Tamil Nadu ‘Singham’ Annamalai to lead India@78 Independence Day in UAE

Former Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and prominent politician K. Annamalai is celebrating Indian Independence Day with a series of events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

He affectionately earned the nickname ‘Singham’ (lion) for his stringent measures against crime during his tenure as an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in Karnataka.

The engineer-turned-IPS officer eventually left the civil service to pursue politics and authored Stepping Beyond: Revelations of a Real-Life Singham, a memoir offering an insightful look into a decade in police service. He has remained in the spotlight for his fearless speeches, nationalist vision, and commitment to public service.

Annamalai is set to headline four events organised by the Indian People’s Forum (IPF – UAE) from August 15 to 17. The three-day celebration, titled ‘India@78 – Viksit Bharat: Journey to 2047,’ aims to showcase India’s progress and vision for the future.

“The event blends patriotic celebration with visionary discourse, highlighting India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047,” Jitendra Vaidya, IPF – UAE President, said. He noted that Annamalai will address the expat community on national development, leadership, and civic engagement.

“Annamalai is a trailblazer among India’s new generation of leaders. His speeches have inspired millions, especially the youth, to take pride in their identity and contribute to nation-building,” Vaidya added.

On Friday, Annamalai will participate in an event in Abu Dhabi, followed by three community engagements over the next two days in Dubai.

“His popularity is so immense that all four events were fully booked within hours,” Vaidya noted.