Vice-President Highlights Cultural Unity at Fourth Kashi Tamil Sangamam Celebration

The Vice-President expressed satisfaction at Tamil receiving its rightful place of honour and continuing national support.

The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, delivered a special video message on the occasion of the fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, a flagship initiative celebrating the enduring cultural bond between Kashi (Varanasi) and Tamil Nadu.

Since its launch in 2022 during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Kashi Tamil Sangamam has evolved into a national platform that unites the Ganga and Cauvery cultures, symbolising the civilizational heritage and cultural unity of North and South India.

Shri Radhakrishnan recalled the Prime Minister’s Mann Ki Baat remarks on November 30, describing the Sangamam as a meeting of one of the world’s oldest languages with one of the world’s oldest living cities, underscoring the historical and linguistic significance of the initiative.

The Vice-President expressed satisfaction at Tamil receiving its rightful place of honour and continuing national support. This year’s theme, “Let us learn Tamil”, reinforces linguistic and cultural harmony, promoting intergenerational understanding and appreciation of India’s rich diversity.

He appreciated the efforts of 50 Hindi-speaking Tamil teachers and coordinators, trained by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Chennai, who are teaching basic Tamil to over 1,500 students across 50 government and private schools in Varanasi over a 15-day period.

Highlighting efforts to rediscover ancient cultural routes between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, Shri Radhakrishnan referred to the symbolic Agathiyar Yatra, which commenced on December 2 from Tenkasi to Kashi and will conclude on December 10. The journey commemorates the message of unity spread by Pandya King Athiveera Parakrama Pandian, whose travels linked Tamil Nadu with Kashi and gave Tenkasi—literally meaning “Southern Kashi”—its identity.

Additionally, he welcomed the initiative under which 300 students from Uttar Pradesh will travel in ten groups to leading institutions in Tamil Nadu, including the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, fostering two-way cultural understanding and educational exchange.

Describing the Sangamam as an embodiment of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat, the Vice-President emphasised that Kashi and Tamil Nadu stand as radiant lamps of India’s ancient civilization, illuminating the nation with cultural richness, spiritual heritage, and intellectual legacy.

He conveyed appreciation to the Ministry of Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and other Central Ministries for organising the Sangamam in a grand and inclusive manner. Shri Radhakrishnan extended his best wishes for the event to serve as a grand cultural, spiritual, and intellectual celebration, expressing hope that the bond between Kashi and Tamil Nadu continues to strengthen for generations, guiding the nation toward the vision of Bharat as envisaged by the Prime Minister.