Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 to be held from Nov 28 to Dec 12; focus on Thirukkural
Chennai, Nov 3 (TNT): The fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 5.0), aimed at strengthening cultural, literary and spiritual ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, will be held from November 28 to December 12, with ‘Thirukkural Payilvom’ (Let Us Learn Thirukkural) as its central theme.
The curtain-raiser event was held at IIT Madras on Tuesday in the presence of Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti.
The fifth edition will focus on popularising the Tamil classical text Thirukkural among students and young people across the country by encouraging its study in different languages and exploring its ethical, philosophical and cultural teachings.
A nationwide student engagement programme is planned, involving higher educational institutions, research activities, multilingual content and digital outreach to promote the teachings of the text.
Addressing the gathering, Arlekar said Tamil Nadu and Kashi shared deep-rooted cultural, historical and spiritual connections, reflecting India’s unity and national integration.
Kamakoti said the initiative aimed to take the Thirukkural, one of India’s valuable literary contributions, to a global audience.
Students and young people would be encouraged to study the text and explore its ideas through research papers, he said.
Around 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu are expected to participate in the programme in seven batches of approximately 200 members each.
Every batch will undertake an eight-day tour covering cultural, academic and heritage activities.
The participants will represent seven categories, including students, teachers, writers and media professionals, people associated with agriculture and allied sectors, professionals and artisans, women and representatives of spiritual and traditional knowledge systems.
The programme will include visits to important historical, cultural and spiritual landmarks in Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya, besides academic interactions, cultural events and exchanges between people from Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
The Thirukkural, composed by Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, contains 1,330 couplets divided into three sections — Aram (virtue), Porul (wealth) and Inbam (love) — dealing with ethics, governance, human relationships and righteous living.
Launched in 2022 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, Kashi Tamil Sangamam has completed four editions, bringing together people from Tamil Nadu and Kashi through cultural exchanges, academic interactions and heritage visits.
The fifth edition seeks to further strengthen these connections and promote the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
TNT KS
