyasamy Thooran Award 2025 here on Saturday (August 16, 2025).

At a function organised by the Vishnupuram Literary Circle at Kavundachipalayam on Chennimalai Road, he received the award, which carried a cash prize of ₹2 lakh and a sculpture. Instituted in 2022 in memory of Periyasamy Thooran, creator of the Tamil Encyclopedia, the award is presented to Tamil scholars who have made notable contributions to culture and literature.

Accepting the award, Mr. Vedachalam said he had completed a 50-year journey in the field, including 33 years in the State Department of Archaeology. “After my retirement, I wrote 10 books so that my experiences could be shared. With the support of my family and well-wishers, I travelled across the country to archaeological sites and visited 24 countries of historical significance. This award is a recognition of my contribution,” he said.

Felicitating him, senior epigraphist Y. Subbarayalu credited Mr. Vedachalam as the driving force behind the Keezhadi excavations. Speaking about the site, he said that while exaggerated reports had often emerged, the excavation held undeniable significance. “Any excavation must be carried out with patience, inch by inch, layer by layer, so that artefacts unearthed at different levels can be studied together to establish their antiquity,” he said.

Archaeologist Vasant Shinde, in his felicitation, said Mr. Vedachalam’s contributions must be widely recognised. Writer B. Jeyamohan said it was their dream to establish an English-language publishing house and bring out Tamil works in London, a project already in progress.