“If you do not raise the women, who are the living embodiment of the Divine Mother, don't think that you have any other way to rise.”
Swami Vivekananda
Dear Friends,
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, I remembered these wise words of Swami Vivekananda. Women power is nothing but an incarnation of Shakti, who is the goddess of power. Once we are bestowed with her blessings our strengths will increase manifold!
On this day, let us resolve to make women equal stakeholders in the decision-making processes and economic growth of the state as well as the nation. Till this happens we cannot say that true women empowerment has been achieved! In the past many months, there have been shocking incidents that have aroused the conscience of the entire nation. On International Women’s Day, let us affirm our commitment to eradicate any form of injustice against women and ensure that what the nation saw in the last few months does not happen ever again. A civilized society, etched in liberal democratic values has no place for those who disrespect women.
Through innovative initiatives, Gujarat remains committed towards the complete empowerment of women. Be it correcting adverse gender ratio through Beti Bachao Andolan, spreading the joys of girl-child education through Kanya Kelavani initiative, strengthening Aanganwadis, improving maternal mortality rates through Chiranjeevi Yojana and E-Mamta or the Mission Mangalam initiative, we wish to ensure that our women can stand on their own feet. I am also sharing more details about the state Government’s initiatives towards women upliftment (https://www.narendramodi.in/empowering-women-empowering-society/ ).
The issue of malnutrition is an extremely serious one. Malnutrition remains a major challenge for the entire nation and the eradication of malnutrition is particularly critical for women. Gujarat is taking concrete steps to eliminate the menace of malnutrition, especially among women and children.
This year we launched Mission Balam Sukham to overcome the challenge of malnutrition and we made an annual provision of Rs. 1,094 crore for over 44 lakh beneficiaries including pregnant women, nursing mothers and girl children. These initiatives and results showcase out firm commitment to make Gujarat malnutrition free, which will benefit primarily our women as well as children and I am glad that our initiatives are showing the desired results. Recently, you would have read of a report that showed Gujarat as the state that stands out as the most improved state in mitigating malnutrition among children. Various surveys have also talked about the positive track record of some cities in Gujarat and Gujarat as a state in ensuring safety for women.
At the same time, I was extremely disappointed to note that the Union Budget contained nothing substantial to tackle the menace of malnutrition. The Centre has not shown any innovation in initiating long-term reforms on the issue of malnutrition. The Prime Minister keeps expressing concern on the issue but there has been little movement on the ground. Infact, not even a proper and scientific survey has been done by the Centre on the issue, which will infinitely sharpen our battle against malnutrition. I hope the Centre addresses this issue urgently.
I pay my tributes to the power of Nari Shakti- let us walk shoulder to shoulder to further create a society where women are integral partners of our development journey!
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.
