BHU hosts first academic session linking Kashi and Tamil Nadu
Under Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0, the first academic session held at Banaras Hindu University highlighted how the similarities embedded within India’s diversity bind the country together and form the core of its national identity. The session, held at the Pt. Omkarnath Thakur Auditorium, focused on “Kashi in Tamil Imagination: Mahakavi Subramania Bharati and His Legacy,” and was attended by 216 student delegates from Tamil Nadu.
Chief Guest Amish Tripathi opened his address with “I bow to Mother Tamil,” and spoke in detail about the cultural parallels between Kashi and Tamil Nadu. He emphasized that Indian culture nurtures unity by respecting diversity. Citing religious traditions, historical references, and civilizational continuity, he said that such shared heritage must be embraced, and initiatives like Kashi Tamil Sangamam play a vital role in furthering this understanding.
Prof. R. M. Megnathan (NCERT) presented an in-depth overview of Mahakavi Bharati’s life, philosophy, and literary contributions. He discussed Bharati’s ideas centered on “strength, devotion, and knowledge,” his nationalist spirit, global outlook, and intellectual exchanges with Sri Aurobindo. Quoting poems like “Achamillai Achamillai,” he explained how Bharati placed national unity and universal humanity at the heart of his writings. An NCERT documentary on Bharati and a Tamil-learning tutorial were also showcased.
BHU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, presiding over the session, said that Kashi Tamil Sangamam continues to strengthen dialogue and understanding between northern and southern India. He noted that the similarities among Indian states enrich Indian identity. Referring to the AI-based translation tool “Shabd,” he said technology is making communication easier, and the objective of KTS is to recognize and celebrate the many dimensions of unity.
Prof. P. V. Rajeev (IMS, BHU) welcomed the guests and explained the background of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam as well as BHU’s academic and cultural significance. Dr. Jagadishan T. discussed Bharati’s association with Kashi, his works, and his role in deepening Tamil–Kashi cultural bonds. The Vice-Chancellor also released translated Tamil children’s books published by the National Book Trust. The program was conducted by Dr. Lavanya (IIT–BHU) and the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr Saravan Kumar E. (IIT–BHU).
The visiting student delegation explored Bharat Kala Bhavan and the Faculty of Arts gallery, gaining insights into Indian art, culture, and spiritual heritage under the guidance of Dr. Nishchant and Dr. Suresh Chandra Jangid. Amish Tripathi also joined the tour. Later, during a panel discussion in the Tamil section of the Department of Indian Languages, Dr. Jagadishan described the department’s legacy since its establishment in 1945. Prof. Gangadharan spoke about Bharati’s literary contributions, while Bharati’s granddaughter Dr. Jayanthi Murali shared important anecdotes from his student life in Kashi, his linguistic abilities, and the city’s influence on his personality. Renowned Tamil poet Isaikkavi Ramanan highlighted the antiquity, cultural-religious significance of Kashi, and Bharati’s nationalist ideas.
The delegation also visited IIT–BHU’s I-3 Foundation to observe its innovation and startup ecosystem. Prof. Manoj Kumar Meshram explained the institute’s entrepreneurial journey using examples such as Zostel, Cricbuzz, ShopClues, and Clean Electric. The group also toured the Aryo Green Tech Lab to learn about technological research and innovative solutions.
Another program at the CDC facility introduced students to the startup environment, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, modern agricultural technologies, and the use of AI in business communication. The session was conducted by Simran Dubey and opened with remarks by Dr. Rajkiran Prabhakar (IMS). Presentations included Shweta Singh on liquid biopsy technology for prostate cancer treatment, Mrityunjay Singh on data privacy and cybercrime, Mithilesh Singh on agro-tourism and agricultural innovations, Rohit Tiwari (Kepler AI) on AI in education, and Ayush Sahu on multilingual AI communication tools for the hospitality and healthcare sectors.
The first academic session of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 successfully infused new energy into knowledge exchange, culture, innovation, and north–south dialogue, further strengthening the ancient and deep-rooted cultural relationship between Kashi and Tamil Nadu.
December 4, 2025
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