Ex-DMK MLA’s Son Udaya Designed ‘₹’ Symbol, Changed by TN in State Budget
The design of the official rupee symbol, ‘₹’, has a fascinating story behind it. Few people know that the person who designed this symbol is none other than Udaya Kumar, the son of former DMK MLA N Dharmalingam. This news might come as a surprise to many, but what’s even more astonishing is that the Tamil Nadu government has recently changed the official rupee symbol in its 2025-26 state budget logo to the Tamil letter for “Ru”. The story of Udaya Kumar and the design of the rupee symbol is an interesting one, and in this blog post, we will delve into the details of this fascinating story.
Udaya Kumar, an IIT Guwahati professor, designed the official rupee symbol ‘₹’ in 2010. He was a member of the committee formed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to design a symbol for the Indian rupee. The committee consisted of experts from various fields, including design, language, and economics. Udaya Kumar’s design was selected from among the many submissions received by the RBI.
The design of the rupee symbol is a combination of the Devanagari script’s “Ra” and the Latin script’s “R”. The ‘₹’ symbol is a unique blend of Indian and international scripts, and it represents the country’s rich cultural heritage. Udaya Kumar’s design was chosen because it was simple, yet distinctive, and it represented the country’s economic and financial prowess.
Udaya Kumar’s achievement in designing the rupee symbol is all the more remarkable considering his humble beginnings. He is a Tamilian, born and brought up in Tamil Nadu, and his father, N Dharmalingam, was a former DMK MLA. Udaya Kumar’s passion for design and innovation led him to pursue a career in engineering, and he eventually earned his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Guwahati.
Recently, the Tamil Nadu government announced its 2025-26 state budget, and to everyone’s surprise, the official rupee symbol was changed to the Tamil letter for “Ru”. This move has sparked a lot of debate and discussion among the people of Tamil Nadu and the rest of the country. While some have praised the move, saying it is a step towards promoting regional languages and cultural heritage, others have criticized it, saying it is a unnecessary change that could cause confusion among the public.
Udaya Kumar, the designer of the original rupee symbol, was recently interviewed by News18, and he expressed his surprise and shock at the news of the change. When asked about his reaction to the news, he said, “I just heard the news…I don’t know how to react to it.” He also expressed his concerns about the potential confusion that the change could cause among the public, saying, “It’s a new symbol, and it might take some time for people to get used to it.”
The change in the rupee symbol has also raised questions about the ownership and intellectual property rights of the symbol. As the original designer of the rupee symbol, Udaya Kumar has a strong claim to the ownership of the symbol. However, the RBI and the government have not made any official statements about the ownership of the symbol.
The decision to change the rupee symbol has also sparked a debate about the role of regional languages and cultural heritage in the country’s identity. The use of the Tamil letter for “Ru” in the state budget logo is seen as a move to promote regional languages and cultural heritage. However, some have argued that this move could lead to confusion and division among the people of the country.
In conclusion, the story of Udaya Kumar and the design of the rupee symbol is a fascinating one that highlights the importance of innovation, design, and cultural heritage in the country’s identity. While the change in the rupee symbol is a surprise to many, it has also sparked a debate about the role of regional languages and cultural heritage in the country’s identity. As the country moves forward, it is essential to strike a balance between promoting regional languages and cultural heritage while also maintaining a unified national identity.
