KASHI TAMIL SANGAMAM – ART AND CULTURE
News: If we ignore Tamil, it will be a great disservice to the nation, says PM Modi
What's in the news?
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi, highlighting the bond between Kashi and Tamil Nadu, both being ancient centers of culture and civilization.
Key takeaways from PM's speech:
●
He expressed hope in this
event acting as a catalyst to generate the
feeling of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ (One India, Best India), and took the
opportunity to honor the ‘aadhinams’ (religious leaders) of Tamil Nadu’s
various religious places and monasteries.
●
He also released the
translated versions of the Thirukkural,
and interacted with students from Tamil Nadu who had come to visit Kashi.
●
The Prime Minister
claimed that the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam is unique in many ways and this
confluence signifies India’s cultural foundation. “Our nation’s cultural hub
today is Kashi, which encompasses the entirety of India. On the other hand,
Tamil Nadu and the Tamil culture are the foundation of India’s antiquity and
pride. This confluence is as sacred as
the Ganga and the Yamuna. Like Ganga and Yamuna, it is a source of
limitless potential and power,” he added.
● Mr. Adityanath welcomed everyone in Tamil by saying, “Ungalai Kashiyil Varaverkirom (Welcome to Kashi).” In his speech, he also mentioned the ancient temple of Lord Vishwanath in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu. Tenkasi means Kashi of the South. He said that the jyotirlingas in Rameshwaram and Lord Adi Vishweshwar in Kashi are central to the relationship between Tamil Nadu and Kashi.
Cultural link between Kashi and Tamil Nadu:
●
Both
regions are the centers of the oldest languages, Sanskrit and Tamil.
●
The poet and freedom
fighter, Subramania Bharathi lived
for a long time in Kashi and studied here. It is said that it was here (in
Varanasi) that he (Bharathi) sported his popular mustache.
●
The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) established a chair dedicated to
Bharathi to enhance his pride.
●
Another important
personality, Dr. Sarvapalli
Radhakrishnan, who was born in Tamil Nadu, was the Vice-Chancellor of the
BHU.
● The renowned Vedic scholar Rajeshwar Shastri lived in Kashi, even though he had his roots in Tamil Nadu.
Art, architecture and music link:
●
Both Kashi and Tamil Nadu
contributed historical, cultural and civilizational contributions in India’s
cultural evolution and are inspirational sources of art, literature and music.
●
The tannumai is played in Tamil Nadu, tabla is used in Kashi.
●
Banarasi
sarees are made in Kashi, while Kanjeevaram silk from Tamil Nadu is
well-known worldwide.
●
Both are the birthplace
and workplace of the greatest masters of Indian spirituality.
●
Tamil
Nadu is the home of Saint Thiruvalluvar’s devotion, while Kashi is the home of
Tulsi.
● One can see the energy of Kashi and Tamil Nadu in every walk of life.
Kashi-Tamil Sangamam:
●
The month-long Kashi
Tamil Sangamam, is aimed at reviving cultural links between Kashi and Tamil
Nadu through the depiction of various forms of art and culture.
●
Thousands of guests from
Tamil Nadu, from diverse backgrounds like archaeology, history, art, music,
yoga, education, literature and Ayurveda, have been invited to visit Kashi for
the Sangamam.
●
Several seminars based on
intellectual, cultural, spiritual and artistic subjects are scheduled over the
next one month.
●
Apart from this, South
Indian music, tradition and art will also be showcased.
● Cultural programmes highlighting the culture of Tamil Nadu like Meenakshi Chittaranjan’s Bharatanatyam, folk music of Tamil Nadu, Irula and other tribal dances and Villupattu, an ancient musical story-telling, will also be organized.
Objectives:
●
The broader objective is
to bring the two knowledge and cultural
traditions (of the North and South) closer, create an understanding of our
shared heritage and deepen the people-to-people bond between the regions.
● This is in sync with the National Education Policy, 2020 which emphasizes “on nurturing a generation that is modern and in sync with the 21st-century mindset, while being rooted in the Indian culture and ethos”.
Organized by:
● BHU and IIT-Madras are knowledge partners for the event, and the Ministries of Culture, Tourism, Railways, Textiles and Food Processing have been roped in as stakeholders, besides the government of Uttar Pradesh and the Varanasi administration.
Go back to basics:
Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat:
● Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat was announced on the occasion of the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on 31st October (Ekta Divas), 2015.
Objective:
● To enhance interaction & promote mutual understanding between people of different states/UTs through the concept of state/UT pairing.
Administrative control: Ministry of Education
Features:
●
Apart from embracing
cultural vibrancy, the scheme focuses on promoting nationalism and cultural awareness
in the country.
●
The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Scheme focuses on increasing the cultural
exchange between people from different states.
●
This scheme encourages
people with diverse backgrounds to come together as a nation. It aims at
enhancing sentimental connections between people from different regions.
●
The culture, heritage,
and traditions of different states are showcased to the citizens via events and
literature to the citizens. The Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Scheme boosts the
sense of common identity among all citizens.
●
Under the Ek Bharat
Shreshtha Bharat Scheme, numerous activities are conducted around the country
to boost national unity. People get to learn about the customs of other states
with the initiatives under the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat Scheme.