image source, YEARS
Prime Minister Moti spoke at the Kashi Tamil Sangam event in Varanasi that India’s oldest language, Tamil, should be protected, otherwise the country will lose.
The inaugural function of a month-long program called Kashi Tamil Sangamam took place today. Speaking on the occasion, Modi said that Tamil is the oldest language in India and people of the world are amazed by its special features.
“We should celebrate the Tamil language. Language discrimination should be preserved for an ancient language like Tamil,” he said.
“Kashi and Tamil Nadu are the best in culture”
Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “There is a policy in our country. One truth is manifested in many forms. Similarly, both Kashi and Tamil Nadu excel in culture. Kashi and Tamil Nadu are Shiva-oriented and Shakti-oriented. Viswanadha in Kashi and Ramanadha in Rameswaram are proud of both the places.
Kashi and Tamil Nadu are very traditional in terms of language and culture and have been the birthplace of many sages. Tulsidasar was born in Kashi and Thiruvalluvar was born in Tamil Nadu. Among the wedding rituals in Tamil Nadu, there is the ritual of going to Kashi. Similarly, these two cities have many connections. Like Banaras sarees, Kanchipuram sarees are famous all over the world,” he said.
image source, YEARS
He said that there should be a sense of unity and said that wise men in both the places made many efforts to establish unity. Radhakrishnan from Tamil Nadu has applied to Banaras Hindu University in Kashi.
Many Tamils still live in the Hanumangat area of Kashi. 200 years old Kumaraswamy Mutt is functioning in Kedarnath area.
As such, the friendship between the two places continues for a long time. It is said that Bharatiyar got his curly mustache only when he was in Kashi. Unity can be further strengthened through this kind of Sangam event.
Mantras speak of national unity. After India’s independence, efforts should have been made to strengthen unity. They did not happen due to various reasons. Now, we will confirm it through these Sangam programs,” he said.
How did Moti get this idea? Amazed Ilayaraja
image source, Getty Images
Speaking earlier in the event, music composer Ilayaraja said, “I wonder how Prime Minister Narendra Modi got the idea of holding a Tamil Sangam in the proud Kashi.”
Musician Ilayaraja said at the Kashi Tamil Sangam event in Varanasi that the century-long association between Tamil Nadu and Kashi is a matter of pride and he is surprised that Prime Minister Moti has decided to hold the Tamil Sangam program in Kashi.
Attending the inaugural function of the month-long Kashi Tamil Sangam in Varanasi, Ilayaraja said Bharatiyar learned a lot during his two years in Kashi, one of the Carnatic Sangeet Triumvirate, Muthuswamy Ditshidar, who had sojourned in Kashi as a desandri.
Bharatiyar sang about river connectivity in India at the young age of 22. We are talking about it now. It is a matter of pride that Kashi city and Tamil Nadu have been connected for many years,” said Ilayaraja.
Apart from that, Ilayaraja rendered the Om Sivakom song featured in the movie Naan Gaddam in the program. Qasim from Kalaimamani Sheikh Chinna Maulana family recited nathswaram.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Kashi Tamil Sangam event in the traditional dress of Tamils, Vedti Chata. He was blessed by Adeenam of Madurai.
Earlier, the Prime Minister had released Thirukkural, which had been translated into 13 languages, including Khmer, a Cambodian language.
BBC Tamil on Social Media: