Goa, Sept. 11 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil classic Thirukkural during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The gesture added a cultural dimension to the high-level interaction between the two leaders and highlighted the enduring influence of Indian thought beyond the country's borders.

The book was presented to Putin a day ahead of the BRICS Summit and carried particular significance because of the Thirukkural's long-standing, though relatively lesser-known, connection with Russia. Indian philosophy and literature have influenced Russian writers and intellectuals for centuries, giving the classical Tamil work an impor...