LUCKNOW: Highlighting the special emotional and creative bond between the people of Kashi, his parliamentary constituency, and Tamil Nadu nurtured through the ages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that events like Kashi-Tamil Sangmam consolidated the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ further.
While inaugurating the second edition of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi on Sunday, the PM sought to define the ties between the two most ancient centers of the country’s rich cultural heritage saying Kashi and Tamil Nadu shared the centuries-old ties which were not only emotional but creative also as both were the abodes of Lord Shiva.
“In other parts of the world, countries are relegated to being just a political definition but ‘Bharat’ has been blessed with different spiritual faiths in abundance and this spirituality has kept this country one. The saints like Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanujam rekindled a sense of nationalism by crisscrossing the country," said the PM.
“Due to the Yatras by those spiritual gurus who instilled spiritual consciousness in the countrymen, India has remained eternal and unwavering as a nation”, he said while addressing the gathering of delegates of the Samagam at Namo Ghat in Varanasi.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that India’s diversity has been shaped by the spiritual consciousness as was also signified by great Pandian King Parakram Pandian who had said that every water in India is Gangajal, and every geographical location of the country is Kashi.
He added that when the centers of faith were under constant attack by foreign invaders in the north, King Parakram Pandian made all the efforts to keep the heritage of Kashi alive with the construction of Tenkasi and Sivakasi temples.
Quoting Subramania Bharathi, Modi said that vibrations of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam were spreading throughout the country and the world at large. He noted that lakhs of people, including heads of mutts, students, artists, authors, craftsmen and professionals had become part of the Sangamam since its inception last year.
“It is the confluence of two rich cultural heritages. The Sangmam has paved way for effective interaction and exchange of ideas between the two centres and it is well reflected in the joint initiative by Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and IIT-Madras, where IIT is providing online support to thousands of students from Varanasi in Science and Mathematics under the Vidya Shakti Initiative,” added the PM.
He underlined that arriving in Kashi from Tamil Nadu simply meant traveling from one abode of Lord Mahadev to the other namely Madurai Meenakshi to Kashi Vishalakshi. PM Modi also recalled the placement of sacred ‘Sengol’ in the new Parliament building under the supervision of Aadinam saints reflecting the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.
“This flow of spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat’ is infusing the soul of our nation today," he said. The PM expressed satisfaction over the rising interest of the youth towards ancient traditions as a large number of people, students and youth from Tamil Nadu were traveling to Kashi, Prayag, Ayodhya and other pilgrimage sites.
“Darshan of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, who established Rameshwaram along with Lord Mahadev, is divine," he added.
The PM also flagged off the Kanyakumari–Varanasi Tamil Sangamam train and launched multi-language and braille translations of Thirukkural, Manimekalai and other classic Tamil literature on the occasion.
The Kashi Tamil Sangamam, which will be held from December 17-31, will witness the participation of 1,400 dignitaries from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
According to an official statement, the state government has made all the arrangements for the delegates to visit Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya. The first batch of the Tamil delegation comprising a group of students from various parts of the state named 'Ganga' reached Varanasi on Sunday.
Six more groups comprising teachers (Yamuna), professionals (Godavari), spiritual leaders (Saraswati), farmers and artisans (Narmada), writers (Sindhu), and traders and businessmen (Kaveri) will be reaching the city later to participate in the event.
In addition to the cultural exchange, an exhibition showcasing the rich tapestry of art, music, handloom, handicrafts, cuisines and other distinctive products from both Tamil Nadu and Kashi is also on the agenda.
The Union Ministry of Education is the nodal agency for the event with participation from the ministries of culture, tourism, railways, textiles, food processing, MSME, information and broadcasting, skill development and entrepreneurship, IRCTC, and related departments of the Uttar Pradesh government.
The event will encompass lectures on literature, ancient texts, philosophy, spirituality, music, dance, drama, yoga, and Ayurveda. Additionally, seminars on innovation, trade, knowledge exchange, edutech, and next-gen technology will also take place.
Earlier, while taking part in ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra,’ the PM along with UP CM Yogi Adityanath reiterated their commitment to make the country a developed nation by 2047 by taking a pledge. While speaking on the occasion, the PM said that ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp’ was his litmus test as well to come up to the mark in fulfilling the aspirations of the people.
“In our country, many government schemes have been made, based on the experience of all of them, I feel that the most important thing for the country to pay attention to is that the schemes of the government should reach people at the right time without any problems,” he said. The PM said that the government should work from the front.
“I want every person of India should feel that this railway is mine, this hospital is mine, this office is now mine, this country is mine,” he said.
