16-Dec-2022: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri Amit Shah attended the closing ceremony of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam programme as the Chief Guest in Varanasi today
Prime Minister inaugurated month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam on 19th November, 2022
Kashi Tamil Sangamam was organised as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to uphold the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was the inspiration behind the Kashi Tamil Sangamam- Shri Yogi Adityanath
This festival is reviving the thousands of years old close relationship between Kashi and Tamil Nadu- Shri R. N Ravi
Kashi Tamil Sangamam inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has strengthened the bonds of unity and furthered the spirit of oneness like never before. - Shri Dharmendra Pradhan
Kashi Tamil Sangam takes the idea of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat forward - Shri G Kishan Reddy
The month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam concluded on Friday, December 16, 2022, with a grand celebration. On this momentous occasion hosted at the BHU Amphitheatre, Shri Amit Shah, Union Minister for Home and Cooperation was the Chief Guest.
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Yogi Adityanath, Governor of Tamil Nadu Shri Ravindra Narayan Ravi, Union Minister for Education & Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region of India Shri G. Kishan Reddy and Union Minister of State for Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan and other dignitaries attended the closing ceremony.
In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that today, in a way, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam is witnessing the conclusion, but it is not the conclusion, but it is the beginning of meeting of cultures the two peaks of Indian culture that is culture, philosophy, language and knowledge of Tamil Nadu and Kashi city which is well recognized all over the world. He said that these efforts should have been made immediately after Independence because a long period of slavery had tarnished our cultural unity, diversity of heritage and essence of Indianness across the cultures, which required rejuvenation. Shri Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tried for the rejuvenation of Indian cultural unity in the year of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
The Union Home Minister said that India is a country with many cultures, languages, dialects and arts, but its soul is one. He said that all the countries in the world have been formed on basis of geopolitical reasons, but India is the only Nation formed on the basis of geo-culture, heritage and culture. Shri Shah said that the various cultures are the foundation of our country's unity and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tried to connect the cultures of our country through the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, which will continue forever.
Shri Amit Shah said that after Independence, a time came when India's cultural unity was being poisoned, and efforts were made to divide the two societies of the same country through many differing ideas. Shri Shah said that it is now time to ensure the creation ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ and for this the cultural unity of India is essential. He said that this program has helped create a bridge between the two peaks of India's culture, to ensure that the distances are erased, and paving a way for the cultural renaissance of India. Shri Shah said that through this program many arts forms of Tamil Nadu have got a platform in Kashi. He said that Kashi–Tamil Sangamam, has become a wonderful platform for exchange of spiritual, cultural, architecture, literature, trade, education, art, dance, music and languages. The Union Home Minister said that through Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, the entire North India and all Indians have come to know that Tamil is one of the oldest languages in the world. He said that the program has been a great initiative to combine many aspects of both the cultures and the effort has given a message to Tamil Nadu. He told the people of Tamil Nadu that the whole of India is ready to welcome you wholeheartedly.
Shri Shah said that this great country from Northeast to Gujarat, Bengal and Kerala is heartily ready to welcome Tamil brothers and sisters. He said that there is a similarity between faith and love, and no force can create it. Shri Shah said that today the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam has ensured the creation a new atmosphere of trust and love between the two cultures and this is the biggest achievement of the year of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made extensive arrangements in the New Education Policy to present the country's spiritual pride and knowledge tradition in front of the world through its language and culture with the help of the students of India. He said that our own languages and the pride in them are the soul of the New Education Policy, and that is why Prime Minister Modi has urged in the New Education Policy that the Mother tongue should be the medium of education. The Union Home Minister urged the Tamil Nadu Government to ensure that medical, technical and law education in the State is conducted in Tamil language, so that Tamil language becomes even more strong.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Yogi Adityanath said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was the inspiration behind the Kashi Tamil Sangamam. People from Tamil Nadu came here in separate groups over the course of a month, each group representing a distinct category. The two oldest cultures in the world were introduced to them, and they also witnessed the spirit of "Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat" .
