Agathiyar Embodied India’s Cultural Unity: VP Radhakrishnan
C.P. Radhakrishnan says sages and rishis, not rulers, were the true architects of Bharat’s unity
- Vice President releases book Agatthiyar – The Unifier in New Delhi
- Agathiyar described as a symbol of India’s cultural and spiritual unity
- Warns against linguistic divisions and divisive narratives
- Says no force can divide Bharat’s civilizational bond
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 15th June: Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday said the true unifiers of Bharat were its sages and rishis, asserting that India’s unity is not a modern political construct but an ancient civilizational reality nurtured over thousands of years.
Speaking at the release of the book Agatthiyar – The Unifier at the Vice President’s House in New Delhi, Radhakrishnan described Agathiyar as one of the most powerful symbols of India’s cultural and spiritual unity.
He said Agathiyar, revered in both northern and southern traditions, represented the seamless cultural connection stretching from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean.
The Vice President noted that Agathiyar’s legacy continues to be reflected in Tamil Nadu’s Pothigai Hills, the River Kaveri and the Tamil Sangam tradition. He credited the sage with making significant contributions to Tamil grammar and serving as a cultural bridge between North and South India.
“India’s languages are not competitors but sister languages that have enriched each other through mutual respect and cultural exchange,” he said.
Radhakrishnan cautioned against attempts to create linguistic divisions and said every Indian language possesses unique strengths that should be celebrated rather than politicized.
He stressed that no force could divide Bharat and called for greater efforts to educate young people about India’s civilizational heritage and cultural traditions.
The Vice President also expressed concern that many individuals who dedicated their lives to preserving Tamil language and literature have not received adequate recognition.
Referring to Tamil scholar U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer, popularly known as Tamil Thatha, he said the scholar’s contribution in preserving priceless Tamil literary works had not been adequately communicated to the public.
Radhakrishnan rejected the argument that India remained united because of British rule, stating that the country’s cultural and civilizational foundations had always served as the strongest force binding its people together across regions and generations.
He pointed out that more than a hundred temples in Tamil Nadu are dedicated to Agathiyar and noted that temples bearing the same name in both Kashi and Tamil Nadu stand as evidence of India’s enduring cultural unity.
Appreciating the authors of the book, he said their research had documented references, traditions and stories associated with Agathiyar across different regions of the country. He expressed confidence that the publication would help take the message of India’s cultural unity to a wider global audience.
The Vice President also praised Kalaimagal magazine for publishing the book and acknowledged its contribution to preserving Tamil literature, culture and heritage over the past nine decades.
Among those present at the event were Sunil Ambekar, Kalaimagal editor Shri Keelambur Sankara Subramanian, senior journalist Shri Malan, authors Shri O. Shama Bhat and Dr. M. N. Sudha, and translator Professor Kalyani.
