Centre launches programme to strengthen Kashi-Tamil Nadu bond

Amid the continued debates over the imposition of Hindi across the country, the Union Government on Thursday announced a month-long programme to strengthen and rekindle the cultural and civilisational bond between Nadu and Varanasi. Named the Kashi-Tamil Sangamam, the programme would be held from November 16 to December 16 this year.

The period will cover the Tamil month of Karthikeya during which all Tamil households go pray to Lord Shiva. This programme, which would be a part of the Ek Bharat Sreshtha Bharat initiative, is aimed at rekindling the civilisational link between the new Kashi and Tamil Nadu both deep centres of knowledge, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said. He added that building a heritage bridge for the new generation was a key feature of the National Education Policy.