Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi in a traditional Tamil veshti at Mamallapuram in October 2019. New Delhi: Not learning the Tamil language was one of his long-standing regrets in a long political career, Prime Narendra Modi said again today, calling it the "world's oldest language". In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio talk today, he also praised Tamil literature and poetry. His reference to the language comes weeks ahead of the southern state going to polls on April 6. Addressing the show, PM Modi today said that in its run-up, one listener Aparna Reddy had asked him if there was something he missed out on during these long years as Chief Minister and Prime Minister.