#Thirukkural is one of the seminal works in Tamil Literature. Though it is referred to by various authorities and scholars, it has not gained as much in-depth attention as it ought to have got in respect of determining Social and personal values. Even within Tamilnadu, it is not in common use by the ordinary citizens and students, as much as any other work of its nature would in any other language.
The Thirukkural consists of 1330 couplets of seven words in two lines each. It is divided into 133 chapters, which are in turn divided into #Aram (Righteousness or #Dharma) consisting of 38 Chapters and 380 couplets, #Porul (Wealth or #Artha) consisting of 70 chapters and 700 couplets and #Inbam (Bliss or #Kama) consisting of 25 chapters and 250 couplets.
Apart from the depth of the subjects handled in the above said 1330 couplets, the tightly woven style and the crisp manner in which it has been delivered, the relevance of the subject to every day life is very note worthy. In spite of that, if it has not gained as much attention as the #Arthasashtra, or The #Prince, or the #Art of War, it has been felt that it did not have an easily understandable English translation in couplet form.
In an attempt towards this, on a path which very many have already travelled, I also embarked almost 23 years ago.
During the travel, however, I felt that the couplets could be re-classified into Aram, Porul, Inbam and #Veedu (Dharma-Artha-Kama-Moksha) with the 108 Chapters of Aram and Porul itself in the light of a poem by Saint #Avayar. I have explained it in the preface.
Smt. #M.A.Susila, a Tamil Scholar, Writer, Translator of great works including that of #Dostoevsky and a Retired Professor has been kind enough to go through my attempt and approve of it with a large heart.
Shri. #C. Rajendiran of the #Voice of Valluvar family has given his good wishes.
I owe a lot to Dr. N.V.K Ashraf and Shri. V. Gopalan for their valuable guidance and help in finalising the translations.
While attempts are on to get it published in such a manner that it could be easily available for those within Tamilnadu as well as outside, at an affordable price, I am giving below my preface and the review of the work by Smt. M.A.Susila, for those interested in the subject:
Review and Preface to Thirukkural 108 Retold in English
Coimbatore
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