45.2 Securing the Friendship of Great Men

 45.2 Securing the Friendship of Great Men

Question:

Why should a leader have counselors to advise him?

 

Answer:

Who is there strong enough to destroy the king who has

counselors who would reprove him when he errs?                       (Couplet- 447)

A king without the help of courageous counselors who can rebuke

him will destroy himself even if there is no enemy to destroy him.        (Couplet - 448)

 

             இடிக்குந் துணையாரை யாள்வரை யாரே

கெடுக்குந் தகைமை யவர்.                                                           (குறள் – 447)

இடிப்பாரை இல்லாத ஏமரா மன்னன்

கெடுப்பா ரிலானுங் கெடும்.                                                        (குறள் – 448)

 

 

According to Valluvar, a king (or a leader) who has counselors who can reprove him when he makes a mistake will be benefitted from their advice. The advice of the counselors will help the king (leader) to make the right decision. Therefore, a king with courageous counselors cannot be destroyed by his enemies.

It is unusual for a king to encounter direct criticism. Kings and leaders are usually surrounded by sycophants who shower false praises and rarely offer any criticism. But listening to the sycophants and ignoring those who dare to criticize is detrimental to a king or a leader. Valluvar considers that it is very important for a king to listen to his advisors who are bold enough to offer bitter criticism. According to Valluvar, a king without courageous counselors who can criticize him will destroy himself even if there is no enemy to destroy him.

Of course, it is not enough to have counselors who can offer criticism. The king should listen to their criticism, however harsh and bitter it is and analyze the merits of such criticism and follow their advice whenever they deserve consideration. 

 

In the modern era, in the democratic forms of governments, the role of the opposition party is to offer meaningful criticism to the rulers. In the corporate environment, the Board of directors and the shareholders have the right to criticize the CEO. So, Valluvar’s idea regarding listening to bitter criticism has now become a routine practice in the organizations of the present era. Of course, it is an entirely different matter whether such criticisms are being accepted and acted upon by those who are in power.