PM Modi invokes Tamil philosopher Pungundranar, Vivekananda in UNGA address

Seeking collective efforts to address serious global challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his UNGA speech on Friday invoked famous Tamil philosopher Kaniyan Pungundranar's quotes as well as those of Swami Vivekananda to emphasise that a fragmented world is in the interest of no one.

Addressing the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly here, Prime Minister Modi said in the last five years, India has worked towards strengthening its centuries old great tradition of "fraternity among nations" and welfare of the world, which is indeed, in line with the key objectives of the United Nations.

Modi said the issues that India raises, the kind of new global platforms that the country has come forward to build, seek collective efforts to address serious global challenges and issues.

"India is a great culture that is thousands of years old, a culture that has its own vibrant traditions, and which has encompassed universal dreams. Our values and culture see divinity in every being and strive for the welfare of all."
"3000 years ago, a great poet of India, Kaniyan Pungundranar wrote in Tamil the most ancient language of the world "Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelirwhich means 'We belong to all places, and to everyone'. This sense of belonging beyond borders, is unique to India."
Calling for collective global efforts to address pressing challenges, Modi said, "A fragmented world, is in the interest of no one. Neither do we have the option to confine ourselves within our boundaries."