Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, July 27, unveiled a commemorative coin honouring Rajendra Chola I and announced plans to build statues of Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra at a grand ceremony in Gangaikondacholapuram, Ariyalur, Tamil Nadu. The event, held to mark the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival and commemorate Rajendra Chola’s historic maritime expedition to South East Asia, also celebrated the commencement of construction of the Gangaikondacholapuram Brihadisvara temple.
Modi arrived in Trichy on Saturday for a two-day visit. The ceremony was attended by Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P K Sekar Babu, Transport Minister SS Sivasankar, and Union Minister L Murugan.
Speaking at the event, Modi lauded the Chola dynasty as one of the golden ages of Indian history. He linked their legacy to his government’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat,’ saying, “Rajaraja and Rajendra are symbols of India and represent its legacy and history.” He added that the Cholas had laid the foundations of democratic traditions in India. “People talk about the Magna Carta, but centuries before the Magna Carta, the Chola rule had election-based people’s representation.”
The Prime Minister also referred to Operation Sindoor, saying, “Today’s India places its security first. Today, the world has seen through Operation Sindoor that India can respond to any attack on its security and sovereignty.” Operation Sindoor was India’s precision strike in May 2025 on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan‑administered Kashmir, carried out in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack.
Gangaikondacholapuram was established by Rajendra Chola after his campaigns in the Ganga basin, along with the construction of the Brihadisvara temple and the creation of the Cholagangam lake. At Sunday’s event, music legend Ilaiyaraaja performed hymns from the Thiruvasagam, composed by the Tamil poet Manikkavasagar.
Modi arrived at the venue by helicopter, landing on the dry bed of the Cholagangam lake. He then held a roadshow en route to the Brihadisvara temple before visiting the site. After the event, he departed for New Delhi on a special aircraft from Tiruchi airport.