Shri Ravindra Narain Ravi in his address said that this festival is reviving the close relationship between Kashi and Tamil Nadu which is more than thousands of years old. Even though this festival is coming to an end today, this relationship will get stronger in the days to come. He further said that the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, was realized through this Sangamam and will get further strengthened, he added.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Pradhan expressed his gratitude to Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah for his gracious presence, insightful address and guidance at this pious confluence of cultures. He said that the month-long Kashi Tamil Sangamam inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has strengthened the bonds of unity and furthered the spirit of oneness like never before. It has also enriched us all and boosted our civilisational, spiritual, cultural and knowledge capital, he added. The Minister thanked the people of Kashi and Tamil Nadu, BHU, IIT Madras and Government of Uttar Pradesh for making Kashi Tamil Sangamam a resounding success. Shri Pradhan said that the success of Kashi Tamil Sangamam is reflected in the fact that more than 2 lakh people visited the historic campus of BHU. At the same time lakhs of people remained connected through digital medium. More than 1500 artists from Tamil Nadu and Kashi, more than 300 distinguished guests, 75 experts participated in the programme.
Union Minister for Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region Shri G. Kishan Reddy said that the Sangam is a festival of India’s culture and strength. The Kashi Tamil Sangam represents the Sangam of Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga and Rameshwar Ramnath Swamy Jyotirlinga in Tamil Nadu. He further said that central government under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi is working continuously to improve spiritual and cultural connectivity. Kashi Tamil Sangam takes the idea of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat forward, he added.
On this occasion, the Tamil version of two books- 'Modi @ 20: Dreams Meet Delivery' and 'Ambedkar and Modi: Reformer's Idea Performer's Work' based on the resolve and accomplishment of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi were also released.
The mesmerizing performances by Tamil Nadu artist groups and local folk artists captivated the audience during the closing ceremony's cultural programme.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam was organised as part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ to uphold the spirit of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the month-long festival on November 19, 2022. The vision was to revive the centuries-old bond between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. Over 2,500 delegates from Tamil Nadu, including cultural and folk artists, litterateurs, entrepreneurs, farmers, religious leaders, athletes, and others, attended the Kashi Tamil Sangamam festival in small groups. Apart from Kashi, Tamil Nadu delegations also visited Prayagraj and Ayodhya. Alongside various events in the fields of education, art and culture, literature, sports, and so on, the convention featured exhibitions of art, films, handlooms and handicrafts. In addition to Union ministers, Ministers of Uttar Pradesh Government and other dignitaries attended this month-long festival.
10-Dec-2022: Minister of Railways announces a new train service Kashi Tamil Sangamam Express to commemorate the event
Union Minister of Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced a new train service Kashi Tamil Sangamam Express between Kashi and Tamil Nadu to commemorate the event. He interacted with the delegates from Tamil Nadu who were invited to witness the Kashi Tamil Sangamam. He also inspected the redevelopment plan of Varanasi Junction Railway Station.
Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw interacted with the delegates of the eighth batch. The delegates shared their experiences in the tour and how they were well taken care of. He lauded the efforts of the Ministry of Railways & IRCTC team who helped in making this event successful. He said that such people-to-people exchange will bring the traditions, knowledge and culture closer together, while building an understanding of shared heritage and strengthen ties between the people of these two regions.
Shri Vaishnaw announced a new train service Kashi Tamil Sangamam Express between Kashi and Tamil Nadu to commemorate the event. He said the service will commence soon.
The Union Minister of Railways also reviewed the redevelopment plans of Varanasi Junction Railway Station. He suggested planning the redevelopment of the station keeping future traffic increases in mind.
While inspecting the Varanasi Junction Railway Station, the Minister said redevelopment of this station into a world class railway station is in line with the PM's vision of making the railway station to look like an airport terminal. He added that about Rs 7000 crore would be spent in revamping the station to make it one of the best in the world.
Shri Vaishnaw said that the redevelopment would be done planning for 50 years ahead. He said that in order to ease the heavy footfall of passengers in the stations in Varanasi city, Integrated development of all the railway stations in the region would be made. He also said that sleeper Vande Bharat manufacturing would commence soon to provide modern amenities to the passengers.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a month-long programme organized by the Ministry of Education, as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. Delegates from various walks of life are invited to witness this festival in Kashi. The Ministry of Railways and IRCTC ferried the invited delegates to Kashi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya and provided hospitality to them.
