Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – Over 3,000 students in Varanasi and surrounding districts are learning Tamil under the ‘Tamil Karkalam’ initiative. This program forms a key part of the ongoing Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 , an effort to strengthen cultural connections between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi.
The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, spearheads the initiative. The Ministry of Education and the Uttar Pradesh government provide support for the program.
Teaching and Curriculum
Fifty Hindi-speaking Tamil teachers have been recruited by CICT to deliver instruction. These teachers are visiting nearly 50 schools across Varanasi and adjacent areas over the coming weeks. Their immediate goal is to teach Tamil to approximately 3,000 students who do not speak Tamil as their mother tongue.
Study materials for the program are provided by CICT. Sandhya Saikrishnan, a Tamil teacher at Government Queens Inter College in Lahurabir, described these materials as helpful, simple, and easy to understand. She reported that students show eagerness and can communicate in basic Tamil after initial lessons.
CICT Director R. Chandrasekaran stated the program aims to enable students to converse in Tamil. To achieve this, the institute launched a specially designed five-volume book series. This series is crafted to allow students to learn conversational Tamil in just 15 days . The books also facilitate independent study.
Student Engagement
Students have expressed enthusiasm for the new language. Tanu Pal, a Class 9 student at Government Queens Inter College, shared her excitement. She noted her pride in learning Hindi, Tamil, and English through this opportunity.
A dedicated stall at the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 venue showcases these study materials. The stall aims to raise awareness about the ‘Tamil Karkalam’ initiative and its objectives.
Future Expansion and Cultural Exchange
CICT plans to expand the ‘Tamil Karkalam’ course online. This online format will make Tamil learning accessible to students from Class 9 to 12, as well as any other interested individuals. The expansion aims to broaden the reach of the initiative beyond physical classrooms.
Further cultural immersion is planned for participating students. By the end of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 conference, approximately 300 students from Varanasi will travel to Tamil Nadu. This visit will allow them to experience Tamil language and culture firsthand. Director Chandrasekaran emphasized this initiative’s role in reinforcing the deep-rooted cultural bonds between Tamil Nadu and Varanasi.