New York, September 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) mentioned the Tamil poet and philospopher Kaniyan Pungundranar and used one of his poems to underline India's outlook and philosophy for other countries. India's Prime Minister also called Tamil as the world's most ancient language. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 3,000 years ago, poet Kaniyan Pungundranar said in world's most ancient language Tamil, "Yaadum Ure, Yaavarum Kedir". Narendra Modi Speech at UNGA: Built 11 Crore Toilets in 5 Years, Committed to Movement Against Single Use Plastic, Says India's Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi translated the original Tamil line in Hindi. The Prime Minister said that the lines mean that "hum sabhi sthaano ke liye apne pan ka bhaav rakhte hain aur sabhi log humare apne hain" (We the Indians have a feeling of oneoness for everyone and take everyone as our own).

Who is Kaniyan Pungundranar?

Kaniyan Poongunranar, is also known as Poongundranar or Pungundranar, and was an influential Tamil philosopher from the Sangam age. The word Kaniyan is used to describe mathematics and therefore, going by the norms of the day (around 3,000 years ago), his name suggests that he was an astronomer.

Kaniyan was born and raised in Mahibalanpatti, a village panchayat in the Thiruppatur taluk of Sivaganga district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. He composed two poems in Puṟanāṉūṟu and Natrinai. The famous Tamil quote read by PM Narendra Modi, "Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir", is also depicted in the United Nations Organisation (UNO).

Watch PM Modi's Speech in the Video Below:

The Prime Minister added that it is this philosphy that guides India's outlook towards the world. PM Modi said that India has contributed little in the problem of global warming but has been at the forefront of fighting Global Warming. From toilets to single-use plastic, toilets to drinking water, the Prime Minister in his speech emphasised the various social welfare schemes undertaken by his government and said that a developing country like India running such programmes and schemes sets an example.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 27, 2019 08:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).