IIT Madras Anchors Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0: 1,500 Delegates to Bridge Ancient Ties
Starting December 2, 2025, a month-long celebration of shared heritage will take place, conceived by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This event, known as Kashi Tamil Sangamam (KTS) 4.0, aims to unite over 1,500 delegates from various sectors to honor the enduring bond between Tamil Nadu and Kashi (Varanasi). The celebration will culminate in a grand finale in Rameshwaram.
IIT Madras as Knowledge Partner
The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has been designated as the knowledge partner for this significant initiative, which is organized under the Ministry of Education. IIT Madras will collaborate with Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to oversee various logistical aspects of the event, including:
- Website management
- Delegate selection
- Travel arrangements
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Cultural site visits
This collaboration also involves partnerships with the Uttar Pradesh government and several Central Ministries, including Culture, Railways, Textiles, and Tourism.
New Initiatives Launched
This edition of Kashi Tamil Sangamam introduces several new initiatives aimed at promoting Tamil culture and language across the country. One notable initiative is “Tamil Karpom,” which encourages North Indian students to learn Tamil in Tamil Nadu. Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, highlighted the theme for this year’s edition as “Karpom Tamil (Let us Learn Tamil).”
The initiative seeks to raise awareness about the richness of the Tamil language and will include:
- Tamil language learning sessions for students and youth in Kashi
- The Agasthya Expedition, which will trace the contributions of Sage Agasthyar from Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Promotion of Siddha Medicine benefits through classical texts and heritage sites
- Digital boards in Indian languages displayed on a decorated vehicle
Additionally, seminars, competitions, and cultural events will be organized across Tamil Nadu, major cities, and even overseas.
Delegate Categories
Over 1,500 participants from Tamil Nadu will be grouped into seven categories to facilitate diverse representation and engagement:
- Students: College, technical, and skill institution students
- Teachers: College and school teachers, both retired and working, including Hindi Pracharaks
- Writers & Media: Book publishers, content writers, editors, and social media professionals
- Agriculture & Allied: Agriculture students, farmers, animal husbandry experts, and artisans
- Professionals & Artisans: Entrepreneurs, start-ups, medical professionals, lawyers, accountants, and handicrafts workers
- Women: Members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Mudra Loan beneficiaries, and self-employed women
- Spiritual: Classical singers, spiritual teachers, temple pujaris, and workers
In addition to the Tamil Nadu delegates, approximately 300 students from Uttar Pradesh and Varanasi will participate in Tamil orientation programs at the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT) and select colleges.
Registration Information
Public registration for Kashi Tamil Sangamam is now live. Interested individuals can register at kashitamil.iitm.ac.in to join this unique celebration of culture and heritage.
Conclusion
The Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 represents a significant effort to bridge the cultural and historical ties between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. By bringing together delegates from various fields, this event aims to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of Tamil heritage across India.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on the latest updates available as of November 2025.
