The true unifiers of Bharat were the sages and rishis : C. P. Radhakrishnan at the release of the book ‘Agatthiyar – The Unifier’
Agathiyar is a symbol of India’s cultural unity says C. P. Radhakrishnan
5 Dariya News
New Delhi 15-Jun-2026
The Vice President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today released the book “Agatthiyar – The Unifier” at a function held at the Uprashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Speaking about the civilizational unity of Bharat, the Vice President observed that while kings and political institutions are often remembered in discussions on national integration, the true architects of India’s unity were its sages and rishis.
Among them, Agatthiyar stands out as one of the greatest symbols of India’s cultural and spiritual unity, he said. He noted that Agatthiyar, who is revered equally in both North and South Indian traditions, symbolizes the unity of Bharat stretching from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean.
Referring to Tamil Nadu’s Pothigai Hills and the River Kaveri, he said they continue to evoke the memory of Agatthiyar. He also highlighted Agatthiyar’s significant contribution to the development of Tamil grammar and the Tamil Sangam tradition, describing him as a bridge between the cultures of North and South India.
The Vice President further stated that the legacy of Agatthiyar demonstrates that India’s languages are not competitors but sister languages that have enriched one another through mutual respect and centuries of cultural exchange. Expressing concern that while many have benefited from Tamil, those who dedicated their lives to the cause of Tamil are not receiving due recognition today, Shri C.P.Radhakrishnan referred to the contributions and sacrifices of Tamil Thatha U. Ve.
Swaminatha Iyer. He lamented that Swaminatha Iyer’s service to Tamil has not been adequately communicated to the public and hailed him as the scholar who rescued priceless Tamil literary treasures from decay and oblivion. The Vice President remarked that India’s unity is not a contemporary construct but an ancient civilizational reality nurtured over thousands of years by sages and enlightened thinkers.
The life and legacy of Agatthiyar serve as a reminder of this enduring truth, he said. Observing that every language possesses its own unique strengths, Shri C.P.Radhakrishnan cautioned that some people encourage linguistic divisions and promote unnecessary debates and divisive tendencies.
Affirming that no force can create division in Bharat, he called for discussions that would instill positive understanding among the youth about India’s culture and civilizational heritage. He also noted that more than a hundred temples in Tamil Nadu are dedicated to Agatthiyar as Agatheeswarar temples.
The existence of temples bearing the same name both in Kashi and Tamil Nadu, he said, stands as testimony to India’s cultural unity. The Vice President rejected the notion that India would not have remained united without British rule, stating that India’s culture and civilization have always bound its people together across regions and generations.
Appreciating the authors of the book, he said they had meticulously documented, through research, the widespread presence of traditions, stories and references relating to Agathiyar across the northern, southern, eastern and western regions of Bharat.
He expressed confidence that the book would serve as an important work in taking the message of Agathiyar’s greatness and India’s cultural unity to a global audience. The Vice President praised Kalaimagal magazine for bringing out this book.
He said that Kalaimagal has been serving with distinction for more than 95 years, preserving and promoting Tamil literature, culture, and heritage for future generations. He recalled that several Tamil scholars, historians, scientists, and national leaders had enriched the quality and credibility of the magazine through their writings.
Among those present on the occasion were Shri Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS); Shri Keelambur Sankara Subramanian, Editor of Kalaimagal magazine; senior writer and journalist Shri Malan; the authors of the book, Shri O. Shama Bhat and Dr. M. N. Sudha; and Professor Kalyani, who translated the book into Tamil, along with several distinguished guests.