Chennai, Feb 21 (IANS): President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said that learning the language of another region is educative and an asset.

In his address at the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha here after unveiling a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Kovind said: "Learning the language of another region will be educative and would also open a window to a culture that is at once familiar and new."

According to him, twinning programmes between different states are popularising the language of one region in another, and such steps also reinforce national harmony.

Referring to Tamil poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharati, he said his poetry inspired not only the people of Tamil Nadu but all the people in the country.

Similarly, the ideas of Periyar or E.V. Ramasamy were not restricted by language or geography.

India's last Governor General C. Rajagopalachari and President R. Venkataraman were multilingual intellectuals whose contribution was not restricted by language or region, Kovind pointed out.

According to him, with a growing economy there will be internal migration of youth for jobs and education and knowing the language of the state or region where one would be will be an asset.

He said the knowledge of additional language also adds value to a person's resume.

He also expressing happiness that the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, founded by Mahatma Gandhi to promote Hindi in the southern states, has completed 100 years.