Vice‑President Says Kashi and Rameswaram Are Inseparable After Kashi Tamil Sangamam

RAMESWARAM, 30 December 2025 — Vice‑President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan told a large gathering in Rameswaram that the twin spiritual cities of Kashi and Rameswaram were “inseparable”, praising the Kashi Tamil Sangamam initiative for deepening cultural ties between north and south under the Viksit Bharat vision.

Kashi Tamil Sangamam highlights unity between Kashi and Rameswaram

Addressing the valedictory function of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0, Mr Radhakrishnan commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for elevating Tamil language and heritage on the global stage. He said the Sangamam had underscored the civilisational arc linking the two holy towns and reflected India’s shared cultural values across regions.

“No force can attempt to divide the unity of Bharat,” the Vice‑President said, adding that the celebrations over the past four years had brought out the essence of national oneness. He described Kashi and Rameswaram as spiritual capitals that together represent centuries of religious and literary tradition.

The event drew a large cohort of students from Uttar Pradesh, and saw participation from government ministers, state officials and academics. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Sangamam had reconnected India with its cultural values and was a worthy attempt to bridge the north and south through education and exchange.

Union Minister of State L. Murugan noted the initiative’s role in reviving and popularising literary traditions stretching from the Ramayana and Mahabharata periods to Sangam Tamil. He said the event created opportunities to revisit the nation’s literary heritage and to promote Tamil studies across India.

Mr Radhakrishnan also praised Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi for attempting to speak in Tamil without assistance and said, amid applause, that he intended to learn Hindi as well. He hailed poet Subramania Bharati’s legacy while emphasising that Indians rally together in times of crisis, united by a common spirit.

The Vice‑President acknowledged the Nagarathar community for their longstanding service in Kashi and welcomed efforts to protect their property. He recalled the Prime Minister’s intervention, which led to Uttar Pradesh authorities acting swiftly to evict encroachers after a community complaint.

IIT Madras Director V. Kamakoti, who welcomed the gathering, noted the academic partnership behind the Sangamam. The event was run jointly by IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University as nodal institutions, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh government and several Union ministries.

Local dignitaries at the function included BJP leaders H. Raja, Nainar Nagenthran and Vanathi Srinivasan, Tamil Maanila Congress leader G.K. Vasan, and Rajya Sabha member Dharmar. Tamil Nadu officials who received the Vice‑President at the helipad included Minister for Co‑operation K.R. Periakaruppan and Ramanathapuram Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon.

Security preparations for the visit were stepped up in the coastal district, with about 700 police personnel deployed and supervision by Superintendent of Police G. Chandeesh and Sivaganga SP Shiva Prasad. The programme also screened a short film on the Kashi Tamil Sangamam.

Organisers said thousands of students are now taking up Tamil, with numbers rising each year, and the Sangamam has become a platform for promoting the language’s reach across India. The event’s organisers and participants said they hope the initiative will continue to foster cultural exchange and strengthen national unity.