Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new initiative called “Kashi-Tamil Samagam” in Varanasi from November 19 is just not about rediscovering the centuries-old bond of knowledge and ancient civilisational linkage between the country’s north and south. Or, it is about showcasing the Dravidian culture and the cuisine and music of Tamil Nadu to the people of Uttar Pradesh.

Rather, it is about a decisive engagement of the minds that Modi wants to end the myth of separateness between Hindi-speaking states and the south, particularly Tamil Nadu.

Modi is concerned that some sort of alienation is driven by the politics of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, it has to be countered by engaging the youth of the state and the rest of the country so that misconceptions about cultural differences are not overplayed.

With the BJP emerging a major player following the bickering in the opposition AIADMK since it lost the 2021 assembly polls, the DMK and its allies have been targeting institutions seen as pan-Hindu bodies. These Dravidian parties have constantly harped on issues like the “imposition” of Hindi by the Centre, so-called neglect of Tamil language and sought to drive a Hindu-phobic narrative to check the challenge posed by the BJP.

These political parties, driven by narrow political considerations, have even sought to claim that the age-old worship of Shiva in Tamil Nadu’s ancient temples is distinct from the Hindu practices in the rest of the country–just for the sake of driving a wedge in the minds of local youths. The “Sanatan Dharma”, as the oldest religion in India is described, is also sought to be equated with the pernicious caste rivalries– so that their brand of “Periyar politics” stays relevant.

Worried by the separatist tendencies sought to be encouraged by this kind of politics, Modi decided that the youth must be engaged directly through exposure to a cultural tapestry that is a common heritage of all Indians.

In this endeavour, Modi has desired that the role of national poets like Subramania Bharathi must be recognised and given its due place.

As a Tamil writer, poet, and journalist, Bharati was an Indian independence activist, social reformer and polyglot who had lived in Kashi.

As desired by Modi, around 2,500 to 3,000 youths from Tamil Nadu are travelling to Varanasi in 12 different groups. During their itinerary, each group will stay in Varanasi for two days and visit Hanuman Ghat, which is famous for Ganga Snan; Besides, they will also visit Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Sarnath Archaeological site and museum; witness the Ganga Aarti, and also take a boat tour of the 84 ghats. A trip to Prayagraj and Ayodhya is also proposed.

Priests and Saivite adheenam heads from Tamil Nadu will also join the Kashi Tamil Samagam on December 10 and 11, which will be followed by rural farmers on December 13 and 14 and cultural workers on 15th and 16th. On their second day of the tour, these sub-groups will have theme-related programmes for three hours, of which seven programmes will be organised at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), two at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and three at Trade Facilitation Centre.

Nearly, 75 stalls showcasing the cultural diversity of Tamil Nadu are being put out at the Amphitheatre ground at BHU. The stalls will display the products, handicrafts and handlooms of Tamil Nadu. An exhibition depicting the struggle of freedom fighters will also be organised.

As many as 51 cultural programmes will be held during the 30-day Sangamam. Programmes showcasing the culture of Tamil Nadu will include a Bharatanatyam performance, performances on the folk music of Tamil Nadu, Irula and other tribal dances, and Villupattu – an ancient form of musical storytelling.

Modi chose to elaborate on the linkages between Kashi and Tamil Nadu when he inaugurated the Sangamam on November 19. Modi underlined that Kashi and Tamil Nadu are timeless centres of our culture and civilisation. Both Sanskrit and Tamil are one of the most ancient languages that existed and hence there could not be any conflict of interest as sought to be made out by some political parties.

As he put it, “In Kashi, we have Baba Vishwanath, while in Tamil Nadu we have the blessings of Lord Ramanathaswamy at Rameshwaram. Both Kashi and Tamil Nadu are immersed in Shiva.”

Even today, the people from Rameswaram take a dip in the “Koti teertha” (in the main temple) before visiting Kashi for the darshan of Vishwanath. They bring back (Ganga) water from Kashi for abhiseka (ablution) at the temple in Rameswaram. This is supposed to complete their pilgrimage even during times when it took six months to travel between Kashi and Rameswaram.

Besides the Kasi Viswanathar temple in Tenkasi, there are hundreds of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu that bear the name of Kashi — there are some 18 of them in the area around Chennai alone.

Be it music, literature or art, Modi recalled that Kashi and Tamil Nadu have always been a source of art. Both these places are marked as the birthplace and workplace of India’s finest acharyas.

Modi said one could experience similar energies in Kashi and Tamil Nadu. “Even today the relevance of Kashi Yatra comes up during the traditional Tamil marriage procession.” He said, “the unending love for Kashi from Tamil Nadu signifies the feeling of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat which was the way of life of our ancestors.”

The PM mentioned the Vedic scholar Rajeshwar Shastri who lived in Kashi even though he had his roots in Tamil Nadu. The people of Kashi also remember Pattaviram Shastri who lived on Hanuman Ghat in Kashi. “The Kashi Kama Koteshwar Panchayatan Mandir on the banks of Harishchandra Ghat, and the two-hundred-year-old Kumarswamy Matt and Markande Ashram are Tamil institutions on Kedar Ghat.”

Modi noted that many people from Tamil Nadu have been living near the banks of Kedar Ghat and Hanuman Ghat, and have made immense contributions towards Kashi for several generations. He said freedom fighter-poet Subramania Bharathi, who hailed from Tamil Nadu, lived in Kashi for many years. The Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has set up a chair dedicated to Bharati.

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