Thangam Thennarasu

Thangam Thennarasu (Tamil: தங்கம் தென்னரசு) (born 3 June 1966) is an Indian politician and the minister for School Education of Tamil Nadu during 2006-2011. He was born in Mallankinaru, Tamil Nadu. He has a bachelor's degree in Engineering. He has been elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly two times. He is the son of the former Member of Legislative Assembly from Aruppukottai, V. Thangapandian
He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam candidate from Aruppukottai constituency in 1997/98 by-election, and 2006 election.

When DMK party won the 2006 general elections and formed government, education ministry was split up into School education ministry and Higher education ministry. Mr. Thangam Thennarasu was allotted with the portfolio of School education department. His ministry contained archaeological department and Library department.

In his term as School education minister, School education department has crossed major milestones. To name a few,

1. Introduction of Uniform System of School Education, popularly known as Samacheer Kalvi in Tamil.

2. Introduction of activity based learning.

3. Smart class facility was installed in the village of Mallankinaru, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu.

4. Implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to improve the quality of education.

5. Upgrading of Secondary schools into higher secondary schools.

1. He is the first minister in Tamil Nadu to have organized a job fair / camp for the educated youth. He organized it at Kariapatti, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu. Later on this was held across state.

2. He was instrumental in building Anna Centenary Library at Kotturpuram in Chennai, Tamil Nadu India. It is the largest library in South Asia.

3. He was instrumental in organizing of World Classical Tamil Conference 2010. Though there were some controversies, “Iniyavai Naarppathu” a parade depicting depth of Tamil Literature was appreciated by all and it was witnessed by few lakhs of people. In the conference venue, exhibition containing crucial elements of Tamil literature; culture was highly appreciated and the support was so high that it was extended for few more days.

4. When the construction of Tamil Nadu legislative assembly-secretariat complex was progressing in slow phase, Mr. Muthuvel Karunanidhi, then chief minister of Tamil Nadu, entrusted that job to Mr. Thangam Thennarasu.

Tiruchuli (State Assembly Constituency) was created recently. Mr. Thangam Thennarasu this General elections 2011 from this constituency as a Member of Legislative Assembly.

He has now filed a case in the court against the Tamil Nadu Government's decision to form an inquiry into the alleged irregularities in construction of Tamil Nadu legislative assembly-secretariat complex