T.N. government plans memorial for five icons at University Union Grounds in Chetpet; sports teachers object
The Tamil Nadu government has proposed an integrated memorial complex and library honouring five icons — Queen Velu Nachiyar, Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, B.R. Ambedkar, K. Kamaraj, and Anjalai Ammal — on a portion of the University Union Grounds in Chetpet, Chennai, owned by the University of Madras. The plan has drawn resistance from sections of university faculty, staff, physical education teachers of affiliated colleges, and sports enthusiasts, who argue the move will encroach on vital sports infrastructure.
The proposal
According to multiple sources, the Chennai Collector, in a letter dated September 17, 2026, sought the University of Madras’s consent to establish the memorial complex and library on part of the Chetpet grounds. Officials from the Egmore Tahsildar’s office recently inspected the location and took measurements of the parcel identified for the project.
The Collector’s letter cited an announcement by Minister for School Education Rajmohan during the recent Budget session, outlining the government’s intention to set up the memorial at an estimated cost of ₹5 crore. The five personalities named for the complex are also described by the government as “ideological leaders” of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Proposed site and its past uses
University sources said the prospective site lies on the northeastern edge of the Union Grounds on Spur Tank Road. The area earlier housed a tennis court over three decades ago, which fell into disrepair due to water stagnation. The court was subsequently removed and replaced with cricket nets for student practice, which were later damaged. The land was then cleared and has since been used for handball practice. The exact dimensions of the identified parcel were not immediately available.
Existing memorials in Chennai
The selection of the Chetpet grounds comes despite the presence of substantial memorials in Chennai to three of the five leaders: an Ambedkar memorial on Greenways Road, a Periyar memorial at Vepery, and a Kamaraj memorial on Sardar Patel Road.
Objections from sports fraternity and faculty
The University Union Grounds are a central venue for sports activities of the University of Madras and its affiliated colleges, as well as other educational institutions that host athletic meets and training sessions there. Physical education directors (PEDs) from several affiliated colleges convened on Tuesday to discuss the proposal and voiced strong objections.
“Our apprehension is that once the complex is constructed, the pathway for access to the memorial will have to be laid through the ground, thereby encroaching upon the space used by athletes and sportspersons,” said a Physical Education Director of an affiliated college. The PEDs urged the government to consider alternative locations on government land in the city instead of utilising university property that serves a large student community.
Teaching staff at the university argued that the priority should be upgrading and expanding sports facilities at the Union Grounds rather than introducing non-sport infrastructure. They also cautioned that the university should not make any decision to hand over land without extensive deliberations, not only within statutory bodies such as the Syndicate and Senate, but also with wider stakeholders including affiliated colleges and sports users.
A historic and heavily used venue
The University Union Grounds have hosted several marquee events, including the Buchi Babu Memorial Cricket Tournament, the A.L. Mudaliar Athletics Meet, and international fixtures featuring the women’s cricket team. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) continues to conduct its lower-division league matches at the venue.
“The Union Ground is common to all the affiliated colleges, who host their annual sports meets here. Moreover, zonal meets and inter-university tournaments are conducted here. Football teams of several colleges train here. Everything is free of cost,” a PED from a leading college said, underscoring the ground’s role as an accessible, shared resource.
Environmental concerns
Beyond space and access, some users raised potential environmental impacts. “We are also hearing that around 10-15 trees will be cut and the vultures that come here regularly will lose their habitat,” the PED added. Details about tree felling or wildlife assessments have not been formally disclosed.
What’s next
The government has sought the university’s consent for the project and initial site assessments have been conducted by revenue officials. University stakeholders are pressing for broader consultations before any decision on alienating or repurposing land is taken. As of now, the identified parcel remains in sporting use, and the university has not publicly announced its position.
The proposal places the long-standing, multi-use sports venue at the centre of a debate over commemorative infrastructure, public space priorities, and the governance process for university land in Chennai.
