New Delhi, September 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the Tamil literary classic Thirukkural at the beginning of their meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
Written by celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, Thirukkural comprises 1,330 couplets, known as Kurals, each consisting of seven words. The ancient text offers teachings on virtue, wealth and love and is widely recognised for its universal and secular character.
The Russian translation was undertaken by Naira Mkrtchyan.
“Presented President Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, which carries the eternal wisdom of the great Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders,” Modi said in a post on X.
The literary work has influenced scholars beyond India and has also inspired renowned Russian writer Leo Tolstoy.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and other senior officials were present during the meeting. Modi and Putin also exchanged warm greetings before their discussions, underscoring the close ties that have developed between the two countries over the past 12 years.
Putin arrived in New Delhi earlier on Friday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, which India is hosting on September 12 and 13. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received him at the airport.
The two leaders are expected to review progress in bilateral cooperation across political, economic, defence, energy, space, mobility and people-to-people ties.
Key areas under discussion include efforts to achieve the bilateral trade target of $100 billion by 2030, expand industrial cooperation in sectors such as railways and tunnelling, strengthen the steel value chain, increase business-to-business opportunities and widen access for Indian and Russian products in each other’s markets.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, speaking during a virtual briefing hosted by Sputnik India from Moscow on Tuesday, described the relationship between Modi and Putin as pragmatic and said the two leaders discuss sensitive bilateral and global issues in an open and constructive manner.
Putin’s visit follows his August 31 meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. After that meeting, the two leaders travelled together in the same car to the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games.
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