Shared love for Tamil binds India and Malaysia, says PM Modi

Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday emphasized the pivotal role of the Tamil language as a cultural bridge connecting India and Malaysia, expressing confidence that a newly signed Audio Visual Agreement would further deepen these ties.

Addressing a joint press conference with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Kuala Lumpur, PM Modi highlighted the "strong and living presence" of Tamil in Malaysia’s education, media, and cultural spheres. " Shared love for the Tamil language also connects India and Malaysia," he stated, adding that the Audio Visual Agreement would leverage the popularity of Indian cinema and music, particularly Tamil films, to "bring our hearts closer."

The diplomatic engagement followed a massive community reception, 'Selamat Datang Modiji,' held on Saturday. Addressing over 12,000 members of the Indian diaspora, PM Modi celebrated the deep-rooted cultural connections between the two nations. He shared a lighter moment by noting that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is a fan of Tamil songs featuring the legendary MGR, a testament to the cross-cultural appeal of Indian art.

PM Modi commended the Indian-origin community for preserving their traditions over centuries. He noted that over 500 schools in Malaysia currently teach Indian languages and drew parallels between the divine atmosphere of Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves and those at Palani in Tamil Nadu. He also acknowledged the influence of spiritual figures like Swami Vivekananda and the contributions of the Sikh community in promoting the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

To further institutionalize this shared heritage, the Prime Minister announced the establishment of a Thiruvalluvar Centre, building upon the existing Thiruvalluvar Chair at the University of Malaya.

Underscoring the global impact of Tamil talent, PM Modi pointed out the significant representation of leaders from Tamil Nadu in the Indian government, including Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Dr. L. Murugan.

(Inputs from IANS)