Tamil Nadu govt replaces rupee symbol with Tamil Ru, designer reacts amid controversy
His creation, which incorporates elements from the Devanagari 'Ra' and the Roman 'R,' was officially adopted as the national currency symbol in 2010 under the Manmohan Singh-led government
PTC Web Desk: The designer of India's official rupee symbol, D Udaya Kumar, has responded to the controversy surrounding the Tamil Nadu government's decision to replace the ₹ sign with the Tamil letter "Ru" in promotional material for the state Budget. D Udaya Kumar, who designed the rupee symbol after winning a national contest in 2009, while talking to NDTV about the ongoing debate after Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai criticised the DMK government, highlighting that a Tamilian had originally created the national currency symbol.
Kumar stated that he took the development in stride, emphasising that as a designer, he was prepared for such discussions. He expressed pride in his creation but refrained from criticising the state government, leaving it to them to justify their choice.
"I do not see this as disrespectful or a disregard of my work. Not all designs are universally accepted, and criticism is part of a designer’s journey," Kumar added. He said his goal when designing the rupee symbol was to meet the competition's criteria and ensure the design was simple and widely recognisable.
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai condemned the DMK government, calling the move "stupid" for overlooking that the rupee symbol was created by a Tamilian, who is also the son of a former DMK MLA. In response, the ruling party stated that it is not against the rupee symbol but aims to promote the Tamil language.
Kumar clarified that his father's political affiliation was purely coincidental and that his focus was solely on the artistic and functional aspects of the design. His creation, which incorporates elements from the Devanagari 'Ra' and the Roman 'R,' was officially adopted as the national currency symbol in 2010 under the Manmohan Singh-led government.
The controversy intensified after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin unveiled the new logo, coinciding with the state's ongoing opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP), which the DMK argues imposes Hindi on Tamil speakers. BJP leaders, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, criticised the decision, calling it an act of "regional chauvinism" that fuels secessionist sentiments under the guise of cultural pride.
Annamalai maintained that while "Ru" is an integral part of the Tamil language, it cannot serve as a substitute for the nationally recognised rupee symbol. He accused the DMK of deliberately escalating the language debate with the Central Government.
