The 4th Edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 4.0) is set to commence on December 2, 2025, at Namo Ghat, Varanasi.
- Theme: “Tamil Karkalam” (Learn Tamil).
- Context: In his Mann Ki Baat address, the Prime Minister highlighted the event as a key pillar of the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat initiative, emphasizing that “Tamil is the pride of India.”
About Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS)
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education (in collaboration with the UP Government and other ministries).
- Objective: To celebrate the ancient civilizational links between Kashi (Varanasi) and Tamil Nadu, two of India’s oldest seats of knowledge.
- Significance: It aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, focusing on integrating the Indian Knowledge System (IKS) with modern education.
Historical & Cultural Connect
A. The Legend of King Parakrama Pandya (15th Century)
- The Story: King Parakrama Pandya of Madurai traveled to Kashi to bring a Shiva Lingam back to the South.
- Sivakasi: On his return, the cow carrying the Lingam refused to move at a specific spot. Taking it as divine will, he installed the Lingam there, now known as Sivakasi (Tamil Nadu).
- Tenkasi: The Pandyas also built the Kasi Viswanathar Temple in Tenkasi (South Kashi) for devotees unable to travel to Uttar Pradesh.
B. Sage Agastya: The Cultural Bridge
- Status: A revered Saptarishi (Vedic Sage) and the father of the Tamil language.
- Contributions:
- Grammar: Authored Agattiyam, the first Tamil grammar text.
- Medicine: Considered the father of Siddha Medicine.
- Literature: Associated with Agastya Samhita and Naadi Shastra.
- Geography: His hermitage is mentioned in the Ramayana on the banks of the Godavari. He is credited with “Aryanizing” the South (cultural assimilation) and spreading Vedic culture to Java and Sumatra (Indonesia).
