We were always Ek Bharat, Ek Sanskriti

Chennai: The IIT Madras hosted the curtain-raiser event for the fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam on Tuesday, highlighting the enduring cultural, literary and spiritual connections between Tamil Nadu and Kashi (Varanasi).

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar presided over the event in the presence of V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and other stakeholders. The IIT-M release here said that a key focus of this edition will be to encourage young people to engage with the ‘Thirukkural’ in their native languages.

Accordingly, a nationwide student engagement initiative was envisaged to encourage students in higher educational institutions to study the text, explore its ethical and philosophical teachings, and promote its values within their institutions. Educational activities, multilingual content and digital outreach will further support efforts to make the work accessible to a wider national audience.

Addressing the curtain raiser, Arlekar said, “Kashi and Tamil Nadu have always been connected culturally, traditionally and historically. Our ancestors not only had deep devotion towards their deities but also possessed knowledge of science and technology. The connections between Kashi Vishwanath and Rameswaram reflect the cultural unity and national integration that have existed in our country for thousands of years.”

“The Kashi Tamil Sangamam reminds us again and again that we were always Ek Bharat, Ek Sanskriti”, he said, adding “from bringing Gangajal to Rameswaram to taking the sacred water from Rameswaram to the Ganga, our traditions reflect the deep emotional and spiritual bond that connects us and such programmes are important to underline how united we are in our thoughts, culture and traditions.”

The fifth edition will place particular emphasis on youth and student participation, encouraging younger generations to explore India’s shared cultural heritage, classical literature and knowledge traditions. Kamakoti said, “The main objective is to take one of India’s most valuable contributions to the world, the Thirukkural, to a global audience. Through Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0, with ‘Thirukkural Pailvom’ (let us learn the Thirukkural) as its theme, we aim to encourage students and young people in Kashi to study the Thirukkural and explore its ideas through research papers. This is an effort to share the timeless value of the Thirukkural with the world.”

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