Thiruvalluvar must be the most-widely quoted poet in Indian budget speeches!
In Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget 2021 speech Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar and Bengal’s Rabindranath Tangore found a mention.
Thiruvalluvar, commonly known as Valluvar, was a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher. He is best known as the author of Tirukkuṟaḷ, a collection of couplets on ethics, political and economical matters, and love. The text is considered an exceptional and widely cherished work of the Tamil literature. Almost no authentic information is available about Valluvar, states Kamil Zvelebil – a scholar of Tamil literature. His life and likely background are variously inferred from his literary works by different biographers. There are unauthentic hagiographic and legendary accounts of Valluvar's life, and all major Indian religions, as well as Christian missionaries of the 19th century, have tried to claim him as secretly inspired (crypto-) or originally belonging to their tradition. Little is known with certainty about his family background, religious affiliation, or birthplace. He is believed to have lived at least in the town of Mylapore (a neighbourhood of the present-day Chennai), and his floruit is dated variously from 4th century BCE to early 5th century CE, based on the traditional accounts and the linguistic analyses of his writings. Maraimalai Adigal gives 31 BCE as the birth year of Valluvar, while Kamil Zvelebil infers the Tirukkuṟaḷ and Valluvar are best dated to around 500 CE. Valluvar has influenced a wide range of scholars down the ages since his time across the ethical, social, political, economical, religious, philosophical, and spiritual spheres. He has long been venerated as a great sage, and his literary works a classic of Tamil culture.
"Saun watan gulzar Shalamaar hyur Dal manz pholvun pamposh hyuv Navjavan-an-hund, vushun khumaar hyuv Myon watan, chyon watan Saun watan, nundbony watan"
["Our country is like a blooming Shalimar Bagh, our country is like the lotus blooming in the Dal Lake; it is like the boiling blood of the youth, my country, your country, our country, the world's most beloved country"]
- Kashmiri poet Pandit Dinanath Kaul
"Kalangathu kanda vinaikkan Thulangkathu thookkang kadinthu seyal"
[What clearly the eye discerns as right, with steadfast will And mind unslumbering, that should man fulfil]
- Tamil saint and poet Tiruvalluvar
The meaning of fifteen vital verses of Thiruvalluvar are discussed here to appreciate the relevance to modern times also:
1. People seeking God's blessings, get over the lifecycle. Others never do. Man cannot take pride in his own, but appreciate the omniscient and omnipresent Almighty. Without Him, it is impossible to live a happy life. (verse 10 in chapter 'Praise of God')
2. World is null and void without water. Rainfall determines world peace. Water is the most essential for life sustenance on the earth. The regular downpour alone makes the life happy and peaceful. Drought, famine and scarcity render life difficult and chaotic. Hence, Saving rainwater is the action desired. (Verse 20 in chapter ' Heaven's importance')
3. Action with pure mind is virtuosity. Or else, no value. Any work done with bad and hidden intentions will boomerang on the doer. (verse 34 in Chapter 'Value of Integrity')
4. Love and honesty are two virtues. Without them, life is meaningless.
Human life becomes happy and liveable only when these two virtues are practised. Express your care and affection naturally devoid of the ulterior motives.
(verse 45 in Chapter ' Family life')
5. Speaking harsh instead of using pleasant words is akin to preferring an unripe over the fruit. A person who is gritty, but soft-spoken always commands respect and value. (verse 100 in Chapter ' Pleasant utterance')
6. Forgetting others' assistance is pardonable, but not the timely help received from them. One should never forget any kind of contributions, be it small or big, from other people. That too the help provided during the exigencies like financial and physical strains is always worth remembering to return if possible. (verse 110 in Chapter ' Gratitude')
7. Humbleness makes Nobleness, while Arrogance fends distress and enmity. One should remain simple and kind to all irrespective of the status and age. Learned people remain gracious and calm in all circumstances. (verse 121 in chapter 'Humility')
8. Annihilation of Desire, Anger and Ignorance makes life happy. These three attributes cause hardship and troubles in our life. (verse 360 in chapter ' Realising Truth')
9. The level of knowledge varies with the number of books read. It is akin to getting more water depending on the depth a well is dug. Keep reading more and more through the entire life to gain. (verse 396 in chapter ' Education')
10. Time-conscious people rule the world. Appreciate the value of time and opportunity to take action. Successful persons never hasten, but wait for the right time and place. (verse 485 in chapter ' Time Awareness')
11. Decide anything based on pros and cons. Ascertain the benefits and harm of anything, and determine based on the more of them. People who can foresee the good and bad effects , are the right people for a good administration. (verse 511 in chapter 'Selective Decision')
12. Positivism or Positive mind is the greatest asset; all others disappear later. A person with such attitude takes advantages of any situation and remains cheerful. Gloom surfaces in each opportunity to a pessimist. (verse 592 in chapter ' Positive Attitude')
13. Efforts end in greatness. Laziness ruins wealth. Persistent attempts make you experienced and resourceful. Lethargy lands in misery and disrespect. (verse 616 in chapter ' Power of Action')
14. Like hands swiftly moving to prevent our dress, Good friendship extends a helping-hand during difficult times. Such friends are countable and called as thick and close pals. (verse 788 in chapter ' Friendship')
15. Correct diagnosis followed by proper treatment with right drugs suitable for the patient is the best medical practice. A good doctor will be able to identify the type of ailment, diagnose the symptoms thoroughly, and prescribe the remedies and treatment appropriate for the diseased person. (verse 948 in chapter ' Medicine')