Thiruvalluvar Statue Inaugurated in France

11 Dec 2023

Context: The Prime Minister said that the Thiruvalluvar statue in Cergy, France is a beautiful testament to the shared cultural bonds between France and India.

About Thiruvalluvar

Thiruvalluvar commonly known as Valluvar was an Indian poet and philosopher.
Thiruvalluvar stands tall as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge.
He is the author of the Tirukkuṟaḷ which is a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economic matters, and love.
- Tirukkural is an all-inclusive ethical that focuses on the avoidance of killing and the avoidance of falsehood.
- Its 133 sections of 10 couplets each are divided into three books: aram (virtue), porul (government and society), and kamam (love).

Thiruvalluvar statue

About Sangam Literature

Sangam literature is the earliest writings in the Tamil language in Madurai, India, from the 1st to the 4th century CE.
The Tolkappiyam, a book of grammar and rhetoric, and eight anthologies (Ettuttokai) of poetry were compiled—Ainkurunuru, Kuruntokai, Narrinai, Akananuru, Kalittokai, Patirruppattu, Purananuru, and Paripatal. A ninth anthology, Pattupattu, consists of 10 idylls that present a picture of early Tamil life.

Associated Places: Tiruvalluvar

Tiruvalluvar temple : Tiruvalluvar temple was constructed in the early 16th century at Mylapore, Chennai which is a part of the Ekambareswarar temple complex.
Temple memorial : One of Asia’s largest auditoriums is located in Valluvar Kotam, a temple-memorial constructed in Chennai in 1976.
Statue : Kanyakumari also has a 133-foot-tall statue of Thiruvalluvar.

Impact on India-France Cultural Relations

Cultural Links: The Thiruvalluvar statue serves as a guide, inspiring individuals to follow Thiruvalluvar’s noble thoughts and further strengthening the cultural links between India and France.
Deep-rooted ties: The statue serves as a symbol of the deep-rooted ties that bind the two nations ie India and France

News source: PIB