6-Dec-2022: Batch of Tamil entrepreneurs reached Kashi to attend ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’
A batch of Tamil entrepreneurs reached the holy city of Kashi by Ernakulam-Patna superfast express train to attend ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’. On their arrival, the delegates were welcomed by Shri Lalji Chowdhary, Additional Divisional Railway Manager yesterday night at Varanasi Cantt. railway station with garlands and showering of flower petals.
The delegation visited ‘Sri Kashi Vishwanath Temple’ and ‘Ganga Ghat’ in the morning and offered prayers.
The guest also visited the court of ‘Mata Vishalakshi’ and ‘Mata Annapurna’ and offered prayers. As a part of their tour itinerary, the guests will visit ‘Ravidas Ghat’ and witness the ‘Ganga Aarti’.
‘Karthikai Deepam’, the famous festival of light, which will be celebrated at BHU campus today. Thousands of lamps will lit up BHU campus. The venue has been decorated by the students of BHU and the guests from Tamil Nadu.
5-Dec-2022: Banaras Hindu University Central Library Exhibits rare Tamil books and Palm-leaf manuscripts in Kashi Tamil Sangam
Padma Shri Chamu Krishnashastri, President of Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti and Chief Convener of Kashi Tamil Sangam, inaugurated the Rare Tamil Books and Manuscripts Exhibition in Banaras Hindu University Central Library, Varanasi.
This exhibition was organised by the Sayaji Rao Gaekwad Central Library as part of the ongoing Kashi Tamil Sangam in the University campus. The Central Library exhibits various Tamil texts from the 1890s onwards and 12 manuscripts written in the Tamil Granth script in the 17th and 18th centuries. Among them are the first copies of early Tamil dramas and books gifted to Annie Besant, a book explaining Tamil musical techniques, books by Kumaragurubara, books on Saiva philosophy, Bharati books, translations of Ramayana, Mahabharata, etc.
The exhibition of these precious collections will be held at the Manuscripts and Rare Documents Section adjacent to the Central Hall of the Central Library for 12 days from 5th to 16th December from 11:00 AM to 07:00 PM daily.
Inaugurating the exhibition, Shri Krishnashastri said that it is very gratifying that these ancient and rare documents have been properly preserved in the university library, while these documents should be properly classified and accessible for the use of researchers. He emphasised that this is the need of the day.
Deputy Librarian Dr. Suchitha Singh invited teachers, students and anyone coming to Kashi Tamil Sangam to visit the exhibition.
Director of Central Institute of Classical Tamil Prof. Ira. Chandrasekaran and Banaras Hindu University Librarian Dr. Devendra Kumar Singh were present on the occasion. Assistant Librarian Dr. R. Parameswaran and two Assistant Professors of Tamil Department Dr. T. Jagatheesan, Dr. Su. Vignesh Anand, students of Tamil Studies and activists were also present.
29-Nov-2022: 5th batch of Tamil business delegation reached Varanasi to attend ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’
The 5th batch of business delegation from Tamil Nadu reached Varanasi to participate in the month long ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’. The delegation comprising 216 people were accorded a ceremonious welcome late yesterday night at Varanasi Cantt. Railway station. The guests were seen to be at ease and were delighted at the grand reception amidst playing of ‘Damru’ and showering of flowers petals.
Apart from people of Tamil Nadu, the delegation also had people from Puducherry and other adjoining areas. The members of the delegation were overwhelmed with warm welcome on reaching ‘Kashi Vishwanath’.
After darshan, the guests were taken on a tour of the temple premises and served food in ‘Maa Annapurna Rasoi’. Later on they also visited other heritage sites of Banaras in and around the temple area, and nearby markets.
As a part of their tour itinerary, business delegates later in the afternoon will also visit ‘Sant Ravidas Ghat’ on a cruise and attend the ‘Ganga Aarti’ followed by visit to other adjoining Ghats.
After witnessing the ‘Ganga Aarti’, later in the evening they will attend the cultural programme organised for the guests and local visitors at the BHU Amphitheater.
