Prime Minister Narendra Modi today released the Gujarati translation of the ancient classical Tamil work and paid homages to its author on the occasion of Thiruvalluvar day.
"I bow to the great Thiruvalluvar. Simple and vast in scope, his thoughts & writings have been a strong influence on humanity for centuries," the Prime Minister said, an official statement here said.
The ideas expressed in Thirukkural are so universal that even after almost two millennia they are relevant and revered.
"Thirukkural does not refer to any nation, leader, society, language, religion or caste in the entire book, which is why it has been called the 'Universal Veda'," the statement added.
The Central Institute of Classical Tamil, an institute under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, has taken up the mission of bringing out the Thirukkural in all Indian languages in which it has not been translated so far.
The Institute also proposes to launch an e-version of the book.
The Gujarati translation has been done by Gujarat-born P C Kokila, who is a Professor of Hindi, and a resident of Tamil Nadu.
HRD Minister Smriti Irani and V G Bhooma, Director, Central Institute of Classical Tamil, were also present.
