Published By : Admin |
October 2, 2012 | 07:35 IST
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Dear Friends,
Today we pay our tributes to two very distinguished sons of Bharat Mata. On this day, back in 1869 Mahatma Gandhi was born in Porbandar. With the sheer power of his thoughts and his ideals of Satya (truth) and Ahimsa (non-violence), Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi challenged the entire might of the British Empire and prevailed. It is a matter of great pride Gujarat is both a Janmabhoomi and Karmabhoomi for Mahatma Gandhi! And, it makes me even more proud that in the last decade, Gujarat has shown the world how it is possible to scale newer heights of progress in the 21st century following the path and ideals laid by Bapu.
We pay our deepest tributes to Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, who was born on this day. Shastri ji followed Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and became an inspiration of morals and values in public life. His clarion call of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ still reverberates in the hearts and minds of every proud Indian.
Friends, I have always believed that the best way to understand Gandhi is not by merely reading heaps of books on this Great Soul but to live him and follow his beliefs. That is why on this day I always motivate people to embrace Khadi as a part of their lives.
Khadi is not merely a piece of cloth but an entire stream of thought. The Khadi along with the Charkha are the very symbols that unified the entire freedom struggle! It was this Khadi that gave a fitting answer to the foreign Sultanate that ruled the roost in our country before 1947, becoming the symbol of our fight against the might of foreign imperialism. It became a wonderful tool in the awakening Jan Shakti.
I am sure that Khadi fashion can be a great influence as well a rage around the world. ‘Khadi for Nation, Khadi for Fashion’ can be a great way forward. Further, the Gujarat Government has come up with its New Textile Policy that will bring in renewed joy and prosperity in the lives of our weavers. It is, thus an appropriate medium to bring an ocean of change in the life of the Daridra Narayan.
Friends,we attained Swaraj in 1947 but Gandhi ji’s dream of Surajya is yet to be achieved. It is onto us to fulfill these dreams of Mahatma Gandhi and strive towards attaining Surajya and a society that works in the service of the Daridra Narayan. This is what Gandhi ji taught us and this is how we can pay a perfect tribute to him.
I will conclude by sharing some powerful words spoken by noted scientist Albert Einstein on Mahatma Gandhi, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood!”
Once again my greetings on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti! On this day, let us affirm to make Khadi an integral part of our lives. We may not be able to fill our entire wardrobe with Khadi but do go and buy atleast something that is Khadi made. That way you are not only living the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi but also lighting the proverbial lamp of joy and prosperity in the lives of Daridra Nayaran, who always had a special place in Gandhi ji’s heart.
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.
