BRICS Summit: Modi gifts Russian translation of Thirukkural to Putin
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Russian President Vladimir Putin a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil classic, Thirukkural, by poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar. The gift was presented during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The book, published by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, features the original Tamil text, transliteration and its Russian translation.
Literary significance
Thirukkural's significance and universal themes
The Thirukkural, written between 300 BCE and 500 CE by poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, is a revered work of Tamil literature.
It consists of 1,330 couplets that delve into ethics, morality, social conduct, governance and love.
The book has been translated into several languages across the world and is known for its universal ethical themes.
Meeting agenda
India-Russia strategic partnership and economic cooperation
The Modi-Putin meeting is aimed at expanding the India-Russia strategic partnership beyond traditional cooperation.
The talks were expected to focus on boosting economic and industrial ties, with an ambitious target of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.
Other areas of discussion included nuclear cooperation, critical mineral supply chains, and mobility of skilled workers between the two countries.