Tirukkural relevant today: Kalam

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, MAY 14. Research on Tirukkural should also focus on the intellectual capabilities of the saint Tiruvalluvar, Dr. A. P. J. Kalam, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Centre, said here on Sunday.

Handing over the first copy of a book on Tirukkural, brought out by the International Tamil Language Foundation, to Mr. A. Sivananthar, president, Bhagavan Adhi Tiruvalluvar Gnana Madam, Thattanpadi, Kerala, he said despite being written about 2,200 years ago, Tirukkural, was able to instil a deep sense of dynamism and motivation to its readers even today. The verses were of great relevance in the present day context and could be motivating and guiding factors for scientists, teachers and students alike.

Recalling his early days as a scientist, he said scientists such as Vikram Sarabhai could be thought of as shining examples, professed in some of the `kurals'.

At the conclusion of his speech, Dr. Kalam prayed for the country's people to be ``propelled with good thoughts'', religious leaders to be endowed with thoughts that would unite the nation and for ``our leaders to place the country above self''.

Mr. Alagappa Rammohan, Director, International Tamil Language Foundation, said the compilation of the book had taken 10 years.

Other objectives were to bring out a section ``Kamathupal'' in 25 ragas and kurals, knowledge transfer on subjects such as physics for the schoolchildren, with Tamil translation, establishing Tamil circles and valluvar arivagams, all over the globe.

The book is slated for release at Malaysia, Toronto, Miami and Chicago, shortly. Abstracts of the book had been sent to nearly 50,000 libraries in the US, he added.

The Foundation would also provide a culture-scape of the Tamils, in both English and Tamil, under 25 headings, to promote the Tamil culture.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Regional
Previous : Water supply given priority in State: Stalin
Next     : Female infanticide a cause for concern