Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently visited Mamallapuram with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping for an informal summit, had penned a poem in Hindi on the sea which he had shared on Twitter on October 13. About a week later, he tweeted the Tamil translation of the poem. In response to a tweet praising the same, Modi expressed his appreciation for the Tamil language.
कल महाबलीपुरम में सवेरे तट पर टहलते-टहलते सागर से संवाद करने में खो गया।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 13, 2019
ये संवाद मेरा भाव-विश्व है।
इस संवाद भाव को शब्दबद्ध करके आपसे साझा कर रहा हूं- pic.twitter.com/JKjCAcClws
Here is a Tamil translation of the poem I wrote while I was at the picturesque shores of Mamallapuram a few days ago. pic.twitter.com/85jlzNL0Jm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 20, 2019
“Glad to be expressing myself in the world’s oldest language, which has nurtured a vibrant culture. The Tamil language is beautiful, the Tamil people are exceptional,” he tweeted on Sunday night. He was responding to Dr Dhananjayan, Tamil filmmaker and founder of BOFTA film institute who had thanked the Prime Minister for his love and support for Tamil by translating his poem in Tamil.
Glad to be expressing myself in the world’s oldest language, which has nurtured a vibrant culture.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 20, 2019
The Tamil language is beautiful, the Tamil people are exceptional. https://t.co/5qYL13NPo0
Among others who appreciated Modi getting his poem translated was Tamil actor Vivekh, who said, “Saluting nature is saluting god, because nature is the almighty.” He thanked Modi for his poem on the ocean in Mamallapuram.
Acknowledging the same, PM Modi tweeted a response, saying, “Respect for nature is a key part of our ethos. Nature manifests divinity and greatness. The scenic shores of Mamallapuram and the morning calm provided perfect moments to express some of my thoughts.”
Thank you @Actor_Vivek!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 20, 2019
Respect for nature is a key part of our ethos. Nature manifests divinity and greatness.
The scenic shores of Mamallapuram and the morning calm provided perfect moments to express some of my thoughts. https://t.co/2hGCmcs9M8
Modi and Xi Jinping spent their time in Mamallapuram on October 11 and 12 speaking one on one about Confidence Building Measures, economic development, and other things. The leaders also watched cultural programmes. On their visit, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said that Xi had said he was looking forward to working with PM Modi "very closely on all issues for the next 4.5 years".
Mamallapuram had gotten a major facelift prior in anticipation of the leaders’ informal summit there. Apart from enhanced security measures regarding police presence, at monuments, and pertaining to foreigner tourists in the city. Repair work was undertaken for roads and other such amenities.