New Delhi/Port Moresby: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape on Monday jointly released a translation of the Tamil classic ‘Thirukkural’ in the Tok Pisin language of Papua New Guinea.

PM Modi in a tweet said: “In Papua New Guinea, PM James Marape and I had the honour of releasing the Thirukkural in Tok Pisin language. Thirukkural is an iconic work, which provides valuable insights across different subjects.”

He also praised the authors: “I would like to commend @pngsasi, Governor of the West New Britain Province and Mrs. Subha Sasindran for their effort to translate the Thirukkural in Tok Pisin. Governor Sasindran has done his schooling in Tamil while Mrs. Subha Sasindran is a respected linguist.”

Tok Pisin is a Creole language spoken throughout Papua New Guinea. It is an official language of Papua New Guinea and the most widely used language in the country.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet said: “Indian diaspora keeping alive connect with the motherland!PM @narendramodi & PM James Marape launched a translation of the Tamil classic ‘Thirukkural’ in the Tok Pisin language of Papua New Guinea.

“Co-authored by Mrs. Subha Sasindran and Governor Sasindran Muthuvel of West New Britain Province, the book brings Indian thought & culture closer to the people of Papua New Guinea.”

The book has a foreword by Prime Minister Marape.

“Prime Minister Modi congratulated the authors and complimented them on their contribution towards preserving the tenets of Indian thought and culture in Papua New Guinea.”