Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday announced a major reform in the state’s vocational education system with the inclusion of six additional Indian languages—Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, Marathi and Bengali. The announcement was made at the inaugural ceremony of Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0 in Varanasi, an event aimed at strengthening cultural connections between different regions of India. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the initiative will allow students to choose any one of these regional languages based on their interest, with the state government bearing the full cost of learning.
Strengthening National Unity Through Language, Culture and Spiritual Tourism
The chief minister said the move would promote cultural harmony and reinforce the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat by encouraging young learners to understand and respect India’s linguistic diversity. He noted that the inclusion of these languages in vocational education reflects growing outreach between different parts of the country and helps build national unity through education. Describing Kashi Tamil Sangamam as a symbol of India’s cultural resurgence, Adityanath said the programme goes beyond cultural exchange and serves as a long-term investment in strengthening India’s identity through shared heritage and traditions.
Highlighting the strong tourism and spiritual links between Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, Adityanath pointed out that thousands of devotees from Uttar Pradesh visit Rameshwaram, Madurai and Kanyakumari every year. To further support these connections, he announced that the tourism department would introduce special travel programmes offering discounted access to these revered destinations. He also emphasised the ancient bond between Kashi and Tamil traditions, shaped by the worship of Lord Shiva and strengthened by Adi Shankaracharya’s establishment of key religious centres across India.
Celebrating Shared Heritage and Enduring North–South Connections
The chief minister said visitors to Uttar Pradesh would experience the devotion of Ayodhya’s Ram temple, the spiritual depth of Kashi, and the sacred confluence at Prayagraj. He added that Kashi Tamil Sangamam highlights cultural, educational, economic and spiritual links between North and South India, citing the 2,000-kilometre car rally from Tenkasi as a symbolic journey retracing historical routes and shared legacies.
Adityanath also referred to the contributions of figures such as Maharishi Agastya, Adi Shankaracharya, Saint Thiruvalluvar, Jagadguru Ramanujacharya and Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan in shaping India’s intellectual traditions. He noted enduring cultural bonds, including the Chettiar community’s long association with the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, traditional exchanges of sacred waters between Rameshwaram and Kashi, visible Tamil presence at Kashi’s ghats, and academic collaboration between IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University.
Summary:
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath announced inclusion of six regional languages in vocational education at Kashi Tamil Sangamam 4.0. The state will fund learning to promote Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, cultural unity, and North–South ties, alongside tourism initiatives, spiritual exchanges, and recognition of shared historical, educational and religious heritage nationwide.
