MAYILADUTHURAI: While crediting Kambar for bringing “Lord Ram into the hearts of the common people”, Governor R N Ravi on Sunday said the Chola-era poet’s contributions remain unappreciated due to politics’ “toll” on culture.
Inaugurating the eight-day Kamba Ramayana Festival organised by the Union Ministry of Culture’s South Zone Cultural Centre at Therazendur — believed to be Kambar’s native — in Mayiladuthurai, Ravi said, “Kambar inspired poets in other languages. While poet Valmiki’s Ramayan was understood only by intellectuals, Kambar brought Ram into the hearts of the common people. However, his contributions are not fully appreciated in Tamil Nadu.”
