Modi presents Russian-language Thirukkural to Putin ahead of BRICS summit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave President Vladimir Putin a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil work Thirukkural before the BRICS meeting.
Ahead of the BRICS summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented President Vladimir Putin with a Russian-language edition of the Thirukkural, a classical Tamil composition of 1,330 brief couplets attributed to poet Thiruvalluvar and dated to more than two millennia ago. The work is organized into three parts—virtue, worldly affairs and love—and addresses subjects ranging from ethical conduct to governance, justice and personal relationships.
The gifted volume contains the original Tamil verses, a Roman-script transliteration and a Russian translation produced by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil. Institute officials note that the text’s universal themes transcend time, language and culture. By selecting this literary gift, Modi highlighted India’s cultural legacy and sought to emphasize shared human values with Russia. The act reflects cultural diplomacy within the broader context of the BRICS dialogue.
Why it matters
The gift showcases India's cultural heritage and uses literature to strengthen diplomatic ties at a major international summit.
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