Chennai, May 5 : Tamil Nadu and Punjab were at the forefront of freedom struggle
and after Independence, both states and their hardworking people have contributed
substantially to India’s social and economic development, President Ram Nath Kovind
said on Saturday.
Delivering the 42nd Convocation of the Guru Nanak College here, he said the Sikh
community in Tamil Nadu was involved in a range of professions, from business and
industry to agriculture.
'It is worth remembering that over 100 years ago, the family of late A G Ram Singh
migrated from Amritsar to Chennai. Ram Singh became one of the pioneering cricketers
of our country and mentored many local players here in this city', he said.
'Later two of his sons, A G Milkha Singh and A G Kripal Singh, played for India. At one
time it used to be said that the leading cricket family of Tamil Nadu was a Sikh family',
he said, adding, that sense of oneness, that unity in diversity, makes India special.
He said the College was taking forward a long and rich history of engagement between
Punjab and the Sikh community, and Tamil Nadu.
This history goes back to the period when Guru Nanak Dev, who was one of the greatest
spiritual leaders and nation builders, visited Tamil Nadu as part of his journey to southern
India. It is believed that he spent a few days in the holy town of Rameswaram, he added.
Mr Kovind said what was truly heart-warming was that the Gurudwara within the campus
has a langar kitchen that provides a free meal to about 700 students daily.
'Tamil Nadu is the state that gave India the idea of the midday meal programme in schools.
But a midday meal at the college level is unique. I congratulate the College authorities for
this', he added.
Later the President left for New Delhi after completing his two-day visit to the State.UNI
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