23-Nov-2022: 2nd batch of Tamil delegation gets firsthand experience of tradition, arts and culture of Kashi on the 5th day of ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’
The second batch of delegation from Tamil Nadu attending the month long ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ festival took a holy dip early in the morning at ‘Hanuman Ghat’ situated on the banks of the river Ganga. Earlier known as ‘Rameswaram Ghat’, the ‘Hanuman Ghat’ is one of the most visited Ghats of Varanasi. The surrounding areas are thickly populated with South Indian Maths like Kerala mutt, Kanchi Math, Sankara Math, Sringeri Math, etc.
After the holy dip, the delegation visited Subramanya Bharti's residence at ‘Hanuman Ghat’. Members of the delegation expressed their gratitude as they could relate to their customs, traditions and culture.
The second batch of the Tamil delegation also comprised of a group of artisan and traders. After that they visited Trade Facilitation Center (TFC) to get first-hand experience of the museum located in TFC Center. At the museum, the splendor of handloom products from across Purvanchal region and replicas of the archaeological objects of Sarnath were showcased to the guests. A cultural program was also organized at the TFC for the visiting delegation where in some of the members also actively participated. After the cultural programme, later on during the day, they were taken on a tour of Sarnath.
The delegation will reach the BHU Amphitheatre from Sarnath in the evening and also attend the cultural programme. They will also be visiting various stalls at the venue. The 75 stalls comprises both North and South Indian boutiques wherein artefacts, handloom, handicrafts, traditional attire, north and south Indian food, etc. are on display for both the delegation and the local people of Varanasi.
22-Nov-2022: Second batch of Tamil delegation reached Kashi on Tuesday to attend ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’
The second batch of Tamil delegation comprising students, cultural artists, academicians, litterateurs, historians, etc. from various parts of Tamil Nadu has reached the holy city of Kashi on Tuesday morning to attend the month long ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’. They were received with a grand welcome on their arrival at the Varanasi Cantt. Railway station. After attending the festival at Kashi, they will also visit Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
More delegates in similar groups from various parts of Tamil Nadu will be reaching Kashi in different batches to participate in the month long ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’. Apart from Varanasi, they will also visit Prayagraj and Ayodhya. The overarching objective of this people-to-people exchange programme is to bring these two traditions of knowledge and culture closer together, while building an understanding of shared heritage and strengthen ties between the people of these two regions . The delegation from Tamil Nadu will be able to understand the historical importance of ancient city of Kashi. During the course of the month long event, various cultural groups from Tamil Nadu will organize cultural programs in Kashi.
It is noteworthy that ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 19th November. Apart from the delegation from Tamil Nadu, local residents of Kashi in large numbers are also participating with great enthusiasm in this month long event.
21-Nov-2022: ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ gathers steam, visitors get immersed in the local culture
Delegation from Tamil Nadu gathered in large numbers at different Ghats of Kashi on the banks of the holy Ganga during the third day of the ‘Kashi Tamil Samagam’ event on Monday. After taking a holy dip at the Ghats with chanting of ‘Har Har Mahadev’, they visited Shri. Kashi Vishwanath temple in various groups. They were also seen relishing Banarasi cuisines and busy checking and buying various handcraft products.
Visitors from Tamil Nadu are seen to be increasing in large numbers both at the Varanasi railway station and airport. Most of the hotels and ‘Dharmashalas’ in the city have been booked for the guests arriving from various parts of Tamil Nadu.
Students from the city of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu when interacted was seen to be full of enthusiasm at the ‘Kashi Tamil Samagam’ venue as they visited the holy city of Varanasi for the first time. They lauded the initiative of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in uniting the culture and heritage milieu in the form of Kashi Tamil Sangamam.
The month-long ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ festival was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the 19th November, 2022. In his inaugural address, the Prime Minister referred to the age-old relationship between Kashi and Tamil Nadu and further added that the vision of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ is now taking shape in real terms.
Cultural events in the form of dance, drama, music and songs, etc. are being organized on a daily basis at the event venue which the Amphitheater Ground of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The turnout of local Kashi residents in large numbers at the event venue was also remarkable who were seen to be enjoying various cuisines of Tamil Nadu.
