Modi gifts Putin Russian translation of Thirukkural ahead of BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, the classical Tamil poem collection attributed to the poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, during their bilateral meeting in Delhi on Friday.

The talks at Bharat Mandapam took place a day before the BRICS Summit, which India is hosting on September 12 and 13. Mr. Putin arrived in New Delhi earlier in the day on a three-day visit for the summit.

In a post on X, Mr. Modi said he had presented the Russian translation of the work, describing it as carrying the enduring wisdom of Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders. He also shared a short video clip of the meeting, in which the two leaders are seen shaking hands after the book was presented.

The Thirukkural is a seminal work by the much-revered Thiruvalluvar and contains words of wisdom on a range of subjects.

Mr. Modi was accompanied at the meeting by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Principal Secretary Shaktikanta Das, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other senior officials.

The two leaders had last met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on August 31, where Mr. Modi had called for an end to the war in Ukraine.

During Friday's talks, the leaders were expected to discuss expanding defence cooperation. Against the backdrop of continued conflict in West Asia and supply chain disruption, measures were also discussed to ensure the flow of energy and fertilizer through strategic joint ventures.