A thousand years after his reign, Chola emperor Rajendra Chola I (1014–1044 CE) has become a central figure in politics, drawing the attention of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who are celebrating his legacy through parallel celebrations.
On the second day of his Tamil Nadu visit, PM Modi participated in the grand finale of the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram , once the Chola capital. Where he unveiled a memorial coin and inaugurated an exhibition on Rajendra Chola’s Gangetic expedition. Accompanied by a special concert from music maestro Ilaiyaraaja, the event marked the 1,000th anniversary of the emperor’s military and maritime achievements.
“The legacy of Rajendra Chola is not just Tamil Nadu’s, it is India’s. His maritime strength and governance shaped Indian identity across Asia,” Modi said during the event.
Meanwhile, CM Stalin has declared Rajendra Chola’s birth anniversary an official state celebration, rolling out extensive heritage-focused projects. These include a ₹19.2 crore redevelopment of a Chola-era reservoir, involving strengthening bonds and supporting irrigation for nearby villages and a ₹7.2 crore tourism upgrade with walkways, parks, and surveillance systems.
Additionally, the state will build a ₹22.1 crore museum near the Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple to showcase the Chola empire’s trade networks, architecture, and cultural achievements.
“Rajendra Chola carried Tamil pride across the seas. His legacy is a cornerstone of our cultural and political identity,” said Stalin.
Though both leaders honour the same emperor, their approaches differ in tone and symbolism. Modi’s event, supported by the Union Ministry of Culture, aligns with a broader narrative of pan-Indian nationalism, while Stalin’s initiatives emphasize regional pride and Tamil cultural roots.
“This is more than a tribute — it’s a political message,” said journalist Arun Janardhanan. “Stalin’s Dravidian federalism and Modi’s national integration are both trying to claim the Chola legacy.”
The Union Ministry is also hosting a four-day festival in Gangaikonda Cholapuram to mark the emperor’s historic Southeast Asian maritime expedition and temple construction — making the 11th-century ruler a 21st-century symbol of competing narratives.
