Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that Tamil, being the oldest language in the world, is a source of pride for "every Indian" in his radio show last month, as he spoke on a new program on the language being put into place in Fiji.
“It is a matter of great pride for us that Tamil is the oldest language in the world, and every Indian is proud of it," he said.
"The number of people learning it is constantly rising in countries around the world. At the end of last month, a Tamil Teaching Program was started in Fiji with the support of the Government of India. This is the first time in the last 80 years that trained Tamil teachers are teaching the language in Fiji.”
#PMonAIR ||
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 29, 2024
It is a matter of great pride for us that #Tamil is the oldest language in the world and every Indian is proud of it. The number of people learning it is constantly rising in countries around the world
-Prime Minister @narendramodi#MannKiBaat
#PMonAkashvani |… pic.twitter.com/9RWsNUqSiO
This is not the first time that the Indian prime minister has professed his fondness of the Tamil language.
“Tamil language is eternal, Tamil culture is global,” Modi said in 2022 in Chennai.
“One of the happiest moments of my life was when I got a chance to speak a few words in the world’s oldest language, Tamil, at the United Nations,” he said, speaking on his 2019 address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He quoted Tamil poet Kaniyan Pungundranar’s verse “Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir” (We belong to all places and to everyone), describing it as a reflection of India’s inclusive ethos.
Modi also reportedly supported the demand for making Tamil the official language of the Madras High Court when he served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2013, according to Justice G. Jayachandran of the Madras High Court, who made the claim while felicitating Bombay High Court retired judge Mridula Bhatkar on the release of a Tamil translation of her English book.
