Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has felicitated the prize winners, jury members and organisers of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0–2025 at a function held at Bharathiar Mandapam, Lok Bhavan, Chennai, on July 10.
Presiding over the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0–2025 Felicitation Ceremony at Lok Bhavan, the Governor suggested that people in North India should learn at least one South Indian language, such as Tamil, while people in South India should learn any North Indian language. He questioned what difficulty could arise from such learning and underscored that language serves as a vital bridge in deepening cultural bonds.
The Tamil Nadu Governor said this would help strengthen national unity, adding that it is essential for people across regions to learn each other’s languages.
Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, presided over the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 – 2025 Felicitation Ceremony at Lok Bhavan, Chennai, and felicitated prize winners, jury members, and organisers.
Governor appreciated the initiative as a reflection of… pic.twitter.com/bxr6Vf1QRh— LOK BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@lokbhavan_tn) July 10, 2026
He acknowledged that the Kashi Tamil Sangamam is a reflection of the Prime Minister’s vision of national integration and cultural unity. He extended his sincere appreciation and gratitude to former Governor R. N. Ravi for his proactive efforts in implementing the initiative effectively in Tamil Nadu.
The Governor noted that, through this programme, more than 7,000 participants have visited Kashi and personally experienced the profound spiritual and cultural connection between Kashi Vishwanath and Rameswaram.
Recalling his tenure as Governor of Himachal Pradesh, during which he visited Kashi and met Tamil families who had been residing there for generations, Arlekar said, “Their ability to fluently speak Hindi while preserving their Tamil identity reflected the deep-rooted cultural integration between regions.”
He referred to ancient cultural practices such as the worship at the Rajarajeshwara Temple in Kannur, Kerala, where devotees traditionally pray facing the direction of Kashi Vishwanath, illustrating spiritual connections that transcend geographical distances.
Before concluding his address, Governor Arlekar said that India is not merely a collection of multiple, disconnected cultures. Rather, it is one unified civilisation expressed through diverse traditions, much like the different colours of a rainbow. He stressed that whenever India has remained united, it has achieved greatness, and history clearly shows that division has led to fragmentation.
Earlier, the Governor said that he felt deeply moved by the heartfelt experiences shared by the participants and speakers.
Sajjansingh R. Chavan, IAS, Secretary to the Governor; Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras; Dr. Sudha Seshayyan, Vice-Chairperson, Central Institute of Classical Tamil; and participants of the fourth edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam attended the event.
