Poetic English Translation of Thirukkural-1
Recently I made one of my periodical visits to my favorite. Higginbotham’s book shop on Anna Salai, Chennai. I chanced to lay my hands on an extraordinary book titled THIRUKKURAL Pearls of inspiration by Dr M.Rajaram IAS, belonging to Tamilnadu cadre. He has translated all the 1330 verses of Thirukkural into English. Published by Rupa and Co. in New Delhi, it has a foreword by Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam former President of India. In my view this is an outstanding work of translation of an ancient and difficult literary treatise, an ethical, moral and spiritual work like Thirukkural. Dr Abdul Kalam has paid very well deserved tribute to Dr M.Rajaram who is an exceptional IAS officer.
Dr M.Rajaram hails from Pudur near Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi district of Tamilnadu, quite near to Ettayapuram which is the birth place of Mahakavi Bharathiar. He has taken a post Graduate Degree in English Literature and Education. Besides he is also a Law Graduate with a BL Degree. In addition, he holds a Doctorate Degree. He served in the Education Department with rare distinction for nearly two decades in various important and responsible capacities. He is a great research scholar in the field of education and his research papers have received much acclaim at the National level. His earlier books on education titled ‘Changing Faces of School Inspection, Towards Quality in Educational Administration and Who Will Bell the Cat’ have been greatly appreciated by educationists and educational administrators of National and International fame.
I know a few important people in the field of education who have interacted closely with Dr M.Rajaram. I understand Dr M.Rajaram has the most balanced and appropriate views on true education. I believe his educational philosophy can be summed up in these words. ‘Don’t fall into the vulgar idea that mind is a warehouse, and education is but a process stuffing it full of goods. The aim of education should be to convert the mind into a living fountain and not a reservoir.’ I know that Dr M.Rajaram studied in St. John’s College in Thirunelveli at a time when I was the District Collector and Magistrate of the unbifurcated larger Thirunelveli District in 1976-78. The beautiful words of Rev.E.H Chapin (1814-1880) are wholly applicable to Dr M.Rajaram: “Do not ask if a man has been through college; ask if a college has been through him - if he is a walking University”.
Amidst his never ending and busy official preoccupations, Dr M.Rajaram has found it possible to produce this beautiful work of translation of Thirukkural from Tamil to English. One of the least recognized glories of British Raj in India relates to the fact that many outstanding Civil Servants and ICS officers of that time, notwithstanding the heavy pressure of work, found it possible to engage themselves in literary pursuits or to combine with their official duties scholarly research in Indian History, Philology, Religions, Ethnology, Numismatics, Archaeology, Ornithology, Economics, etc. Some of them specialized on particular subjects; others had a larger field of interests, such as Sir William Hunter KCSI, CIE (1840-1900), whose writings were distinguished by their variety and literary grace.
This great tradition of scholar-civil servants was given a death below after our independence, by our political parties. Dr M.Rajaram legitimately belongs to this scholar-civil servant tradition.
Thirukkural (Tamil: திருக்குறள்)” also known as the Kural) is a classic of couplets or kurals (1330 rhyming Tamil verses) or aphorisms celebrated not only by Tamil people but also by all mankind. It was authored by the ancient Tamil Saint Thiruvalluvar, and is considered to be one of the first literary works to focus on ethics, in Sharamana literature of India. However it begins with a salutation to Adi Bhagawan. Thirukkural expounds various aspects of life and is one of the most important works in Tamil. This is reflected in some of the other names by which the text is known: Tamil-marai (Tamil Veda), poyyamozhi (expositions that do not false) and theyva nool or dheiva nool (divine text). It had been placed anywhere from the second century BC to the eighth century AD, but fixed to BC 32 by a consortium of Literate. The book is considered to be a posterior to Arthashastra by some historians. It preceded Manimekalai and Silapathikaram since both the latter acknowledged Kural text. Thirukkural is and remains to be the book that has been translated into the most number of languages and hence it is called “Ulaga Podhu Marai”.
Thirukural (or the Kural) is a collection of 1330 Tamil couplets organized into 133 chapters. Each chapter has a specific subject ranging from “ploughing a piece of land” to “ruling a country”. The Tamil word Kural means Venpa verse with two lines. Thirukkural comes under one of the four categories of Venpas (Tamil verses) called Kural Venpa. The 1330 couplets are divided into 3 sections and 133 chapters. Each chapter contains 10 couplets. A couplet consists of seven cirs, with four cirs in the first line ant three in the second. A cir is a single word or a combination of more than one Tamil Words. For example,Thirukkural is a cir formed by combining the two words Thiru and Kural, i.e. Thiru + Kural = Thirukkural .
