Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that both Kashi and Tamil Nadu are timeless centres of culture and civilization and they are both also the centres of world's oldest languages - Sanskrit and Tamil.
He said, "Kashi and Tamil Nadu are timeless centers of our culture and civilization. Both regions are the centres of world's oldest languages- Sanskrit and Tamil."
Addressing the ‘Kashi-Tamil Sangamam’ in Varanasi, the PM said that it is the collective responsibility of the 130 crore Indians to preserve the rich Tamil heritage. He added that we too have India’s ancient language Tamil and till today, it is as popular and alive as it was earlier.
“We too have India’s ancient language Tamil. Even today, this language is as popular and alive as it was earlier. It is the responsibility of 130 crore Indians to save and prosper the legacy of Tamil heritage.”
The PM said, "This gathering comes at a time when India enters its 'Amrit Kaal'. India is a country that has for the past 1000 years followed cultural unity."
Speaking on the contributions of scholars of the South, PM said, “I have experienced, from Ramananujacharya and Shankaracharya to Rajaji and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnana, we cannot understand India without understanding the insights of the scholars from the South.”
He added, "Tamil Nadu played a very important role in the development of Kashi. Tamil Nadu's Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan contributed immensely to BHU as its Vice-chancellor."
He said that the ‘Kashi-Tamil Sangamam’ is as pious as the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna.
“On one side, there is our cultural capital Kashi which has entire India in itself and on other hand, we have the centre of India’s history and pride, our Tamil Nadu and our Tamil culture,” he said.
PM Modi termed the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam as exceptional and said, “This celebration is, in reality, the celebration of India’s diversity and specialties.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking at the inauguration of the month-long programme, 'Kashi Tamil Sangamam', in Varanasi to rediscover, reaffirm and celebrate age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi – two of the country's most important and ancient seats of learning.
The programme was organised by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with other ministries like culture, textiles, railways, tourism, food processing, information and broadcasting, and the Uttar Pradesh government.
"The programme aims to provide an opportunity for scholars, students, philosophers, traders, artisans, artists and people from other walks of life from the two regions to come together, share their knowledge, culture and best practices and learn from each others’ experience," a senior Ministry of Education (MoE) official said.
"The endeavour is in sync with the new National Education Policy 2020’s emphasis on integrating the wealth of Indian knowledge systems with modern systems of knowledge.
"IIT Madras and the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are the two implementing agencies for the programme," the official added.
More than 2,500 delegates from Tamil Nadu under 12 categories such as students, teachers, literature, culture, artisans, spiritual, heritage, business, entrepreneurs, and professionals will be visiting Varanasi on an eight-day tour.
"They will participate in seminars and site visits in special programmes curated for each of the 12 categories to interact with local people of the same trade, profession and interest. The delegates will also visit places of interest in and around Varanasi, including Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday took stock of the preparations and stressed that the event being held in the Prime Minister's Constituency will be wonderful and historic.
(With inputs from PTI)