Kashi Tamil Sangamam, an annual month-long programme, started in 2022. An initiative by the Union Ministry of Education celebrates the ancient link between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi. This year, students from various educational institutions could attend and experience the coming together of culture, tradition and heritage.
More than 70 students from various educational institutions travelled to the holy city of Varanasi. Among the participants were students from the IGNOU regional centres of Chennai and Madurai, as well as from Madras Sanskrit College. The college at Mylapore in Chennai is one of the oldest colleges for Sanskrit in Chennai. It is also the only institution that offers undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and PhD programmes in the language.
The journey began with the arrival of students at Banaras Railway Station. Received warmly, they boarded buses for their respective arranged accommodations. The participants of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 3.0) also included students of the National Sanskrit University of Tirupati, Central University of Tamil Nadu (Thiruvarur), and Central University of Andhra Pradesh (Anantapur). The event turned into an ideal platform for students to interact with one another.
The Voices’ Students
Pursuing a doctorate in Sanskrit literature at National Sanskrit University, S Vishnupriya shared with her fellow participants the important role that the Sanskrit language plays in bringing to light the connection between Kashi, Tamil Nadu, and Sage Agastya. She said, “We are eager to explore many things in Kashi that can be rooted back to Tamil Nadu and its link with Sage Agastya.”
On the boat
One of the most memorable parts of the journey for the students was a cruise trip across the Ganges, which took them to all the ghats adjacent to the holy river. The views of Assi Ghat, Scindia Ghat, and Darbhanga Ghat were simply spectacular. The highlight, though, was the multipurpose vessel, named after the first India Field Marshal, MV Sam Manekshaw. Students boarded the triple-deck vessel and set off on ‘Ganga Darshan’. The boat can carry more than 200 people.
Security Personnel
The Uttar Pradesh administration had posted police personnel at all hotels where the participants of KTS 3.0 were staying. Their chief job was to assist those in the holy city in participating in the programme. The Voices’ representative interacted with one of the police personnel posted at Silver Stone Hotel, where some of the participants were staying in Varanasi.
Head constable Durg Vijay Singh said it was a pleasure to see people of different cultures come to their city for the grand event. “The motive behind posting the police personnel was to ensure the participants did not experience any inconvenience during their stay in the holy city,” he said.
Students who wished to go out sightseeing requested him to accompany them for guidance, and he was kind enough to guide them to some good hotels for a tasty meal. Further, police personnel also accompanied to Prayagraj and Ayodhya. Five buses were arranged for the same with two police personnel in each. A police van also accompanied the buses.
A visit to remember
Visiting the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus was another unforgettable experience. Seeing the research facility on the campus and learning about the work done impressed everyone. The faculty at the institution shared their insights on the greatness of the two ancient cultures and spoke on how education can help leverage India’s development and realise the dream of being Viksit Bharat.
After the session, KTS 3.0 participants boarded buses and took a campus tour.
Great Sage
The delegates were forever impressed by the special stall at Namo Ghat in Varanasi, which spoke about the contribution of the great Sage Agastya to the Tamil language and culture.
The representative at the stall informed us that it was set up on February 15, and more than 3,000 people had already visited. “Visitors were curious to know about the language and culture. The non-Tamil-speaking population, too, came forward in large numbers to learn,” he added.
The stall of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT, Chennai) was also quite impressive. Professor R Chandrasekaran said, “Kashi and Tamil Nadu have shared a connection since ancient times, and this event provided a fine opportunity to renew this bond that the two ancient cultures shared.”
Patriotism and devotion
There was more in store for the participants of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 3.0. A wave of patriotism and devotion swept the participants when they visited the Bharatiyar House and Sri Sankaracharya Matam. Poet and freedom fighter Bharatiyar (popularly known as Mahakavi Subramanya Bharatiyar) is said to have resided in the house during his stay in Kashi.
In service of the holy land
Students were delighted to listen to K Venkataramana Ghanapati, who shares an ancestral connection with Swamimalai in Tamil Nadu, speak about the rich essence of the two ancient cultures. In a brief interaction with The Voices, he shared, “I am the fifth generation in my family to be in the priesthood in the holy city.”
He further remarked, “I am happy to note that KTS is being organised successfully for the third time. It has created an excellent opportunity for the two ancient cultures of Kashi and Tamil to come together. They have a lot of similarities. It’s wonderful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the initiative of organising the ‘Kashi Tamil Sangamam’ that brings glory to two great ancient cultures of India.”
Pandit Omkar Nath Thakur Auditorium is on Banaras Hindu University premises.
Cultural programmes
Namo Ghat turned into a musical paradise as a host of cultural programmes were organised. Pavalakodi, a Tamil drama about the love story of Pandava Prince Arjuna and Pavalakodi (Coral Queen), was among the programmes that wowed the audience.
A Bharatanatyam performance by a group of artists did not stay behind in winning praises, too.
Unity in diversity
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat was the chief guest at the cultural programme. He remarked that India has been a land of diverse cultures and traditions, the highlight being the unity among diversity. “This unity among the multi-cultures and traditions puts our nation on the top, this oneness has turned Bharat into Shresht Bharat,” he said.
An eminent journalist from Chennai, Rangaraj Pandey, the guest of honour, also commented on the success of Kashi Tamil Sangamam. He said, “The event has brought together two great ancient cultures of India and has enhanced this nation’s glory.”
Holy dip at Prayagraj
The student participants of KTS 3.0 then travelled to Prayagraj from Varanasi, where they bathed in Triveni Sangam, the holy communion of three rivers – Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
Arrangements were made to ensure the delegates could dip in the holy communion.
EDITED BY: Arunima Maharshi