Thirukkural has been translated into all the major languages of the World. In English Rev. G.U Pope’s translation is very widely known. There are many others who have translated Thirukkural completely or some parts of it. Amongst them are Kindersley, F.W.Ellis, W.H.Drew, C.E.Gover, E.G.Robinson, Rev.G.Lazarus, T.M.Scott and H.A. Popley. Thirukkural has been translated into LATIN by Fr.Bechie and Dr. Grawl. A.F.Gammers and Friendrich Ruckert have translated it into GERMAN. Prominent among the translators in FRENCH are E.Ariel, P.G. Dumast and Louis Jacolliot.
Yeoman services have been done in this respect in Tamilnadu by illustrious people like Sri.V.V.S.Iyer, Rajaji, K.M.Balasubramaniam, K.Srinivasan, Ki.Va Jagannathan and many others. This work of English translation of Thirukkural by Dr. Rajaram belongs to this genre. Translations of Thirukkural have also come out in other languages like Hindi,Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Oriya.
800 years ago commentaries were written on Thirukkural by 10 wise and learned scholars like Dharumar, Manakkudavar, Dhamathar, Nacchar, Thirumalair, Mallar, Paaripperumal , Kalingar, Parithiar and Parimelazhagar. There is no doubt that Parimelazhagar’s commentary had been popular than those of the 9 others who preceded him. During the 19th 20th Centuries more than a hundred came forward to bring out commentaries and research works on Thirukkural.
In his introduction, Dr Rajaram has rightly observed: ‘Thirukkural as a book that deals with the art of living is gaining increasing acceptance. It transcends national boundaries, historical, social limitations and language barriers. It makes great sense and relevance even today and for all times. Among the ethical works in Indian languages, Thirukkural stands supreme. Thirukkural was written 2000 years ago. It was more truly presented in a language that was in vogue at the time.Thiruvalluvar, who brought out ‘Thirukkural’, the book for all ages, was an eminent and exceptional scholar endowed with divine quality. He was a not only a sage with a human heart but also a psychologist with a deep insight into the complexities of human nature and a philosopher with a urge to reform’.
No wonder Maha-kavi Bharatiyar has rightly observed for all time: ‘Tamilnadu gave unto the world Valluvar and thereby won great renown’. In my view the following verse is totally applicable to Thirukkural of Thiruvalluar:
“One page of Thiruvalluvar can
Teach us more of man
Than all the sages can”.
Thirukkural is divided into three sections. They are (in the order)
அறத்துப்பால் (VIRTUE)
பொருட்பால் (WEALTH)
இன்பத்துப்பால் (LOVE)
I am presenting blow one sample page relating to the GLORY OF GOD from Dr. Raja ram’s book under review.
For the benefit of our discerning readers I am also presenting blow a magnificent summary in Tamil of Thirukkural by a great Tamil scholar, Madurai Ki. Palaniappan. In my view, this master frame work prepared by Madurai Ki. Palaniappan will serve as a permanent guide to all scholars of Tamil literature in the future:
Literature has been defined as good writing which has a truth to tell about people and their world, and tells the truth in a way which compels a sensitive reader to re-live the writer’s experience with his own mind and emotion. It grows out of experience and response, and conveys both. It does so through native talent, and acquired skills, working with content, form and style to create a tone. It has no borders or boundaries. Language, religion, country, theme, manner or even time, cannot confine it. It is ageless, timeless, measureless and universal. Literature has form and feature, expression and suggestion, smiles and laughter, tears and lamentations, anger and pleasure, love and hate, hopes as well as disappointments. It may be simple or complex, easy or difficult. It may explain or perplex, hide or reveal. It may spring from innocence, or from experience. It has an endless variety of moods and modes. Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural is a great work of world literature in this sense.
Dr Rajaram is a distinguished man of letters and literature. This beautiful work of English translation of Thirukkural by Dr Rajaram is marked by a rare literary flavour and poetic sensibility. His translation gives a cubic content to the famous observation of the great American poet Robert Frost who wrote that ‘great poetry is nothing but a beautiful marriage of sound and sense’. Dr Rajaram has achieved this sublime effect in his following lines of English translation of some of the verses of Thirukkural:
“Smile, charity, pleasant words and civility
These four are marks of true nobility.
Dig deeper the sand-well, more water flows,
Read deeper, more wisdom grows”.
