Chennai, Nov 03: Indian Institute of Technology Madras hosted the curtain-raiser event for the fifth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam on campus today. The event highlighted the enduring cultural, literary and spiritual connections between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
Thiru. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, presided over the event, in the presence of Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras and other stakeholders. Further details and registration information are available on the official website - https://kashitamil.iitm.ac.in/
A key focus of this edition will be to encourage young people to engage with the ‘Thirukkural’ in their native languages. A nationwide student engagement initiative is envisaged to encourage students in higher educational institutions to study the text, explore its ethical and philosophical teachings, and promote its values within their institutions. Educational activities, multilingual content and digital outreach will further support efforts to make the work accessible to a wider national audience.
Addressing the curtain raiser, Thiru. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, said,
“Kashi and Tamil Nadu have always been connected culturally, traditionally and historically. Our ancestors not only had deep devotion towards their deities but also possessed knowledge of science and technology. The connections between Kashi Vishwanath and Rameswaram reflect the cultural unity and national integration that have existed in our country for thousands of years.”
Thiru. Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar added,
“The Kashi Tamil Sangamam reminds us again and again that we were always Ek Bharat, Ek Sanskriti. From bringing Gangajal to Rameswaram to taking the sacred water from Rameswaram to the Ganga, our traditions reflect the deep emotional and spiritual bond that connects us. Such programmes are important to underline how united we are in our thoughts, culture and traditions.”
The fifth edition will place particular emphasis on youth and student participation, encouraging younger generations to explore India's shared cultural heritage, classical literature and knowledge traditions.
Speaking at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0 curtain raiser event, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said,
"The main objective is to take one of India's most valuable contributions to the world, the Thirukkural, to a global audience. Through Kashi Tamil Sangamam 5.0, with ‘திருக்குறள் பயில்வோம்’ (Let Us Learn the Thirukkural) as its theme, we aim to encourage students and young people in Kashi to study the Thirukkural and explore its ideas through research papers. This is an effort to share the timeless value of the Thirukkural with the world."
Organised as an initiative of the Government of India, Kashi Tamil Sangamam seeks to strengthen the longstanding relationship between Tamil Nadu and Kashi through cultural exchanges, academic engagement and the celebration of India’s shared civilisational heritage. The fifth edition will be held from 28th November to 12th December 2026, with the theme ‘Thirukkural Payilvom’.
Thirukkural, the celebrated Tamil classical work by poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, comprises 1,330 couplets organised under ‘Aram’ (Virtue), ‘Porul’ (Wealth) and ‘Inbam’ (Love). It delves in to topics such as ethical conduct, governance, human relationships and righteous living.
Approximately 1,400 delegates from Tamil Nadu are expected to participate in KTS 5.0. They will be travelling in seven batches of around 200 participants each. Each batch will undertake an eight-day tour, including cultural, academic and heritage engagements.
CATEGORIES OF PARTICIPATION
Participants from Tamil Nadu will be drawn from seven broad categories, representing diverse sections of society:
-
Students: Students from colleges, universities, technical institutions, skill development institutions and adult education programmes.
-
Teachers: School and college teachers, teacher trainees, educators, teachers from recognised institutions and Hindi Pracharaks.
-
Writers and Media Professionals: Writers, publishers, journalists, media professionals, editors, media content creators and social media professionals.
-
Agriculture and Allied Sectors: Farmers, students of agricultural sciences, dairy and animal husbandry professionals, fishermen and others associated with allied sectors.
-
Professionals and Artisans: Professionals from various disciplines, entrepreneurs, start-up beneficiaries, skilled workers and traditional artisans.
-
Women: Women students, members of Self-Help Groups, self-employed women and beneficiaries of various government schemes.
-
Spiritual: Students of Vedic studies, classical music and traditional knowledge systems, spiritual scholars, religious practitioners, classical singers and temple personnel.
Participants will visit important historical, cultural and spiritual landmarks in Varanasi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya. The programme will also facilitate interactions between people from Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh through academic discussions, cultural programmes and opportunities to experience the regions' literary, artistic, craft and culinary traditions.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam was launched in 2022 as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. It has successfully completed four editions, bringing together diverse groups from Tamil Nadu and Kashi through academic interactions, cultural programmes, heritage visits and people-to-people exchanges. The fifth edition will build on their successes by placing the Tamil classical literature at the centre of the cultural exchange and reinforcing the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.