PM Modi’s Thirukkural Diplomacy: Why He Gifted Putin A Russian Translation Of The Tamil Classic

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Russian President Vladimir Putin a Russian translation of the Thirukkural during their meeting in Delhi, adding a cultural dimension to India-Russia diplomacy. The ancient Tamil classic, attributed to poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, contains 1,330 couplets covering virtue, ethics, governance, love and the conduct of life. The text has also had a long Russian literary connection, with multiple translations over the years. The gesture follows Modi’s earlier literary outreach to Putin, including a Russian copy of the Bhagavad Gita gifted at the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in December 2025. Modi has also highlighted Thirukkural’s universal wisdom in international engagements.