CONCLUSION (முடிவுரை)

Tiruvalluvar’s epic has inspired and guided millions of people for centuries. I was moved and wonder stuck by Tirukkural the first time I was exposed to it, and continue to be each time I re- read it. My professional career that has revolved around technology, research, management and business operations has for the past several decades drawn me back to the Tirukkural’s timeless teachings as well as the highly relevant and practical concepts it espouses.This work is my attempt at connecting my professional experience in business with teachings of this great work with the hope that it would inspire others to find their own interpretations and meanings from it.

A. Sampath 

Candour (நேர்மை)

Justice (நீதி) 

A Chief executive has to maintain his impartiality at any cost if he wants to command  respect from all his colleagues. This advice gains very great significance, as whole lot of people ranging from labour to top executives as well as all sections of public like customers and other interacting business associates relay on his impartial judgement. This goodwill will ensure the success for him in all his endeavours owing to respect and cooperation he will get from one and all, in all situations. Leadership with Trust is the most essential trait of a Leader to ensure good governance of a corporate sector or a government body at any level.  The golden couplet is given below.

சமன்செய்து சீர்தூக்குங் கோல்போல் அமைந்தொருபால்

கோடாமை சான்றோர்க் கணி. (118)

 Samanseithu Seerthookung Kolpol Amainthorupaal

 Kodaamai Saandrork Kani.

     

எடை நிறுக்கும் தராசின் முள் போல, நடுநிலை வகிப்பதே   
நேர்மையாளர்களுக்கு சிறந்த அணிகலன் ஆகும்

To be impartial without leaning to anyone side like a pointer of a

scale is the ornament of the wise.

Feedback and Counseling (விமர்சனம் கேட்டலும் ஆலோசனையும்)

Absence of Critics (விமர்சகர்கள் துணை இன்மை)

As mentioned earlier,king can be considered as the person holding top post in any organisation and the post is very lonely. He is responsible for taking lot of crucial decisions in many fields. As a human, anyone one is liable to commit mistakes with error of judgement. What is required is sincere well intended councillors to point out any mistakes then and then with brutal honesty. The chief must provide enough freedom and encourage such learned people to voice their advice, without any reservation. Humility to respect expert’s views would help him in understanding all issues and take remedial measures at the right time. In the absence of such support, an organisation, even in the absence of any rival to spoil it, would be in peril on it’s own accord.

இடிப்பாரை இல்லாத ஏமரா மன்னன்
கெடுப்பார் இலானும் கெடும் (448)

 Idipparai Illaatha Eamara Mannan
 Keduppar Ilanum Kedum
     

கடிந்து அறிவுரை கூறும் பெரியோரின் துணை இல்லா அரசன் அவனை கெடுக்கும் பகைவைன் இல்லா விட்டாலும் கெடுவான்.

King not surrounded by learned, criticising his actions with candour coupled with good advice will get destroyed, even if he does not have any enemy to carry out the act.

Forbearance (சகிப்புத் தன்மை)

There is natural tendency for all subordinates  to say ‘yes’ or simply keep quiet in presence of top boss, so as to be in the good books of the chief. Though, it may massage the ego of the top person, he will not get to know true opinions of individuals. On the other hand, if the chief has the maturity to bear with any harsh words thrown by his subordinates, and encourage others to voice their true feelings or thoughts he would find himself to become very popular with his colleagues who would support him for good decisions and boldly express their objections about the wrong ones. As the chief himself encourages healthy criticism, the whole system would tend to adopt the same culture at all levels of management, resulting in great respect for the chief with loyal following.  The thought provoking couplet is given below.

செவிகைச் சொற்பொறுக்கும் பண்புடை வேந்தன்

கவிகைக் கீழ்தங்கும் உலகு (389)

   

Sevigaich Sorporukkum Panpudai Vendan

Kavikaik Keezhthangum Ulagu

 நல்லெண்ணத்துடன் கூறப்படும், காதுகளை குடையும் கடுமையான
 சொற்களையும் பொறுக்கும் நற்குணமுடைய அரசனின் பின் உலகமே இருக்கும்

A king with the patience to bear well intended criticism, though   

very bitter, will find the whole world behind him at all times.

Danger of High Risk Venture ( உயர் அபாய துணிகர செயலின் ஆபத்து )

Exeeding safety Limits (பாதுகாப்பு வரம்பை மீறுதல்)

This  generic advice, stresses the need for caution against over doing anything in any field. Over expansion, excessive production, excessive inventory, cost overrun, top heavy management etc can be detrimental to the basic health of a company, if not adequately controlled. The idea of bringing analogy of peacock’s feather which is very light in weight,  is to caution people that though individual action seemingly small when accumulated will have deleterious cascading effect ruining company in total.  The couplet is given below.

பீலிபெய் சாகாடும் அச்சிரும் அப்பண்டம்  
சால மிகுத்துப் பெரின் (475)

Peelupai Saagadum Achchirm Appandam
Sala Mikuththup Perin.

மெல்லிய மயிலிரகே என்றாலும், கூடுதலாக வண்டியில்   

ஏற்றினால் அவ்வண்டியின் அச்சு முறிந்து விடும்

Even peacock’s feathers light in weight, if over loaded in a bandy,

will break the wheels.

Over confidence ( அசட்டு துணிச்சல்)

This is the warning given to those who tend to act over zealously throwing caution to winds. One must know his limits and avoid overreaching beyond his capability. While the earlier ‘Kural’ brings out the snowballing effect of small acts mushrooming into uncontrollable proportion, this one advises against over confidence in action that can  endanger his very existence.

நுனிக்கொம்பர் ஏறினார் அஃதிறந்தூ ஊக்கின்
உயிருக்கிறுதி யாகி விடும்  ( 476 )

Nunikkombar Earinaar Akthiran Thookin
Uyirukkiruthi Yaagi Vidum.

ஒரு கிளையின் நுனி வரையில் ஏறியவர், மேலும் செல்ல முற்பட்டால்
அது அவரின் உயிருக்கே ஆபத்தாக முடியும்.

 After reaching the end of a branch, if one attempts to advance   

 further, it will endanger his life.