20-Nov-2022: The first batch of Tamil Nadu delegates explore Sarnath and Ganga Ghats during the second day at the ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’
The first batch of delegates who came to Kashi from Tamil Nadu to attend the ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ visited Ghats of the holy river Ganga, Shri Kashi Vishwanath temple, Tathagat Ghat and Mulgandha kuti Vihar at Sarnath and the exhibition sites located at the sprawling Banaras Hindu University campus.
The delegates reached the banks of the river Ganga early in the morning and took a dip at the Hanuman Ghat, while enjoying in the morning chill under the warm sunshine. After bathing, they reached Baba Darbar where they performed meditation at Kashi Vishwanath temple. Bathing at the holy Ganges and Baba's meditation were immensely gratifying for them.
The delegates also visited Sarnath, which is one of the four main Buddhist pilgrimage destinations. They were delighted to visit the Tathagat Ghat located in Sarai Mohana, situated near Sarnath and enjoyed the cultural evening. They gathered knowledge about the thousands of years old history and heritage by visiting the place of the first sermon of Lord Buddha. Delegates expressed their happiness witnessing the archaeological complex, the ‘Mulgandha kuti Vihar’, and its nearby attractions.
The delegates, mostly comprising students from Tamil Nadu, also visited the Banaras Hindu University campus in the morning and various exhibition sites based at the "Kashi Tamil Sangamam" venue. They were able to learn and gather knowledge about the rich cultural and history of the two holy cities.
Shivamaya (Kashi) and Shaktimaya (Tamil Nadu) conjointly lit up "Sangam" and under its aura the ecstasy of the entire event descended into the heart of every generation.
The attendance at the event so far by the guests and delegates from Tamil Nadu is not only inspiring at the historic "Kashi Tamil Sangamam" event, but the turnout of local Kashi residents in large numbers was also remarkable.
19-Nov-2022: PM inaugurates ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ - a month-long programme being organised in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh today. The objective of the programme is to celebrate, reaffirm and rediscover the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi – two of the country’s most important and ancient seats of learning. More than 2500 delegates from Tamil Nadu will be visiting Kashi. During the programme, the Prime Minister also released a book ‘Thirukkural’ along with its translation into 13 languages. He also witnessed a cultural programme followed by aarti.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed delight upon the gathering being held in the most ancient living city in the world. Speaking on the importance of Sangams in the country, be it the confluence of rivers, ideology, science or knowledge, the Prime Minister said that every confluence of culture and traditions is celebrated and revered in India. He remarked that in reality, it is a celebration of India’s might and characteristics, thus making the Kashi-Tamil Sangam unique.
Throwing light on the connection between Kashi and Tamil Nadu, the Prime Minister said that on one hand, Kashi is the cultural capital of India whereas Tamil Nadu and Tamil culture is the centre of India's antiquity and pride. Drawing an analogy to the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, the Prime Minister said the Kashi-Tamil Sangam is equally holy which engulfs endless opportunities and strength in itself. The Prime Minister congratulated the Ministry of Education and the Government of Uttar Pradesh for this momentous gathering and thanked central universities like IIT, Madras and BHU for extending their support to the programme. The Prime Minister especially thanked the students and scholars of Kashi and Tamil Nadu.
The Prime Minister underlined that Kashi and Tamil Nadu are timeless centres of our culture and civilisation. He informed that both Sanskrit and Tamil are one of the most ancient languages that existed. The Prime Minister exclaimed, “In Kashi, we have Baba Vishwanath, while in Tamil Nadu we have the blessings of Lord Rameshwaram. Both Kashi and Tamil Nadu are immersed in Shiva.” Be it music, literature or art, the Prime Minister remarked that Kashi and Tamil Nadu have always been a source of art.
Throwing light on the rich culture and traditions of India, the Prime Minister said that both these places are marked as the birthplace and workplace of India’s finest acharyas. He underlined that one can experience similar energies in Kashi and Tamil Nadu. He said, “Even today the relevance of Kashi Yatra comes up during the traditional Tamil marriage procession.” He underlined that unending love for Kashi from Tamil Nadu signifies the feeling of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat which was the way of life of our ancestors.
