Regular classes in Tamil are likely to be introduced in schools and colleges in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi as part of efforts to deepen cultural and linguistic exchanges, officials said. This initiative is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Kashi Tamil Sangamam.
On December 28, on his radio program Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister mentioned Payal Patel, a student from Government Queen's College in the country, who learned the Tamil language in a short period of time.
Inspired by Prime Minister Modi's vision, the government's Queen's College plans to start daily evening Tamil classes. Sumit Kumar, principal of the college, said the district superintendent of schools had directed the school to conduct classes.
As part of this initiative, around 50 teachers from Varanasi are also likely to be deputed to teach Hindi in Tamil Nadu, officials said.
“Keeping in mind the Prime Minister's vision of cultural integration, classes in Tamil language will be started in the college,” Principal Kumar said.
He said discussions were held with Sandhya Kumar Sai from Tamil Nadu, who had previously taught the student Tamil, and she agreed to take online classes. Kumar added that the Dean of the Tamil Department of Banaras Hindu University has also promised cooperation.
Preparations are also underway to send 50 teachers from Varanasi to Tamil Nadu to teach Hindi, officials said. The proposal was discussed in a meeting chaired by Varanasi Chief Justice and District Judge.
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Kumar further said that recently, students of the university conveyed New Year greetings in Tamil to the Prime Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as part of a program to showcase Kashi-Tamil cultural integration.
The program was led by Payal Patel and featured rangoli and dance performances set to Tamil music.
Priyanka Tiwari, principal of Harish Chandra Girls Inter College, said a 15-day Tamil language program was conducted at the school during Kashi Tamil Sangamam in which 50 students participated. The students then presented what they had learned through poems and songs.
Encouraged by students' enthusiasm for learning the language, the university is considering starting formal Tamil language courses from the next academic session, she added.
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Kasi Tamil Sangamam is a cultural exchange initiative aimed at highlighting the age-old civilizational, cultural and educational ties between Kasi and Tamil Nadu.
The program brings together students, scholars, teachers, and artists from Tamil Nadu to Varanasi through academic sessions, language workshops, literary exchanges, and cultural performances, with a focus on promoting language learning, mutual understanding, and national integration.