* * * * * *
Recently I made one of my periodical visits to my favorite. Higginbotham’s book shop on Anna Salai, Chennai. I chanced to lay my hands on an extraordinary book titled THIRUKKURAL Pearls of inspiration by Dr M.Rajaram IAS, belonging to Tamilnadu cadre. He has translated all the 1330 verses of Thirukkural into English. Published by Rupa and Co. in New Delhi, it has a foreword by Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam former President of India. In my view this is an outstanding work of translation of an ancient and difficult literary treatise, an ethical, moral and spiritual work like Thirukkural. Dr Abdul Kalam has paid very well deserved tribute to Dr M.Rajaram who is an exceptional IAS officer.
Dr M.Rajaram hails from Pudur near Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi district of Tamilnadu, quite near to Ettayapuram which is the birth place of Mahakavi Bharathiar. He has taken a post Graduate Degree in English Literature and Education. Besides he is also a Law Graduate with a BL Degree. In addition, he holds a Doctorate Degree. He served in the Education Department with rare distinction for nearly two decades in various important and responsible capacities. He is a great research scholar in the field of education and his research papers have received much acclaim at the National level. His earlier books on education titled ‘Changing Faces of School Inspection, Towards Quality in Educational Administration and Who Will Bell the Cat’ have been greatly appreciated by educationists and educational administrators of National and International fame.
I know a few important people in the field of education who have interacted closely with Dr M.Rajaram. I understand Dr M.Rajaram has the most balanced and appropriate views on true education. I believe his educational philosophy can be summed up in these words. ‘Don’t fall into the vulgar idea that mind is a warehouse, and education is but a process stuffing it full of goods. The aim of education should be to convert the mind into a living fountain and not a reservoir.’ I know that Dr M.Rajaram studied in St. John’s College in Thirunelveli at a time when I was the District Collector and Magistrate of the unbifurcated larger Thirunelveli District in 1976-78. The beautiful words of Rev.E.H Chapin (1814-1880) are wholly applicable to Dr M.Rajaram: “Do not ask if a man has been through college; ask if a college has been through him - if he is a walking University”.
Amidst his never ending and busy official preoccupations, Dr M.Rajaram has found it possible to produce this beautiful work of translation of Thirukkural from Tamil to English. One of the least recognized glories of British Raj in India relates to the fact that many outstanding Civil Servants and ICS officers of that time, notwithstanding the heavy pressure of work, found it possible to engage themselves in literary pursuits or to combine with their official duties scholarly research in Indian History, Philology, Religions, Ethnology, Numismatics, Archaeology, Ornithology, Economics, etc. Some of them specialized on particular subjects; others had a larger field of interests, such as Sir William Hunter KCSI, CIE (1840-1900), whose writings were distinguished by their variety and literary grace.
This great tradition of scholar-civil servants was given a death below after our independence, by our political parties. Dr M.Rajaram legitimately belongs to this scholar-civil servant tradition.
Thirukkural (Tamil: திருக்குறள்)” also known as the Kural) is a classic of couplets or kurals (1330 rhyming Tamil verses) or aphorisms celebrated not only by Tamil people but also by all mankind. It was authored by the ancient Tamil Saint Thiruvalluvar, and is considered to be one of the first literary works to focus on ethics, in Sharamana literature of India. However it begins with a salutation to Adi Bhagawan. Thirukkural expounds various aspects of life and is one of the most important works in Tamil. This is reflected in some of the other names by which the text is known: Tamil-marai (Tamil Veda), poyyamozhi (expositions that do not false) and theyva nool or dheiva nool (divine text). It had been placed anywhere from the second century BC to the eighth century AD, but fixed to BC 32 by a consortium of Literate. The book is considered to be a posterior to Arthashastra by some historians. It preceded Manimekalai and Silapathikaram since both the latter acknowledged Kural text. Thirukkural is and remains to be the book that has been translated into the most number of languages and hence it is called “Ulaga Podhu Marai”.
Thirukural (or the Kural) is a collection of 1330 Tamil couplets organized into 133 chapters. Each chapter has a specific subject ranging from “ploughing a piece of land” to “ruling a country”. The Tamil word Kural means Venpa verse with two lines. Thirukkural comes under one of the four categories of Venpas (Tamil verses) called Kural Venpa. The 1330 couplets are divided into 3 sections and 133 chapters. Each chapter contains 10 couplets. A couplet consists of seven cirs, with four cirs in the first line ant three in the second. A cir is a single word or a combination of more than one Tamil Words. For example,Thirukkural is a cir formed by combining the two words Thiru and Kural, i.e. Thiru + Kural = Thirukkural .
