Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay inaugurated Periyar Arivulagam, a library and science centre, in Gandhipuram, Coimbatore, on 16 October 2026. The eight-storey complex is also known as the Periyar Arivulagam and Research Centre and was built at an estimated cost of about ₹300 crore.
Location and Construction
Periyar Arivulagam is located on Nanjappa Road, opposite the Gandhipuram Central Bus Stand. The site covers approximately 6.98 to 7 acres of land belonging to the Prison Department. Construction began in 2024, after then Chief Minister M.K. Stalin laid the foundation stone on 6 November 2024. The complex has a built-up area of 1.98 lakh square feet.
Library and Science Facilities
The complex includes a library, science centre, planetarium, 350-seat auditorium and a space elevator facility. Its library collection has been described as exceeding one lakh books, although published figures range from 80,000 to 1.25 lakh books. Facilities also include a children’s library, reading sections and a digital library. The complex has a competitive examination coaching centre and a dedicated library for persons with disabilities. The range of facilities brings library, science education and examination-preparation services together within the same complex.
Periyar and Public Services
Periyar was the honorific name of Erode Venkata Ramasamy, a social reformer born in Erode in 1879. He launched the Self-Respect Movement in 1925, which campaigned against caste discrimination and social inequalities. During the inauguration, Vijay unveiled a statue of Periyar and a commemorative plaque.
Important Facts for Exams
- Periyar’s birth name was Erode Venkata Ramasamy, and he was born in 1879.
- The Self-Respect Movement was launched by Periyar in 1925.
- A planetarium is a facility that presents astronomical displays, often using a projection system to depict celestial objects.
- A digital library provides access to collections of materials in electronic formats.
During the Coimbatore visit, the Chief Minister also inaugurated 89 completed projects worth ₹408.25 crore and laid foundation stones for 144 projects. Welfare assistance was distributed to 9,343 beneficiaries.
