CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi said that the soul of India was its cultural and spiritual unity, which brings us together, spanning geographical boundaries.

He was speaking on Monday at the Raj Bhavan for the start of the two-day "Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat" programme. Participating in the programme are around 152 undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty members, from 9 universities spread throughout the State.

It has become a matter of our identity because we don't really know who we are or what our country is, the governor said. He remarked about how political fragmentation has been dividing people, despite the fact that being a citizen of this wonderful nation with a history dating back many thousand years gives one a great sense of pride.

At the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat program's opening on Monday in Chennai, Governor R.N. Ravi engaged with attendees. He said, there is a need to travel back in time in order to comprehend the idea of "Bharat," which many people have not been taught about. "A basic comprehension of India is insufficient to comprehend this country fully. He said, "India was never the name of our country; it was given by outsiders, much as earlier freedom fighters and writers had written about 'Bharat' in their works, including Subramania Bharathiyar.

"This is just the beginning for many of you. Many of the topics that will be discussed over the course of the following two days are difficult to find in textbooks. He urged the attendees to make the most of the discussions and exchanges over the course of the next two days, saying that this country has a huge responsibility and that until we learn about ourselves, we are failures.

The program's facilitator, D.K. Hari, the founder of Bharath Gyan, stated there will be three sessions for the participants on both days. "While we will examine a number of intricate aspects of the nation, this is only the tip of the iceberg. There is a tonne more to learn, and it is appropriate that it be referred to as a "Connecting India Series," he said.

DMK govt has not taken any new schemes: Palaniswami

Tamil Nadu govt appoints Spl teams to oversee paddy procurement

One day shutdown in Puducherry over anti-Hindu remarks by DMK MP A Raja