File image of Thenmozhi Soundararajan. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday (October 22, 2025) announced that the 2025 Vaikom Award for Social Justice will be conferred on US-based Dalit civil rights activist Thenmozhi Soundararajan.
The state government has conferred the award in memory of late social reformer ‘Periyar’ EV Ramasamy for his role in Vaikom Satyagraha to honor individuals or organizations from other states who work for the welfare of marginalized communities and bring meaningful social change.
According to a press release, Ms. Thenmozhi Soundararajan’s parents hail from Madurai district. He lives in the USA and actively promotes the rights of people on the margins of society. She is also the founder of Equality Labs, a human rights organization.
Chief Minister MK Stalin will present the award, which carries a cash prize of ₹ 5 lakh, a citation and a medal.
Published – 23 October 2025 05:30 IST
