PM Modi gifts Russian translation of `Thirukkural` to President Putin during Delhi meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed President Vladimir Putin a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil text Thirukkural during a one‑on‑one meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in Delhi. The cultural gift was part of the broader bilateral dialogue between India and Russia as the two leaders discussed cooperation across multiple sectors.

President Putin arrived in India on Friday, ahead of the summit that India is hosting on September 12 and 13 in the capital. The meeting was held in Delhi, where Modi formally presented the Russian edition of the Thirukkural, a work comprising 1,330 couplets that outlines moral and ethical principles.

The Thirukkural, revered as a cornerstone of Tamil literature, has been translated into numerous languages, and the Russian version underscores a gesture of cultural diplomacy aimed at deepening India‑Russia ties. By sharing this literary masterpiece, both governments signaled an intent to strengthen people‑to‑people connections alongside traditional diplomatic and economic engagements.