Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed Tamil culture as a shared heritage of not only Bharat, but of all humanity. He noted that Kashi-Tamil Sangamam highlighted its greatness, celebrated the living unity of India’s many traditions while honouring their unique identities, and reinforced the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat (One India, Great India).”
In a blog titled “Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and a tribute to ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’”, Mr. Modi recounted a “Mann Ki Baat” episode in which he had said that not learning Tamil was a major regret of his life.
He said the government has launched various programmes to further popularise Tamil culture across India. One such initiative is the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam that “stands out as a truly distinctive initiative, one that celebrates the living unity of India’s many traditions while honouring their unique identities”. It has delivered outcomes like “strengthening cultural understanding, fostering academic and people-to-people exchanges, and creating lasting bonds between parts of the country that share a civilisational ethos”.
“And what can be a better place than Kashi to host such a Sangamam. The same Kashi, which has remained a civilisational anchor from time immemorial… where, for thousands of years, people from all over have come in search of knowledge, meaning and Moksha,” said Mr. Modi, adding that Kashi’s connection with Tamil people and culture is very deep.
