Union Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh, in his address, said, “This program, highlighting the bond between Tamil Nadu and Gujarat reflects the cultural diversity and strength of India. Protecting our cultural is as important as border security, economic security, food security, social security, and cyber security. Border security is necessary to protect a nation. Similarly, cultural security is also important to maintain its identity. We have witnessed a cultural revival of India.”
In 2006, Saurashtra University invited Tamils, under the guidance of the then Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Chief Minister of the state Bhupendra Patel, in his address, said, “Under the inspiration and guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this historic event has taken place in the Somnath.” Welcoming the people who came to Somnath from Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said that this unique program of bringing the native Saurashtra Tamils who had gone to Tamil Nadu centuries ago to visit their native land and thus celebrate the confluence of two cultures is very important towards fulfilling ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’.
Patel requested the Tamilians to visit Gujarat at length and witness development. The exchange of literature, trade, culture and commerce between Tamil Nadu and Gujarat will increase after this event. This festival will be the foundation of national unity, he said
Talking about the relationship between Saurashtra and Tamil Nadu and the contributions of the Saurashtrian people, the Governor of Telangana and Puducherry Tamilisai Soundararajan said that the ruler Tirumalai Naikkar and the princess used to wear silk clothes made by Gujarati which was finer than the Chinese and European silk.
Union Health Minister Mansukhi Mandaviya said that the original Tamil people of Saurashtra, who migrated to Tamil Nadu by sea to save their religion and culture, have again visited their native land in Somnath. India’s specialty is unity in diversity.
