From UAE to Fiji, India’s linguistic heritage continues to travel and thrive, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted a quiet yet significant cultural movement unfolding beyond India’s borders, citing a Kannada Pathshala in Dubai as an example of how regional languages continue to remain central to India’s identity among its global diaspora.

In the 129th edition of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Modi said the initiative emerged from a concern among Kannada families in the UAE — that while their children were excelling in a technology-driven world, they might be losing touch with their mother tongue. “This is where Kannada Pathshala was born,” the prime minister said.

From the Gulf, Modi’s message extended to the Pacific as he praised the celebration of Tamil Day in Rakiraki, Fiji, where a school recently organised the event for the first time. He said students recited poems, delivered speeches and showcased Tamil culture, reflecting a growing connection to the language among the Indian-origin community there.

Describing Tamil as “the oldest language in the world,” Modi said efforts to promote it were also gaining momentum within India, citing the Kashi Tamil Sangamam held in Varanasi. “This is Bharat’s unity,” he remarked.

The prime minister said India’s rich linguistic heritage continues to travel and thrive far beyond its borders, strengthening cultural bonds among Indians worldwide.