V. Vedachalam, a 75-year-old retired Tamil epigrapher and archaeologist, was honoured with the prestigious Tamil Wikki Suran Award in Madurai. With a career spanning over 51 years, he has significantly contributed to uncovering, documenting, and popularising Tamil history and heritage.

Key Points:

• Lifetime Achievement: The award recognises Vedachalam’s continuous dedication to archaeology and Tamil epigraphy over more than five decades.
• Early Career & Major Discoveries: After earning an MA in Tamil Literature and a PG diploma in archaeology and epigraphy, he began work at Karur—unearthing part of an ancient Chera fort wall early in his career.
• Keeladi Explorer: A key promoter of the Keeladi excavation site, Vedachalam continues to research there persistently, even post-retirement. 
• Research & Outreach: Author or co-author of 25+ books, he routinely visits around 300 villages (with Dhan Foundation) to educate communities, and regularly conducts heritage walks and college lectures.
• Philosophy & Impact: Vedachalam emphasizes a non-sectarian, accurate understanding of history, aiming to connect people to a shared cultural past.