Why did PM Modi choose the Tamil treasure of ‘Thirukkural’ as a gift for Putin?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Russian President Vladimir Putin a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil classic ‘Thirukkural’ during their bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Friday (Sep 11). The gift came ahead of the BRICS Summit and carried a message that went beyond diplomacy introducing Russia's President to one of India's oldest and most widely respected works of wisdom.

 

The 2026 Russian edition has been published by the Central Institute of

 

 

The Thirukkural is a classical Tamil work attributed to poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar. It is believed to have been composed more than 2,000 years ago, although scholars differ on its exact date. The work has survived as one of the most important texts of Tamil literature and continues to be read and discussed even today.

 

The name Thirukkural refers to its distinctive form of short couplets. The complete work contains 1,330 couplets arranged into 133 chapters, with each chapter containing 10 couplets. It is divided into three major sections Aram (Virtue), Porul (Wealth) and Inbam (Love).

 

The first section, Aram, deals with ethical living, morality, kindness, self-control, family life, gratitude and righteous conduct. The second, Porul, moves into the wider world of society and public life. It discusses leadership, justice, friendship, learning, wealth, administration and the responsibilities of those who govern. The third section, Inbam, deals with love and human emotions.

 

 

 

This broad range is what makes the ‘Thirukkural’ different from a book focused only on religion or philosophy. It speaks about how individuals should live, how society should function and how leaders should conduct themselves.

Why is it considered ‘universal’?

 

The Thirukkural was written in Tamil and emerged from the cultural world of ancient Southern India, but its central ideas are not limited to one community or region. Its teachings focus on values such as honesty, justice, compassion, friendship, responsible leadership and good conduct.

 

 

The latest Russian edition therefore adds another chapter to a longer history of bringing Tamil wisdom to Russian-speaking readers.

 

 

The choice of a Russian translation is particularly significant. Modi was not merely presenting Putin with an Indian book; he was presenting him with a work of Indian civilisational thought in a language that he can understand.

 

The Thirukkural also contains an entire section on Porul, which deals with society, governance, leadership, justice and relationships between people. These themes have an obvious relevance in a meeting between two national leaders.

 

 

The gift also fits into the broader character of India-Russia relations. The two countries have maintained close engagement across defence, energy, nuclear cooperation, trade and other strategic areas. Modi and Putin's September 11 meeting itself focused on strengthening cooperation in several of these areas ahead of the BRICS Summit.

 

In this setting, the Thirukkural works as a cultural bridge. It allows India to present a part of its ancient intellectual heritage while also using a language associated with Russia's own literary and cultural tradition.

 

 

 

 

 

 By gifting a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil classic Thirukkural, Prime Minister Narendra Modi subtly but profoundly echoed India’s long-standing stance on peaceful conflict resolution. The choice of text carries an incredible historical bridge: the legendary Russian author Leo Tolstoy was deeply inspired by the Thirukkural’s teachings on virtue, famously quoting them in his 1908 letter to a young Mahatma Gandhi, which went on to shape Gandhi's core philosophy of Satyagraha. Presenting this specific masterpiece to President Vladimir Putin functions as a highly sophisticated piece of cultural diplomacy; it leverages Russia's own intellectual heritage to gently emphasize the power of ethical governance and non-violence, serving as a quiet but clear appeal to end the war in Ukraine.

 

Modi's gift is therefore significant not because the Thirukkural is simply an old Tamil book, but because its message has remained relevant across centuries.

 

By giving Putin its Russian translation, India placed a piece of Tamil heritage in the hands of the Russian leader while highlighting a larger idea that India's civilisational wisdom can travel across languages, borders and political relationships.

 

As Modi wrote on X, the Russian edition carries the “eternal wisdom” of Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders. The gesture ahead of BRICS thus became more than an exchange between two leaders; it became a reminder that diplomacy can also be built through literature, language and shared human values