Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Sri O. Panneerselvam (OPS) visited Houston, Texas on November 14th and 15th, 2019 at the invitation of Houston Tamil Studies Chair (HTSC). On Thursday, Nov. 14th OPS visited Sri Meenakshi Temple (MTS) where he was conferred the title “Panbin Sikaram” by Dr. Padmini Nathan, Chairman MTS. The same evening HTSC organized a grand reception for OPS attended by about 300 people representing HTSC and members of various organizations. OPS was honored by Sockalingam Sam Kannappan, President of HTSC and his wife Meenakshi Kannappan. Mayor of Pearland Hon. Tom Reid proclaimed November 14th 2019 as OPS day in Pearland. Organization representatives from Bharathi Kalai Manram, Tamil Nadu Foundation Houston Chapter, Dallas Metro Tamil Sangam and Namadwaar also honored OPS. He unveiled for the opening of rebuilt MTS Kalyana Madapam.
On Friday, Nov. 15th, OPS met with Dr. Renu Khator, Chancellor of the University of Houston System (UH) wherein OPS and Renu Khator launched the HTSC Electronic donor wall at the Chancellor’s office. The HTSC electronic donor wall displays the names of the HTSC donors. OPS privately met with HTSC board members Sockalingam Sam Kannappan, S.G Appan, Sockalingam Narayanan, Tupil Narasiman, Naa Ganesan, Thiru Arumugam and Perumal Annamalai during which the HTSC board made a presentation to OPS about the HTSC mission and the agreement signed between HTSC and the UH to set up a Tamil Studies Chair at the University. HTSC board requested a significant support from the Tamil Nadu Government. HTSC is deeply honored that OPS not only announced his personal contribution of $10,000 to HTSC but also expressed strong support for HTSC with this statement “Tamil Nadu should also contribute its might to the establishment of a Chair for Tamil in the University of Houston. I assure you that on my return to Chennai I will consult the Chief Minister and arrange for appropriate support from Govt. of Tamil Nadu to the Tamil Chair in Houston”.
HTSC organized an investors meeting with OPS and the Principal Secretary, Tamil Nadu Govt. Finance Department, Mr. S. Krishnan, I.A.S. who addressed the Investors at the Indian Consulate office, Houston. Arun Kumar of Dallas coordinated the investors meet. Board members of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce met with OPS and offered to assist with investments in Tamil Nadu.
The Deputy Chief Minister OPS’s visit created tremendous enthusiasm among the Tamil community of Houston and made us Tamils here very proud of our culture and heritage, which indeed is the main focus of HTSC’s endeavor to establish a Tamil Studies Chair at the University of Houston.
Picture from left: Perumal Annamalai, S. Narayanan, Sam Kannappan, Vijay Prabhakar, Chicago, Acting Consul General Rakesh Banati, Hon. O. Panneerselvam, Principal Secretary S. Krishnan,Tupil Narasiman, DCM’s PS Nagarajan, Consul Ashok Kumar,Naa Ganesan. Standing: Thiru Arumugam, Parthiban Shanmugam, S.G.
