Boatmen’s Children Learning Tamil — “Let’s Learn Tamil, Tamil Karkalam”

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): Under the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0, a special and inspiring initiative has begun at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, where children from boatmen families are now learning the Tamil language. At the Vidya Shakti stall managed by IIT Madras, daily Tamil learning sessions are being conducted for these children. They have taken a pledge to learn five Tamil words every day so that they can interact easily and warmly with guests arriving from Tamil Nadu.

This initiative is not only a means of language learning but also a significant step toward connecting the new generation with the centuries-old spiritual and cultural bond between Kashi and Tamil Nadu. The boatmen community holds a special place in Kashi’s cultural fabric. Living along the waves of the Ganga, their families remain in constant touch with pilgrims and tourists visiting the city. Knowledge of the Tamil language will open new avenues for cultural interaction and tourism for these children.

Tamil is one of the world’s oldest, richest, and most distinguished literary languages. As the children learn the language, they are not only discovering new words but also gaining insights into the Tamil community’s historic identity, literary heritage, and cultural traditions. This initiative teaches them to appreciate diversity and helps them understand that language is the most powerful bridge that connects hearts.

The broader aim of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 is to infuse new energy into India’s cultural unity. When the children of Kashi speak Tamil and the guests from Tamil Nadu experience the warmth of Kashi’s hospitality, the vision of “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat” will come alive with greater vibrancy.

This small learning journey that began at Namo Ghat is set to become the foundation for a larger cultural transformation in the days to come. It carries the message that the Ganga and the Kaveri are not merely rivers, but eternal streams that unite the soul of India.