So, why are we celebrating Tamil Nadu Day on July 18 for the second year in a row? The entire country is aware that the Governor and Chief Minister recently engaged in intense discussions over the name Tamil Nadu. Similarly, life sacrifices and protests have occurred in order for this state to be named Tamil Nadu. We celebrate "Tamil Nadu Day" on July 18, 1968, the day when the decision to name Tamil Nadu was made. Let's go over its long history shortly.
At the period, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, and Malayalam were widely spoken in the Madras area. Following that, states were partitioned individually based on language. The current Tamil Nadu was known as "Madras State" during that time.
In that situation, Shankaralinganar, a member of the Congress party, went on a fast with 12 demands, including the removal of the name Madras State and the replacement with Tamil Nadu. It was rejected by then-Chief Minister Kamaraj. Shankaralinganar, who refused to give up his fast, died on October 13, 1956, from illness on the 76th day of the protest. Following his death, DMK legislators issued a resolution in 1957 to rename the state Tamil Nadu. Its referendum failed. In 1961, Socialist Party MP Chinnadurai introduced a proposal to change the name to 'Madras State'. Opposition parties staged a walkout to delay Kamaraj's proposal.
This is also why it failed. Following this, Gupta, a Communist Party member, filed an individual bill. To make this a talking point, the Congress party claimed that "then Madras State had the names Cheranadu, Cholanadu, Pandiya Nadu" and asked, "What is the use of changing the name to Tamil Nadu now?" He remarked that the lower house should be known as the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. In 1967, Anna took over. The name of St. George's Fort in Chennai has been changed to 'Government of Tamil Nadu - Chief Secretariat'.
Following this, on July 18, 1968, resolutions were introduced to alter the name to Tamil Nadu. Following that, on November 23, 1968, the Parliament passed a bill changing Tamil Nadu's name. On January 14, 1969, Chennai Province was renamed "Tamil Nadu".In 2021, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin declared that the July 18 resolution should be commemorated in the history of this conflict. Based on this, today is commemorated as Tamil Nadu Day for the second year in a row.