41.1 Illiteracy

 41.1 Illiteracy

Question:

What does Valluvar say about illiterate people?

Answer:

The illiterate people are as useless as the barren land,

which gives no yield, and they simply exist.                          (Couplet – 406)

The form and charm of one without keen, brilliant, and vast

knowledge are like those of an exquisitely made clay doll.   (Couplet – 407)

There is as much difference between the learned and the

ignorant as between human beings and beasts.                      (Couplet – 410)

 

உளரென்னும் மாத்திரையர் அல்லால் பயவாக்

களரனையர் கல்லா தவர்.                                                 (குறள் – 406)

நுண்மாண் நுழைபுலம் இல்லான் எழில்நலம்

மண்மாண் புனைபாவை யற்று.                                       (குறள் – 407)

விலங்கொடு மக்கள் அனையர் இலங்குநூல்

கற்றாரோடு ஏனை யவர்.                                                 (குறள் – 410)

Explanation:

    Valluvar employs a technique to insist on his readers to emphasize the importance of learning and gaining knowledge. His technique consists of four approaches for convincing others to accept his ideas. The first approach is to state the facts. The second approach is to differentiate the idea from other similar ideas. The third approach is to inform the other person about the beneficial consequences of following the suggested idea. The fourth approach emphasizes the negative consequences (like punishment) for not following the proposed idea. In Sanskrit, this approach is known as “Saama bhedha dhaana dhandam”. Suppose a mother has prepared food for her child and the child shows no interest in eating the food. First, the mother may tell the child to eat the food. If the child shows no interest in eating, the mother may say to the child that his brother ate the food like a good boy, and he should also do the same. If the child still refuses to eat, she may tell the child she would give him a toy or a gift if he eats the food. If the child still resists, finally, she may end up saying that she may not talk to him if he does not eat. Hopefully, one of these approaches will work, and the child may eat the food. Diplomats often use these types of approaches during their negotiations.

Valluvar uses this approach in many chapters.

 

    Valluvar wants to encourage the illiterates to learn and gain knowledge. So, he uses the technique of differentiating between the literate and illiterate. He says that the illiterate people are useless like the barren land which produces no yield, they are like a decorated doll made of clay, and they are like beasts hoping that they will realize their shortcomings. In the next chapter, he suggests that even if one has not had any formal learning, they can still benefit from listening to the learned people.