The Prime Minister underlined Tamil Nadu’s contribution to the development of Kashi and recalled that Tamil Nadu-born Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was the Vice Chancellor of BHU. He also mentioned the Vedic scholar Rajeshwar Shastri who lived in Kashi even though he had his roots in Tamil Nadu. He said that the people of Kashi also miss Pattaviram Shastri who lived on Hanuman Ghat in Kashi. The Prime Minister informed about the Kashi Kaam Koteshwar Panchayatan Mandir which is a Tamilian temple on the banks of Harishchandra Ghat, and the two-hundred-year-old Kumaraswamy Matt and Markande Ashram on Kedar Ghat. He also stated that many people from Tamil Nadu have been living near the banks of Kedar Ghat and Hanuman Ghat, and have made immense contributions towards Kashi for several generations. The Prime Minister also mentioned the great poet and revolutionary, Shri Subramaniya Bharathi who hailed from Tamil Nadu but lived in Kashi for many years. He informed about BHU’s pride and privilege in establishing the chair dedicated to Subramaniya Bharati.
The Prime Minister underlined that the Kashi-Tamil Sangam is taking place during the Azadi Ka Amrit Kaal. He said, “In Amrit Kaal, our resolutions will be fulfilled by the unity of the whole country.” He stated that India is a nation which has lived a natural cultural unity for thousands of years. Throwing light on the tradition of remembering 12 Jyotirlingas after waking up in the morning, the Prime Minister said that we start our day by remembering the spiritual unity of the country. Shri Modi also lamented the lack of efforts to strengthen this tradition and heritage of thousands of years. He further added that Kashi-Tamil Sangamam will become a platform for this resolution today while making us realise our duties, and being a source of energy to strengthen national unity.
The Prime Minister said that it was through this attitude of breaking language and surpassing the intellectual distance that Swami Kumarguruparar came to Kashi and made it his Karmabhoomi and got Kedareshwar Mandir constructed in Kashi. Later, his disciples got Kashi Vishwanath temple constructed in Thanjavur on the banks of river Kaveri. The Prime Minister reiterated the link between Tamil scholars and Kashi by mentioning personalities like Manonmaniyam Sundaranar who wrote a Tamil State song and the connection of his guru with Kashi. The Prime Minister also remembered the role of Ramayana and Mahabharata written by Raja ji in connecting the North and the South. “This is my experience that without understanding scholars from South India like Ramanujacharya, Shankaracharya, Raja Ji to Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, we simply cannot understand Indian philosophy”, Shri Modi said.
Referring to ‘Panch Pran’, the Prime Minister said that a country with a rich heritage should be proud of its legacy. He said despite having one of the world’s oldest living languages, i.e. Tamil, we lack in honouring it fully. “This is the responsibility of 130 crore Indians to preserve the legacy of Tamil and enrich it. If we ignore Tamil we do a great disservice to the nation and if we keep Tamil confined in restrictions we will do great harm to it. We have to remember to remove linguistic differences and establish emotional unity”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said that the Sangamam is a matter of experiencing more than the words and expressed the hope that people of Kashi will leave no stone unturned in providing memorable hospitality. The Prime Minister expressed the wish that such events are organised in Tamil Nadu and other Southern states and youngsters from other parts of the county visit and absorb the culture there. The gains of this Sangamam need to be taken forward through research and this seed should become a giant tree, the Prime Minister concluded.
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt Anandiben Patel, Union Ministers Dr L Murugan, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, and Member of Parliament, Shri Ilaiyaraja were those present on the occasion among others
Background
The promotion of the idea of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ has been one of the major focus areas of the government guided by the vision of the Prime Minister. In yet another initiative reflecting this vision, ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’, a month-long programme, is being organised in Kashi (Varanasi).
The objective of the programme is to celebrate, reaffirm and rediscover the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi – two of the country’s most important and ancient seats of learning. The programme aims to provide an opportunity for people from all walks of life including scholars, students, philosophers, traders, artisans, artists etc. from the two regions to come together, share their knowledge, culture and best practices and learn from each other's experiences. More than 2500 delegates from Tamil Nadu will be visiting Kashi. They will participate in seminars, site visits etc. to interact with local people of similar trade, profession and interest. A month-long exhibition of handlooms, handicrafts, ODOP products, books, documentaries, cuisine, art forms, history, tourist places etc of the two regions will also be put up in Kashi.
