Rameswaram: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday said that paying obeisance to Bharat Mata does not make anyone “anti-Tamil”, stressing that national pride and Tamil identity are not contradictory.

He was speaking at the valedictory function of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0, where he underlined the deep cultural ties between Kashi and Tamil Nadu and called for unity under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.

“We daily prostrate at the sacred feet of this holy Bharat Mata and say, ‘may this nation prosper’. Does that make us anti-Tamil? No. If the nation is one eye, the other eye is our mother tongue Tamil. Who can separate them?” Radhakrishnan said.

Referring to historical links, he said Tamil warriors from the Pandya region had helped in the restoration of the Kashi temple after Mughal-era destruction. He also cited a recent example involving the Nattukottai Chettiars to illustrate what he described as the Centre’s support for Tamilians.

Sharing the anecdote, the Vice President said the community had reclaimed land worth around ₹300 crore that had been encroached upon at their Kashi rest house within 48 hours, with the support of the state administration. “The Prime Minister asked them to meet the Chief Minister. After documents were verified, officials agreed the land belonged to them, and it was reclaimed within 48 hours,” he said.

The fourth edition of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS 4.0) was organised by the Ministry of Education from December 2 to 15 in Varanasi, with a symbolic conclusion in Rameswaram. This year’s theme, “Tamil Karkalam” (Let us Learn Tamil), focused on promoting linguistic exchange and shared cultural heritage between northern and southern India.

Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan said Tamil civilisation forms a core part of India’s broader civilisational foundation. “Tamil civilisation is not regional. It is a foundation for the Bharat civilisation. Tamil is not limited to Tamil Nadu; it is open to all in India,” he said.

Addressing the gathering entirely in Tamil, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi said thousands of students across the country were now learning the language. “Three hundred Hindi-speaking students from Kashi, Uttar Pradesh, have come here to learn Tamil. They recognise it as an ancient, powerful and beautiful language,” he said.

Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran said Tamilians should be grateful to have a Prime Minister who encourages the learning of Tamil beyond the state. He said the language’s structure, grammar and culture had ensured its survival for more than 5,000 years.

Other speakers at the event included Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan and IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti. The programme drew scholars, students and cultural practitioners, building on earlier editions that have engaged more than 5,500 participants from Tamil Nadu.