NEW DELHI:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Tirukkural during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Friday.
Sharing details of the meeting, Modi said he had presented Putin with the Russian version of the Tirukkural, describing the work as carrying the eternal wisdom of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders.
The Tirukkural, one of the most revered works of classical Tamil literature, contains 1,330 couplets dealing with a wide range of subjects including virtue, ethics, governance, social conduct and human values.
The presentation of the Russian translation assumes significance as the two leaders met during the BRICS Summit, providing an opportunity to showcase India’s rich literary and cultural heritage on an international platform.
The Tirukkural has been translated into several Indian and foreign languages over the years and is widely regarded as a work of universal relevance for its teachings on morality, leadership, social responsibility and human values.