New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Russian President Vladimir Putin a Russian edition of the ancient Tamil classic Thirukkural during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Friday.
Published in 2026 by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, the edition features the original Tamil verses, transliteration and Russian translation by Naira Mkrtchyan. Modi said the timeless work could help strengthen people-to-people ties and inspire readers in Russia.
The gift also highlighted the lesser-known connection between Indian philosophy and Russian intellectual traditions. Interest in Indian thought in Russia dates back centuries, while Thirukkural gained wider recognition through translations. Russian writer Leo Tolstoy is believed to have encountered the work through an early European translation. However, historians have not conclusively established the extent of its influence on his philosophy or his ideas on non-violence.
Authored by Tamil poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, Thirukkural contains 1,330 couplets covering virtue (Aram), social and political life (Porul), and love (Inbam).
Modi has frequently promoted the text globally, presenting translations to foreign leaders and highlighting its universal messages on ethics, governance, compassion and human values.