Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his latest Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, praised Tamil as a “magnificent language” and a source of India’s pride. Speaking about the upcoming fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, he urged people to participate and make an effort to learn Tamil, adding in Tamil, “Tamil culture is great, Tamil language is great, Tamil is India’s pride.”
PM Modi described this year’s theme – “Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam” – as an opportunity for scholars, Tamil enthusiasts and visitors to engage more deeply with the language and culture. He noted that the people of Kashi look forward to the Sangamam for the new experiences and connections it creates, and urged citizens to support initiatives that strengthen the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.
What is the Kashi Tamil Sangamam?
Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a cultural initiative launched in 2022 to celebrate the centuries-old civilisational relationship between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. It brings together students, scholars, artisans, spiritual leaders and cultural practitioners from both regions through heritage visits, academic exchanges, cultural programmes and community interactions.
Held under the aegis of the Ministry of Education, it is supported by IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University as principal knowledge partners and involves the participation of ten Union ministries, including Railways, Culture, Tourism, Textiles, and Youth Affairs & Sports, along with the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
The initiative aligns with the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme, launched in 2015, which aims to strengthen national unity by promoting cultural exchange and linguistic understanding among India’s states and Union Territories.
What is special about Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0?
The fourth edition of the Sangamam places Tamil language learning at the centre of its celebrations. Guided by the theme “Tamil Karkalam – Let Us Learn Tamil,” KTS 4.0 emphasises linguistic inclusivity and encourages young learners in Uttar Pradesh to engage with Tamil. This edition also aims to deepen cultural reciprocity between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. Adding a symbolic touch, the valedictory ceremony will be held in Rameswaram, completing a cultural arc that begins in Kashi and flows back to Tamil Nadu.
What are the key initiatives under KTS 4.0?
KTS 4.0 introduces a strong language- and culture-focused programme. More than 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu, including students, teachers, writers, media professionals, those from agriculture and allied sectors, professionals and artisans, women and spiritual scholars, will participate in events in Kashi. As part of a major outreach effort, 50 Tamil teachers will be stationed across 50 schools in Varanasi to teach 1,500 students the basics of spoken Tamil, opening up a new linguistic bridge between the regions. Complementing this, 300 college students from Uttar Pradesh will visit 10 leading institutions across Tamil Nadu, where they will attend Tamil language sessions and experience the state’s cultural and intellectual traditions firsthand.
What is the Sage Agastya Vehicle Expedition (SAVE)?
The Sage Agastya Vehicle Expedition is a key initiative of KTS 4.0 that retraces an ancient cultural route rooted in Tamil and Indian heritage. Beginning in Tenkasi on December 2 and culminating in Kashi on December 10 , the expedition follows the legendary path of Sage Agastya and highlights Tamil Nadu’s contribution to Indian knowledge systems. It also honours the Pandiyan ruler Adi Veera Parakrama Pandiyan, whose northward journey to promote cultural unity helped give Tenkasi its name, “Dakshin Kashi.” Along the way, the expedition showcases civilisational connections spanning the Chera, Chola, Pandya, Pallava, Chalukya and Vijayanagara eras while drawing attention to classical Tamil literature, Siddha medicine and shared heritage traditions.
How has the Sangamam evolved from 1.0 to 4.0?
Each edition of the Sangamam has expanded in scope and depth. KTS 1.0 in 2022 laid the foundation with an immersive celebration of shared heritage. KTS 2.0 broadened public participation and introduced real-time Tamil translation alongside large cultural exhibitions. KTS 3.0 strengthened the intellectual dimension by foregrounding Sage Agastya and India’s knowledge traditions. KTS 4.0 now takes the initiative into a new phase by bringing in two-way Tamil learning, youth-led academic exchanges and sustained cultural-educational collaboration between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, moving the Sangamam beyond a festival into a long-term cultural bridge.