The endeavour is in sync with NEP 2020’s emphasis on integrating the wealth of Indian Knowledge Systems with modern systems of knowledge. IIT Madras and BHU are the two implementing agencies for the programme.
9-Nov-2022: PM expresses enthusiasm for Kashi Tamil Sangam
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed enthusiasm for the Kashi Tamil Sangam which exemplifies the timeless bond that exists between India's Northern and Southern regions. The Prime Minister remarked that it will be a celebration of the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat while also celebrating the beauty of Tamil language as well as culture.
Sharing a tweet by Union Minister Dr. L Murugan, the Prime Minister tweeted;
“The Kashi Tamil Sangam is a programme I am particularly enthusiastic about. It will be a celebration of the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and will also celebrate the beautiful Tamil language as well as culture.”
20-Oct-2022: Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan along with Shri L. Murugan announces “KASHI TAMIL SANGAMAM” and launches the website for the registration process
Union Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan along with MoS, I&B and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri L. Murugan today announced the “KASHI TAMIL SANGAMAM” to be held from 16th Nov to 19th Dec 2022. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan also launched the website for registering for “KASHI TAMIL SANGAMAM”.
Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti (BBS) has come up with a proposal to rediscover, reaffirm and celebrate the age-old links between the Tamil culture and Kashi that has existed since centuries. A month long “Kashi Tamil Sangamam” is to be organized in Varanasi (Kashi) from 16th November to 19th December,2022 during which academic exchanges – seminars, discussions etc. will be held between experts/ scholars on various facets of the two ancient manifestations of Indian Culture, with focus on bringing out the links and shared values between the two. The broader objective is to bring the two Knowledge and Cultural traditions closer, create and understanding of our shared heritage and deepen the people-to-people bond between the regions.
While addressing the press conference, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said that India is a symbol of civilizational connectivity. The Kashi-Tamil Sangamam shall be an ideal platform to understand the unity in India’s civilizational assets through two historic centres of knowledge & culture. The Sangamam to be organised under the overall framework and spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat” will create a bridge between ancient India and contemporary generation. Kashi Sangamam will rediscover the link between these two ancient centres of knowledge, culture and heritage, he further added.
Shri Pradhan informed that Kashi-Tamil Sangamam will be centred around a series of themes that cover various facets of knowledge – literature, ancient texts, philosophy, spirituality, music, dance, drama, yoga, Ayurveda, handlooms, handicrafts as well as the modern innovations, trade exchanges, edutech and other gen next technology etc. Seminars, discussions, lectures, lec-dems etc. will be held on these themes, for which subject experts will be invited. This shall be unique learning experience for students, scholars, academics, practicing professionals, etc. on various facets of Indian Knowledge Systems, Education & Training Practices, Arts & Culture, Language, Literature, etc., he added.
To ensure that the benefit of these discussions reaches the actual practitioners of these knowledge streams, it is proposed that in addition to experts, common practitioners from various groups from different parts of Tamil Nadu, can be brought for an 8-day visit of Varanasi and its neighbouring areas. Tentatively, 12 such groups have been identified including students, teachers, literary (authors, poets, publishers), cultural experts, professionals (practicing arts, music, dance, drama, folk art, yoga, Ayurveda), entrepreneurs, (SMEs, start-ups) business people, (community business groups, hoteliers,) artisans, heritage related experts (archaeologists, tour guides, bloggers etc.) spiritual, rural, sampradaya organizations. These people will participate in the academic programs, interact with people of Varanasi associated with the same field, and visit places of interest in and around Varanasi.
It is proposed that around 210 people from different parts of Tamil Nadu can be taken in one group for a period of 8 days. 12 such groups, comprising around 2500 people can visit over a month.
At the end of the Sangamam event, people of Tamil Nadu shall get an immersive experience of Kashi and the people of Kashi shall also get to know the cultural richness of Tamil Nadu through a healthy exchange of knowledge sharing experiences - events, visits, conversations, etc.