New Delhi: A centuries-old Tamil literary work became a symbolic part of the India-Russia diplomatic engagement on Friday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian-language edition of the Thirukkural during their meeting in New Delhi.
The presentation took place at Bharat Mandapam as the two leaders met on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit. Modi later highlighted the significance of the gift in a post on X, describing the translated work as a means of carrying the wisdom of Tamil philosopher and poet Thiruvalluvar across linguistic and geographical boundaries.
The Thirukkural is regarded as one of the most influential works of Tamil literature. Written by Thiruvalluvar, the classical text consists of 1,330 couplets, known as Kurals, covering themes including virtue, wealth and love. Its emphasis on universal ethical values has given the work a wide readership beyond India.
The Russian edition presented to Putin was translated by Naira Mkrtchyan. The literary work has also attracted the attention of international scholars and writers over the years, including celebrated Russian author Leo Tolstoy.
Modi-Putin Meeting Focuses on Bilateral Cooperation
The exchange of the literary work came as Modi and Putin held discussions on the broader India-Russia partnership. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and other senior officials were present during the talks.
The two leaders also shared a warm interaction ahead of their formal discussions, reflecting the long-standing relationship between New Delhi and Moscow.
During the meeting, the two sides were expected to assess progress in bilateral cooperation across several areas, including political engagement, trade and investment, defence, energy, space, transportation and people-to-people relations.
Trade and Industrial Cooperation on Agenda
A major focus for both countries is the ambitious target of taking bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030.
Discussions are also expected to cover opportunities for expanding industrial partnerships, including cooperation in the railway and tunnelling sectors. The development of a stronger steel value chain and greater business-to-business engagement are among the other areas being considered.
India and Russia are also looking to increase access to each other’s markets and broaden commercial opportunities for businesses in both countries.
Putin in India for BRICS Summit
Putin arrived in New Delhi earlier on Friday to participate in the 18th BRICS Summit, which India is hosting on September 12 and 13.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received the Russian president at the airport following his arrival.
His visit comes amid continued efforts by India and Russia to deepen their longstanding strategic partnership, with the BRICS platform providing an additional opportunity for the two countries to discuss both bilateral priorities and wider international issues.
