AN INTRODUCTION TO
THE STUDY OF TIRUVALLUVAR
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A lecture by
Prof. Avvai S. Duraiswamy Pillai
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with a Foreword
by
T. Sundaram Chettiar B. Com.,
DY. GOVERNOR.304, SOUTH LIONS’ INTERNATIONAL,
MADURAI
It will not be an exaggeration if we say that of all the great poets, philosophers and thinkers of the ancient as well as modern times, Thiruvalluvar stands foremost. But it is a matter for regret that his immortal work, Thirukkural, perhaps the greatest and noblest literary creation the human intellect has ever produced, is not so much known to the outside world as those of Homer or Virgil, Plato or Aristotle, Dante or Goethe and Shakespeare or Milton.
Even in India, beyond the boundaries of Tamilnadu, the knowledge and study of Thiruk¬kural is deplorably meager and though it far exceeds in its grand and noble conception of the philosophy of life, both material and spiritual, and in its scientific treatment of the four branches, viz., Aram, Porul, Inbham and Veedu. It has not become as much popular as Ghita or Upanishads. The reason for this sorry state of affairs is not far to seek. Despite the fact that Thirukkural, according to one of its titles – Podhumarai – is common to all nations, all religions and acceptable for all times, it still remains a sealed book and a forbidden fruit to many of the Indians and to the foreigners. We have to blame ourselves for this, because, while people of other countries, why even our brethren like Bengalis, are propagating their language and literature throughout the world, we are vainly indulging in our glorious past.
Yet it is gratifying to note that attempts are now being made by Tamil scholars, educational and other cultural bodies to spread the knowledge of Thirukkural among the peoples of the world and it is being translated in different languages by competent authors. I am particularly glad that one of such attempts by my esteemed and learned friend Professor Avvai S.Doraiswami Pillai has resulted in the form of a paper entitled as “An Introduction To The Study of Thiruvalluvar”, which he has been now brought out in a book form with a view to help the non-Tamils to have access to the greatest, most valuable and inexhaustible treasure-Thirukkural. While con¬gratulating Professor Avvai S. Doraiswami Pillai on his achievement, I wish that he and other Scholars of Tamil should offer many more such treatises to non-Tamils especially to Europeans and Americans.
T.SUNDARAM.
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