Union Education Minister and Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh inaugurated the fourth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi. The theme of KTS 4.0 is “Let us Learn Tamil – Tamil Karkalam”. This will be a unifying feature of the event, spreading the message that all Indian Languages are our Languages and belong to one Bharatiya Bhasha family.This initiative aims to take Tamil to other parts of the country, signifying cultural oneness and expanding the horizon of ancient knowledge preserved in classical Tamil texts and its dissemination in other Indian Languages.

Major highlights of this year’s event

¨     Valedictory Function at Rameswaram:It served as the grand culmination of the event.It highlighted cultural unity and the historic significance of Rameswaram.

Launch of New Initiatives

¨     Tamil Karkalam:A programme enabling students from North India to learn Tamil directly in Tamil Nadu.It aims to promote linguistic exchange and cultural understanding.

¨     Sage Agastya Vehicle Expedition: A journey from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu to Kashi, Uttar Pradesh.The route retraces the path associated with Sage Agastya, who symbolises the spread of knowledge and cultural unity between Tamil Nadu and northern India.The journey honours the legacy of Adi Veera Parakrama Pandiyan, who travelled north and built a Shiva temple, leading to the name Tenkasi or Dakshin Kashi.The expedition highlights civilisational interactions across the Chera, Chola, Pandya, Pallava, Chalukya and Vijayanagara periods.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS)

¨     KTS is an inspirational initiative to celebrate the timeless bonds between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, strengthen the civilisational links and further the spirit of Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.

¨     The objective of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam is to rediscover, reaffirm, and celebrate the age-old links between Tamil Nadu and Kashi—two of the country’s most important and ancient seats of learning.

¨     Kashi Tamil Sangamam is being organised by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India in collaboration with other ministries, including Culture, Textiles, Railways, Tourism, Food Processing, I&B etc. and the Govt. of UP.

¨     The programme aims to provide an opportunity for scholars, students, philosophers, traders, artisans, artists and people from other walks of life from the two regions to come together, share their knowledge, culture and best practices and learn from each other’s experience.

¨     This endeavour is in sync with NEP 2020’s emphasis on integrating the wealth of Indian Knowledge Systems with modern systems of knowledge.

¨     The first edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam was held in 2022 during the nationwide observance of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

¨     IIT Madras and BHU are the two implementing agencies for the programme.