Rameswaram, Dec 31: Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday described the Kashi Tamil Sangamam as a “living symbol of India’s timeless spiritual and cultural unity,” stressing that the strong bond between Kashi and Tamil Nadu is not merely historical but a profound civilisational and spiritual continuum that has united Bharat for thousands of years.Addressing the valedictory of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 in Rameswaram, he said such cultural exchanges reaffirm India’s shared heritage and deepen the sense of national integration. Quoting Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, he said the Sangamam reflects the poet’s vision of a united, confident India — a dream being realised through Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s far-sighted initiatives.
Highlighting the Prime Minister’s Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat vision, the Vice-President said events like the Kashi Tamil Sangamam strengthen national unity through cultural exchange, shared heritage, and mutual respect. He also noted the symbolic significance of hosting the inaugural event in Kashi and the valedictory in Rameswaram.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Sangamam brings India’s civilisational idea to life as a lived experience. Emphasising the theme of learning Tamil, he said Tamil is not just a language but a gateway to India’s ancient wisdom, knowledge traditions, governance, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, ecology, and literature.
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi said thousands of students learned Tamil through the Tamil Karkalam initiative, and 300 North Indian students visited Tamil Nadu for Tamil learning programmes. Union Minister of State L. Murugan said the event champions Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and reflects the Prime Minister’s consistent emphasis on Tamil heritage globally.
As part of the valedictory, the Vice-President released key publications on Tamil heritage, including Ramar Temples in Tamil Nadu, Wood Carvings of Tamil Nadu, a Sign Language Edition of Thirukkural, and Rishi Agastya – Agam of Tamil and Tamilagam. These works highlight the richness of Tamil spiritual and cultural traditions and their enduring contribution to India’s cultural landscape.
IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University served as nodal institutions for Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0, supported by the Uttar Pradesh government and several Union Ministries including Culture, Railways, Textiles, and Tourism.