A few days ago I inaugurated the 2nd Ahmedabad National Book Fair. This wonderful initiative is a part of the Vanche Gujarat Mission. It is organized by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation in association with National Book Trust and with support from Gujarat Sahitya Parishad and Gujarat Prakashak Mandal with a determination to popularize books among the people of Gujarat.
The response to last year’s book fair was phenomenal! People cutting across all age groups converged at the venue to get their favourite titles in Gujarat, Hindi and English. Many people wrote to me congratulating the authorities for their wonderful efforts to organize a book fair such as this and sought more such fairs in the times to come.
This year’s book fair is on a larger scale. What I found special about the fair is a separate counter to donate books! Anyone who is visiting the fair can donate books at the counter. During my visit to the book fair, I had the privilege of donating a book on Sardar Patel.
The purpose of this endeavour is to create an atmosphere where books can reach those sections of society where they have either not reached at all or the reach has been slower than what it should be. This is a determination to share the joys of reading and the joys of education with the larger society around us. This effort goes beyond mere budgetary allocations or government programmes, it is about collectively doing something that will have a lasting impact on our society. It is about our values and culture.
I was very delighted to see kiosks for young children at the book fair. Time and again, I have always stressed on the need to inculcate the habit of reading among our youth. Technology and packaging can play a great role in this. We are slowly moving to an age where entire libraries will be available at the click of a mouse! I see a lot of youngsters reading e-books on their tablet computers, on platforms such as Kindle. This is a big opportunity for us and we must integrate technology in making books popular among our youth.
Along with technology, packaging can make an immense difference. Take the case of Panchtantra series. This series became very popular among youngsters because of integration of technology and effective packaging. Even Amar Chitra Kathas have repackaged themselves to strike a chord with youngsters, thus leading to a further rise in their popularity. Infact, in a time when video games draw youngsters more than books, we should think of creating such video games that draw youngsters to read and enjoy books.
There was another initiative that we tried in Gujarat to spread joys of reading. This initiative is the ‘Floating Books Programme,’ where a particular book is shared by a group of friends. Once a person finishes reading it, he or she passes it on to the others. This is both economical as well as increases participation.
Friends, I urge you all to take time off and visit the book fair. I specially urge my young friends to go there, to see the books to interact and encourage the authors and most importantly, to donate as many books as possible. Remember that you are not only donating a book but also giving one of life's most precious gifts to someone else, you are giving something that is an incarnation of Goddess Saraswati and something that will ignite a spark of curiosity and knowledge in the another mind.
Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and a tribute to Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat
January 15, 2026
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A few days ago, I was in the sacred land of Somnath to be part of the Somnath Swabhiman Parv, marking a thousand years since the first attack on Somnath, which took place in 1026. People from all across India had come to be part of this moment of remembrance, united by a shared reverence for history, culture and the enduring spirit of the people of India. During the programme, I met a few people who had previously come to Somnath during the Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam and had been to Kashi during the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam. Their words of appreciation for such platforms touched me and so, I thought of sharing a few thoughts on this subject.
During one of the Mann Ki Baat programmes, I had said that not learning Tamil is a major regret of my life. Fortunately, over the last few years, our Government has had several opportunities to further popularise Tamil culture across India and to deepen the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.’ A prime example of such an effort is the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam. In our ethos, Sangam or confluence has a special place. Seen in this light, the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam stands out as a truly distinctive initiative, one that celebrates the living unity of India’s many traditions while honouring their unique identities.
And what can be a better place than Kashi to host such a Sangamam. The same Kashi, which has remained a civilisational anchor from time immemorial… where, for thousands of years, people from all over have come in search of knowledge, meaning and Moksha.
