As part of a structured cultural and linguistic exchange between the southern and northern states, teachers from Tamil Nadu travelled to Uttar Pradesh to introduce students to the Tamil language and its civilisational heritage. At least 30 teachers from Tamil Nadu were deputed to Uttar Pradesh, where they taught students the rudimentary aspects of Tamil, while also familiarising them with Tamil culture, traditions, and historical legacy.
Referring to this initiative, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi said that the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has decided to teach the Tamil language as a subject in its schools across the state. The initiative, according to Tamil lovers, would spread Tamil across northern India and debunk the charges of the DMK and its allies that the BJP and Prime Minister Modi are haters of the Tamil language.
During his Republic Day 2026 address, Governor Ravi said the just-concluded fourth edition of the Kashi Sangamam began with the theme ‘Let us learn Tamil’. As a follow-up measure, over 300 students from Uttar Pradesh came to Tamil Nadu to learn Tamil and understand the culture and lifestyle of the Tamil people. They learnt the history and pride of Tamil Nadu during their stay. Building on this exchange, at least 30 teachers from Tamil Nadu went to Uttar Pradesh to teach students about the rudimentary aspects of the Tamil language. Attracted by these measures, the Uttar Pradesh government has now decided to introduce Tamil as a third elective language in its curriculum in all government-run schools.
During Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the addition of Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Marathi, and Bengali languages to its school vocational courses.
Following in the footsteps of Uttar Pradesh, members of the Assam Tamil Sangam and other associations have urged the Central Government to take steps to include and teach Tamil in the state.
Governor Ravi said, “Guwahati University in Assam state has started offering certificate and diploma courses in the Tamil language to North East Indian youths.”
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu BJP has urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin to also implement Prime Minister Modi’s “Let us Learn Tamil” initiative in Tamil Nadu.
In a statement earlier last month, TN BJP spokesperson ANS Prasad said, “The vision of the Prime Minister that every citizen of Bharat should learn the Tamil language must be implemented in Tamil Nadu as well by Chief Minister Thiru M.K. Stalin.”
Prasad highlighted, “Every month, on the last Sunday, Prime Minister Modi addresses the nation through his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’. In his November 30, 2025, ‘Mann Ki Baat’ episode, Prime Minister Modi appealed to the people of the country: ‘Please participate in the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and learn Tamil.’”
TN BJP said, “With the noble theme ‘Let us Learn Tamil’ (தமிழ் கற்கலாம்), the fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam festival began on December 2 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The Prime Minister joyfully remarked that this is a wonderful confluence of the world’s most ancient living language, Tamil, with one of the world’s most ancient cities in the world, Kashi.”
Prasad said, “The magnificent objective of this year’s Kashi Tamil Sangamam (4th edition) is that citizens of Bharat from every corner of the country should participate and learn the Tamil language. Therefore, the Prime Minister extended a heartfelt invitation to people from every state of India: ‘Come to the Kashi Tamil Sangam and teach Tamil,’ thereby bringing great pride and honour to the Tamil language.”
Underscoring the importance, he said, “To enable the Tamil Nadu Government’s participation in this historic Kashi Tamil Sangamam, where every citizen of Bharat can be taught Tamil, Chief Minister Stalin should issue appropriate directions and send a team of Tamil scholars and experts. The theme of the Kashi Tamil Sangam – ‘Everyone should learn Tamil’ – and the Prime Minister’s heartfelt appeal must be fully realised in Tamil Nadu too. The Tamil Nadu Government should therefore create a planned ecosystem and facilities so that people from all states and language groups living in Tamil Nadu who wish to learn Tamil are able to do so easily.”
