Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged people to take Tamil language and culture to wider audiences, while addressing the 50th anniversary celebrations of Jaigopal Garodia School in Chennai. He said he was visiting Tamil Nadu at the start of Navaratri and described the state as the land of “Shiva-Shakti”.
Modi apologised for arriving late due to engagements in Chennai, and said the energy he saw among students reflected the country’s future. He told young people that India currently has many opportunities and encouraged them to see their own futures in that larger national context.
Recalling Tamil icons, the Prime Minister referred to Thiruvalluvar and said the Tirukkural offers guidance for those who want to keep learning throughout life. He also said he had presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Tirukkural.
He spoke about poet Subramania Bharati, noting Bharati’s connection with Kashi where he studied at a young age, and said the city still remembers him with affection. Quoting Bharati’s “Achamillai” lines, Modi urged students to dream big, think differently and live without fear.
On education and sports, Modi said India’s higher education ecosystem has expanded since 2014, with universities rising from around 750 to over 1,300 and colleges from about 38,000 to more than 52,000. He added that India is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is moving forward with the ambition of hosting the 2036 Olympics.
