Seetharaman finds fault with Thirukural
The Finance Minister’s statement came a day after it was announced that the GDP growth rate of the country fell to 4.5 per cent, slowest in over six years
Following the announcement of the economic slow down in the country, the Finance Minister was worried. She went to the local library and borrowed all the Tamil poetry she could lay her hands on. The PM had recently quoted from Kanian Poonkunranar, his immortal words “Yadhum ooray yaavarum kelir” while departing for Iceland for an international conference on Deep Sea Fishing – an event that emphasized the right of fish everywhere not to respect national borders, so KP was out. He didn’t know a thing about economy anyway, she figured.
After a quick glance at avvaiyaar, tholkappiar, kambar at al, her eyes fell on the ever reliable Thiruvalluvar. Turning quickly to Porutpal, she thought there was something the matter with Kural 515 that read
அறிந்தாற்றிச் செய்கிற்பாற் கல்லால் வினைதான்
சிறந்தானென் றேவற்பாற் றன்று.
(A king’s work can only be accomplished by a man of wisdom and patient endurance; it is not of a nature to be given to one from mere party attachment)
Could the PM have really made a mistake in choosing her for the post? Impossible. Even if he had any inclination to err, surely the HM would not allow it.So that is alright.
Tiruvalluvar must have got it wrong.
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