Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government, under the leadership of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has announced the prestigious Thagaisal Thamizhar Award (Distinguished Tamilian Award) for 2025 will be conferred upon Professor K.M. Kader Mohideen, the national president of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), reported the Hindu.
The announcement was made following a meeting of the award selection committee chaired by the Chief Minister at the State Secretariat on Friday. Mohideen will receive the award during the state’s Independence Day celebrations on August 15. The honour includes a cash prize of ₹10 lakh and a formal citation.
In a statement, the government noted that Kader Mohideen has dedicated his life to promoting social harmony and has demonstrated a profound grasp of Indian politics throughout his career.
Born on January 5, 1940, in Thirunallar, Pudukottai district, to Mohamed Hanif and Kasimibibi, Kader Mohideen began his political journey in 1956, inspired by the late Quaid-e-Millath Muhammed Ismail. Over the decades, he has served the IUML in multiple capacities — from student and youth wing organiser to secretary of educational and cultural affairs, organisational secretary, general secretary, and eventually becoming both the Tamil Nadu State president and the national president of the IUML.
Between 2004 and 2009, Mohideen represented Tamil Nadu in the Lok Sabha. He is also a prolific writer and has authored several books on politics and society.
Celebrating the announcement, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin posted on social media, “Our #DravidianModel government is proud to announce this year’s #தகைசால்_தமிழர் award to Professor Kader Mohideen, a thinker who has dedicated himself to social harmony since the time of the venerable Quaid-e-Millath – the National President of the Indian Union Muslim League – and who has guided hundreds of students to graduation!”
Notable previous recipients of the Thagaisal Thamizhar award include R. Sankaraiah and R. Nallakannu (2022), K. Veeramani (2023), and Kumari Ananthan (2024), all of whom have made significant contributions to public life and social justice.
