New Delhi, Oct 22 (PTI) The fifth edition of the cultural and educational exchange programme Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 5.0) will be held from November 28 to December 12, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi announced on Thursday.
The minister also launched the registration portal for the programme, which will celebrate, reaffirm and strengthen the age-old civilisational bonds between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, the two ancient seats of learning, strengthening the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.
“Since ancient times, the country has had a strong cultural unity. Many people visited Kashi and Rameswaram as part of their religious traditions, reflecting the deep-rooted cultural bonds between the northern and southern parts of India,” Joshi said.
“The programme would bring together students, teachers, writers, professionals, agriculturalists, artists, women and spiritual scholars. Educational outreach initiatives would be carried out in higher education institutions to familiarise students with the objectives of Kashi Tamil Sangamam,” he said.
The Union minister reiterated that Kashi Tamil Sangamam played an important role in strengthening national unity and celebrating India’s shared civilisational heritage.
The first edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam was held in 2022, and over the last four editions, it facilitated meaningful exchanges of knowledge, language, traditions and lived experiences between the two regions.
The event is organised by the Ministry of Higher Education in collaboration with IIT Madras; Banaras Hindu University (BHU); Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), Chennai; Uttar Pradesh Government and Ministries of Culture, Railways, School Education, Tourism, Textiles, Food Processing Industries, Information & Broadcasting, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, etc.
The theme of KTS 5.0 is “Thirukkural Payilvom – Thirukkural Abhyas Karen”.
The fifth edition seeks to bring the timeless ethical and moral wisdom of the classical Tamil text Thirukkural closer to the youth and learners across the country.
Interested applicants may register through the official portal hosted by IIT Madras from October 22 till November 13 under seven categories — students, teachers, writers and media professionals; agriculture and allied sectors; professionals and artisans; women and spiritual leaders.
According to the Ministry of Education, a nationwide student engagement programme will be undertaken through 1,000 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the country to promote wider understanding of the Thirukkural among students from diverse academic disciplines and linguistic backgrounds.
“The initiative will include structured study, research and campus-based activities for wider dissemination of the teachings and values of the Thirukkural. The experts from Tamil Nadu will visit various schools and colleges in Varanasi and introduce the students to the core values of the Text through orientation modules, interactive sessions, quizzes, etc,” an official statement said.
“The National Book Trust, in association with the Rashtriya e-Pustakalaya, will conduct interactive sessions in schools in Varanasi on reading habits, storytelling and creative activities,” it added. PTI GJS GJS NB
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