102.2 Sense of Shame

                                                           102.2 Sense of Shame

(102.2 நாணுடைமை)

 

Question:

                For someone with a sense of shame which is more important, his life or sense of shame?

 

Answer:

Men with a sense of shame will renounce their life to defend

their honor and not their sense of shame for the sake of life.         (Couplet – 1017)

 

நாணால் உயிரைத் துறப்பர் உயிர்ப்பொருட்டால்

நாண்துறவார் நாணாள் பவர்.                                                     (குறள் – 1017)

 

Explanation:

                For men who value their honor, their sense of shame is more important than their life itself. They would readily sacrifice their lives to defend their honor, not vice versa. There have been people who have actually sacrificed their lives to defend their honor.

In ancient Tamil literature (Sangam literature), we see references to people vadakkiruththal (வடக்கிருத்தல்) which was a form of suicide by sitting facing north and starving till death to defend their honor. During the war at a place called Venni (வெண்ணி) between Karikaal Peruvlathththaan (கரிகால் பெருவளத்தான்) and the Chera king Ceramaan Perunjseeralaathan (சேரமான் பெருஞ்சேரலாதன்), the Chera king felt humiliated when he suffered an injury at his back when an arrow pierced his chest and wounded him. According to Tamil tradition, being injured at the back during a war was considered a major humiliation. Unable to bear the humiliation, the Chera king died sitting facing north. In poem 65 of Puranaanuuru, the poet Kazhaaththalaiyaar (கழாத்தலையார்) mentions this incidence and expresses his sorrow at the death of the Chera king.

 

In Puranaanuuru, it is mentioned that Chola King Koppernjcholan was deeply disappointed when his sons were ready to wage war against him. Vexed at the treacherous deed of his sons, he died sitting facing north.

 

In addition to Tamil culture, we notice similar instances of people sacrificing their lives to protect their honor in other cultures also. For example, in Japanese culture, when someone has failed in his duties, been found guilty of a major crime, or suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of an enemy or a competitor, they feel their honor is at stake. Under these circumstances, it is not unusual for some people to commit suicide by cutting their stomachs with a knife. These people resort to extreme measures because they feel their honor is more valuable than their own life. In the Japanese language, this type of suicide is called hara-kiri. Though these are not unusual, they are relatively rare.

 

William Shakespeare reflects the same sentiment in his play,  Troilus and Cressida, where he says, “Life every man holds dear; but the dear man holds honor far more precious dear than life.”