Thiruvalluvar Day: PM Modi Pays Tribute To Tamil Poet, Highlights His Enduring Legacy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid homage to Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar on the occasion of Thiruvalluvar Day.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister urged people to read the Tirukkural, which gives a glimpse of the outstanding intellect of the great Thiruvalluvar.

“Today, on Thiruvalluvar Day, paying homage to the versatile Thiruvalluvar, whose works and ideals inspire innumerable people. He believed in a society that is harmonious and compassionate,” PM Modi posted on X.

Thiruvalluvar is a revered poet and philosopher, particularly among Tamils. His timeless works, including the celebrated Tirukkural, continue to inspire millions with their insights on virtue, love and governance. Enduring in relevance, his ideas and beliefs offer life lessons that transcend centuries.

Who was Thiruvalluvar?

While nothing much is known about Thiruvalluvar’s life except for his work, most of the speculations are either by deducing his work, Thirukkural or other Tamil texts.

Thiruvalluvar is believed to have lived in Mylapore, now a neighbourhood in Chennai. A temple dedicated to him was built within the Ekambareswarar temple complex in Mylapore in the early 16th century.

Locals believe that he was born in Mylapore, underneath the tree that is situated within the temple complex.

Besides this, a historical monument, named Valluvar Kottam, came up in Chennai in 1976, and there is a 133-foot-tall statue of Thiruvalluvar in Kanyakumari.

The most recent statue of the Tamil poet was unveiled in Ulsoor near Bengaluru in 2009. Thiruvalluvar is generally believed to have lived between the 8th and 9th centuries, though precise details of his life remain unknown.

One of his principal works, the Thirukkural, is divided into 133 chapters comprising 1,330 verses, or kurals. The text is structured around three broad themes: virtue, wealth and love.