Kamban is creator and father of ‘Bharatiya culture’: R.N. Ravi

Governor R.N.Ravi at the innagural function of the Kamba Ramayana Festival in Mayiladuthurai on Sunday
| Photo Credit: Special arrangement

Describing Tamil poet Kamban as the “creator and father of Bharatiya culture,” Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Sunday inaugurated the week-long Kamba Ramayanam Festival at Kambarmedu in Mayiladuthurai district, believed to be the birthplace of the revered poet.

Mr. Ravi said Kamban’s literary genius transcended language and region, inspiring poets and saints across India to narrate the story of Sri Rama, eventually transforming him into a national cultural icon. “Kamban did not just write the Ramayanam. He inspired poets and saints in other Indian languages who followed his path. It is because of Kamban that Sri Rama became a national icon. Kamban was the father and creator of Bharatiya culture,” he said.

The Governor said the political climate in Tamil Nadu had hindered an open discourse about the Kamba Ramayanam, which he described as the “soul of Tamil language and culture.”

“What kind of Tamil culture are we talking about? Politics has done much harm and caused a decline. We cannot allow this. The Kamba Ramayanam should be at the heart and in the life of every Tamilian,” Mr. Ravi said.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a devoted admirer of Tamil language and culture, the Governor said: “I don’t remember any leader since Independence who has promoted Tamil language and culture the way Mr. Modi has.”

Mr. Ravi highlighted initiatives taken under the Prime Minister’s leadership, including the establishment of Tirukkural and Tamil chairs in Singapore, Malaysia, France, the U.S., and Fiji. He pointed to the installation of the Tamil Sengol in new Parliament building, calling it a symbolic recognition of Tamil heritage.

According to him, Mr. Modi had initiated the idea of reviving and celebrating Kamban and the Kamba Ramayanam, following a conversation the two had about its cultural status.

“Mr. Modi is a great devotee of Kamban. It was his decision to organise events and encourage people to celebrate Kambar, whom he considers the soul of Tamil,” Mr. Ravi said.

He recalled the Prime Minister’s visit to Srirangam last year, ahead of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration, where Mr. Modi listened to recitations of the Kamba Ramayanam at the Kambar Mandapam, the very place where Kamban is believed to have presented his work.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Tiruchi Circle, under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Culture, is holding the week-long Kamba Ramayanam Festival at Kambarmedu till April 6.

Organised in collaboration with the South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur, the festival aims at celebrating the literary and cultural legacy of the Tamil epic Kamba Ramayanam.

The celebrations will primarily focus on engaging school and college students, heritage-based games, and cultural performances, all designed to foster awareness and appreciation of Tamil Nadu’s rich literary traditions.

Thematic exhibition

A key highlight of the festival will be a thematic exhibition titled “Ramayana Sculptural Panels through the Eyes of Kamban”, featuring a curated collection of Ramayana-themed sculptures from Chola-era temples. These panels will be juxtaposed with verses from Kamba Ramayanam, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the intersection of Tamil literature and temple art.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will participate in the valedictory function on April 6.

A. Anil Kumar, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Tiruchi Circle, said the festival was a sincere attempt to bridge literary heritage with archaeological richness. “The effort to align Kambar’s verses with visual narratives from Chola temples offers a multidimensional experience of Tamil culture,” he said.