Vice President of India Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan released the book 'Agatthiyar – The Unifier' at a function held at Uprashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on June 15, 2026. During the event, the Vice President delivered remarks emphasizing India's cultural unity as an ancient civilizational reality rather than a modern construct. He identified sages and rishis, particularly Agatthiyar, as the true architects of national integration, contrasting them with kings and political institutions typically remembered in such discussions.
The Vice President described Agatthiyar as one of the greatest symbols of India's cultural and spiritual unity, revered equally in both North and South Indian traditions. He highlighted specific geographical connections including Tamil Nadu's Pothigai Hills and the River Kaveri, which continue to evoke Agatthiyar's memory. The Vice President noted Agatthiyar's significant contributions to Tamil grammar and the Tamil Sangam tradition, describing him as a bridge between North and South Indian cultures.
Expressing concern about contemporary linguistic issues, the Vice President stated that while many have benefited from Tamil, those who dedicated their lives to the language, specifically mentioning scholar U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer (Tamil Thatha), are not receiving due recognition today. He lamented that Swaminatha Iyer's service in rescuing priceless Tamil literary treasures from decay has not been adequately communicated to the public.
The Vice President affirmed that no force can create division in Bharat, citing as evidence the existence of more than one hundred temples in Tamil Nadu dedicated to Agatthiyar as Agatheeswarar temples, including temples bearing the same name in both Kashi and Tamil Nadu. He rejected the notion that India would not have remained united without British rule, stating that India's culture and civilization have always bound its people together across regions and generations.
The book, published by Kalaimagal magazine which has been operating for over 95 years, was appreciated by the Vice President for its meticulous documentation through research of traditions, stories, and references relating to Agathiyar across northern, southern, eastern, and western regions of Bharat. The event was attended by Shri Sunil Ambekar (Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of RSS), Shri Keelambur Sankara Subramanian (Editor of Kalaimagal magazine), senior writer and journalist Shri Malan, authors Shri O. Shama Bhat and Dr. M. N. Sudha, and Professor Kalyani who translated the book into Tamil.
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