Kashi’s connection with Tamil people and culture is very deep. It is in Kashi that Baba Vishwanath resides, while Tamil Nadu has Rameswaram. Tenkasi in Tamil Nadu is known as Kashi of the south or Dakshin Kashi. Saint Kumaraguruparar Swamigal forged a lasting link between Kashi and Tamil Nadu through his spirituality, scholarship and institution-building. Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, one of Tamil Nadu’s greatest sons, found in Kashi a space of intellectual growth and spiritual awakening. It was here that his nationalism deepened, his poetry sharpened and his vision of a free, united India took clearer shape. There are several such instances that highlight this close bond.
The first edition of Kashi-Tamil Sangamam took place in 2022. I recall attending the inauguration programme. Scholars, artisans, students, farmers, writers, professionals and many others from Tamil Nadu travelled to Kashi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya.
Subsequent editions expanded the scale and depth of this effort. The aim was to keep introducing fresh themes, innovative formats and deeper engagement, thus ensuring that the Sangamam continued to evolve while remaining rooted in its core spirit. In the second edition in 2023, technology was used on a larger scale to ensure that language does not become a barrier for people. In the third edition, the focus was on Indian knowledge systems. At the same time, academic discussions, cultural performances, exhibitions and interactions witnessed greater participation. Thousands of people have taken part in these events.
The fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam commenced on 2nd December 2025. The theme picked was very interesting- Tamil Karkalam - Learn Tamil. It presented a unique opportunity for people in Kashi and other parts to learn the beautiful Tamil language. Teachers came from Tamil Nadu and the students of Kashi had a very memorable experience!
There were many other special events this time.
Tholkappiyam, the ancient Tamil literary classic, was translated into 4 Indian languages and 6 foreign languages.
A unique event, Sage Agasthya Vehicle Expedition (SAVE), was undertaken from Tenkasi to Kashi. On the way, various initiatives such as eye camps, health awareness camps, digital literacy camps, among other things, were held. The expedition paid homage to King Adi Veera Parakrama Pandiyan, the great Pandya ruler who spread the message of cultural oneness. There were exhibitions at Namo Ghat, academic sessions at Banaras Hindu University, as well as cultural programmes.
One of the things that makes me most happy about the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam is the participation of thousands of youngsters. It illustrates the passion among our Yuva Shakti to deepen their connect with our roots. It is a brilliant platform for them to showcase their talent and creativity during the various cultural programmes.
In addition to the Sangamam, efforts have been made to make the journey to Kashi memorable for the participants. The Indian Railways operated special trains to take people from Tamil Nadu to Uttar Pradesh. In many railway stations, particularly in Tamil Nadu, they were cheered, and the train journey was marked by melodious songs and conversations.
Here, I would also like to appreciate my sisters and brothers of Kashi and Uttar Pradesh for their warmth and hospitality shown to the delegates of the various Kashi-Tamil Sangamams. Several people opened the doors of their homes for the guests from Tamil Nadu. The local administration worked round the clock to ensure the guests had a seamless experience. As the MP from Varanasi, I could not be prouder!
This time, the valedictory function of the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam was held in Rameswaram and it was graced by the Vice President of India, Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji, who is himself a proud son of Tamil Nadu. He delivered a very inspiring address, emphasising India’s spiritual greatness and how such platforms deepen national integration.
The Kashi Tamil Sangamam has delivered meaningful outcomes like strengthening cultural understanding, fostering academic and people-to-people exchanges and creating lasting bonds between parts of the country that share a civilisational ethos. In the coming times, we want to make this platform even more vibrant. Most importantly, it has furthered the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.’ This spirit has flourished for centuries through our festivals, literature, music, art, cuisine, architecture, systems of knowledge and more.
This time of the year is very auspicious for people across the length and breadth of India. People are enthusiastically marking various festivals like Sankranti, Uttarayan, Pongal, Magh Bihu, which are, among other things, associated with the Sun, nature and farming. These festivals bring people together and deepen the spirit of harmony in our society. I convey my best wishes for these festivals and hope they continue to inspire us to deepen national unity through our shared heritage and collective participation.
