Thirukkural: Short verses, long forgotten

Thirukkural—this two-line wonder—has been an integral part of our lives in various forms since childhood. Yet, I hadn't picked up that small book in a long time, except when my husband asked for the meaning of a Kural quoted by a politician in a speech or recited by finance ministers during Budget presentations. (I’ve always wondered why quoting Thirukkural has become a ritual, even for finance ministers with no connection to Tamil Nadu!)

That aside, my interest in this seven-word marvel was recently rekindled by The Times of India initiative, where famous personalities share their favorite Thirukkural. As I listened to their experiences, I was surprised at how many Kurals I could recall effortlessly, despite never having consciously studied them.

In school, I was a Sanskrit and Hindi student, so my Tamil lessons never came from textbooks. Yet, my love for Tamil never faded—thanks to my father. He always had a Kural ready for every situation, and perhaps that’s how I picked up quite a few over the years.

One of his most frequently quoted Kurals was:

இன்னாசெய் தாரை ஒறுத்தல் அவர்நாண
நன்னயஞ் செய்து விடல்.

Meaning: When someone does anything bad to you, in return, do something good to them. Don’t get into tit-for-tats. 

As an irritable teenager (as most teens are), I would take offence at the smallest disagreements—with my brother, friends, or relatives. My father’s way of calming me down was always this Kural. Back then, it only made me angrier! But now, I see the wisdom in his words.

Interestingly, The Times of India initiative also sparked a conversation with a friend from my resident community. She, too, had similar memories of her mother quoting various Kurals in everyday life, their meanings unfolding through real-life experiences. That got me thinking: our parents had a natural, practical way of instilling values through these simple yet profound verses. By seamlessly weaving Thirukkural into daily conversations, they not only taught moral values but also nurtured a love for literature.

But how many millennial parents can do that today? I wonder how many young parents can recall even five or ten Kurals from memory, let alone their meanings. In our rush to emulate the Western world, we seem to have overlooked the richness of our traditions and the wisdom of our elders.

Back then, school curriculums included recitation and memorization competitions where students learned Kurals by heart. These contests, driven by a healthy spirit of learning, developed clear and fluent speech and sharpened our memory—an ability that proved useful across subjects. Today, the focus has narrowed to appearing for Olympiad exams.

As a teacher, it saddens me to see students struggling with Tamil, often calling it the hardest subject. How did we reach this point? Perhaps it’s time to revive some of those old practices—not just for the sake of tradition, but for the invaluable lessons they carry.

(Do you have a Kural to quote? Please share.)

எப்பொருள் யார்யார் வாய்கேட்பினும் அப்பொருள்

மெய்ப்பொருள் காண்ப தறிவு.   

"Whatever you hear, from whomever you hear it, true wisdom lies in discerning its deeper meaning and true essence."