Union Government plans to release Commemorative Coins to mark MG Ramachandran’s birth centenary

The Union Finance Ministry on 13 September 2017 decided to release a commemorative Coins of Rs 100 and Rs 10 denomination to celebrate the birth centenary of the popular politician and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Dr MG Ramachandran.

The commemorative coins of denominations of Rs 100 and Rs 5 are being released at the request of Government of Tamil Nadu. The aforesaid Commemorative Coins will be minted by Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL).

Details about the Coin

About Rs 100 coin

The notification said, “face of the coin shall bear the Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with the legend Satyamev Jayate [in Devnagari] inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word ‘Bharat’ in Devanagari script and on the right periphery with the word ‘INDIA’ in English. It shall also bear the rupee symbol and the denominational value ‘100’ in International Numerals below the Lion Capital. The other side of the coin will bear the portrait of Ramachandran, along with his name (in Devanagari), and an inscription naming his birth centenary (in English) on the lower periphery of the coin. The numerals 1917-2017 will appear below the portrait of Ramachandran.”

Composition of the Coin

The design of the Rs 5 coin will be similar to that of the Rs 100 coin. The standard weight of Rs 100 coin will be 35 grams while that of Rs 5 coin will be 6 grams.

About Marudhur Gopalan Ramachandran (M.G. Ramachandran)

• Born on 17 January 1917 in Kandy, British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Ramachandran was an Indian actor, director, producer, and politician.

• He primarily worked in Tamil films and also served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu successively for three terms.

• He made his film debut in the 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role.

• In the late 1940s, he graduated to leading roles and for the next three decades dominated the Tamil film industry.

• He became a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and rose rapidly through its rank.

• In 1972, he left the DMK and formed his own party the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK).

• In 1977 he became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

• He passed away on 24 December 1987.

• In 1988, he was awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously.

Following the announcement, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was thanked by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy. Earlier, the state government and the party made a demand to issue the special coins in view of his birth centenary year that is being celebrated now.

Acceding to the demand, the Centre issued a gazette notification saying the coins of 100 rupees and five rupees face value would be issued.