Thirukkural has been translated into all the major languages of the World. In English Rev. G.U Pope’s translation is very widely known. There are many others who have translated Thirukkural completely or some parts of it. Amongst them are Kindersley, F.W.Ellis, W.H.Drew, C.E.Gover, E.G.Robinson, Rev.G.Lazarus, T.M.Scott and H.A. Popley. Thirukkural has been translated into LATIN by Fr.Bechie and Dr. Grawl. A.F.Gammers and Friendrich Ruckert have translated it into GERMAN. Prominent among the translators in FRENCH are E.Ariel, P.G. Dumast and Louis Jacolliot.
Yeoman services have been done in this respect in Tamilnadu by illustrious people like Sri.V.V.S.Iyer, Rajaji, K.M.Balasubramaniam, K.Srinivasan, Ki.Va Jagannathan and many others. This work of English translation of Thirukkural by Dr. Rajaram belongs to this genre. Translations of Thirukkural have also come out in other languages like Hindi,Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Oriya.
800 years ago commentaries were written on Thirukkural by 10 wise and learned scholars like Dharumar, Manakkudavar, Dhamathar, Nacchar, Thirumalair, Mallar, Paaripperumal , Kalingar, Parithiar and Parimelazhagar. There is no doubt that Parimelazhagar’s commentary had been popular than those of the 9 others who preceded him. During the 19th 20th Centuries more than a hundred came forward to bring out commentaries and research works on Thirukkural.
In his introduction, Dr Rajaram has rightly observed: ‘Thirukkural as a book that deals with the art of living is gaining increasing acceptance. It transcends national boundaries, historical, social limitations and language barriers. It makes great sense and relevance even today and for all times. Among the ethical works in Indian languages, Thirukkural stands supreme. Thirukkural was written 2000 years ago. It was more truly presented in a language that was in vogue at the time.Thiruvalluvar, who brought out ‘Thirukkural’, the book for all ages, was an eminent and exceptional scholar endowed with divine quality. He was a not only a sage with a human heart but also a psychologist with a deep insight into the complexities of human nature and a philosopher with a urge to reform’.
No wonder Maha-kavi Bharatiyar has rightly observed for all time: ‘Tamilnadu gave unto the world Valluvar and thereby won great renown’. In my view the following verse is totally applicable to Thirukkural of Thiruvalluar:
“One page of Thiruvalluvar can
Teach us more of man
Than all the sages can”.
Thirukkural is divided into three sections. They are (in the order)
அறத்துப்பால் (VIRTUE)
பொருட்பால் (WEALTH)
இன்பத்துப்பால் (LOVE)
I am presenting blow one sample page relating to the GLORY OF GOD from Dr. Raja ram’s book under review.
For the benefit of our discerning readers I am also presenting blow a magnificent summary in Tamil of Thirukkural by a great Tamil scholar, Madurai Ki. Palaniappan. In my view, this master frame work prepared by Madurai Ki. Palaniappan will serve as a permanent guide to all scholars of Tamil literature in the future:
Literature has been defined as good writing which has a truth to tell about people and their world, and tells the truth in a way which compels a sensitive reader to re-live the writer’s experience with his own mind and emotion. It grows out of experience and response, and conveys both. It does so through native talent, and acquired skills, working with content, form and style to create a tone. It has no borders or boundaries. Language, religion, country, theme, manner or even time, cannot confine it. It is ageless, timeless, measureless and universal. Literature has form and feature, expression and suggestion, smiles and laughter, tears and lamentations, anger and pleasure, love and hate, hopes as well as disappointments. It may be simple or complex, easy or difficult. It may explain or perplex, hide or reveal. It may spring from innocence, or from experience. It has an endless variety of moods and modes. Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural is a great work of world literature in this sense.
Dr Rajaram is a distinguished man of letters and literature. This beautiful work of English translation of Thirukkural by Dr Rajaram is marked by a rare literary flavour and poetic sensibility. His translation gives a cubic content to the famous observation of the great American poet Robert Frost who wrote that ‘great poetry is nothing but a beautiful marriage of sound and sense’. Dr Rajaram has achieved this sublime effect in his following lines of English translation of some of the verses of Thirukkural:
“Smile, charity, pleasant words and civility
These four are marks of true nobility.
Dig deeper the sand-well, more water flows,
Read deeper, more wisdom grows”.
* * * * * *
Great thoughts you got there, believe I may possibly try just some of it throughout my daily life.
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