Know to rise - 3

Friday, May 25, 2007
Know to rise - 3
A Tamil poet by name Namakkal Kavignar (Ramalingam Pillai) used to travel widely. Once when he was travelling, he stopped in a village and asked for a glass of water to quench his thirst. When he received the glass, he found some dirt particles floating in the water and refused to drink it. The host pointed out to the poet that as per an old Tamil saying, one can insult even one's own mother, but should never insult water. (Thayai pazhithalum thanneerai pazhikkathey!) The host said to the poet to take the water and not insult by rejecting it.
The poet became thoughtful. He thought that Tamilians' civilization dates back to several hundred years. Drinking contaminated water is a health hazard. He could not believe that ancient Tamilians could have believed in a saying like this one.
He thought about this for several days and then it struck him that there must have been a corruption or mutilation in the saying when it passed from person to person and generation to generation. He concluded that the original saying must have been "thaayai pizhaithalum thanneerai pizhaikkathey!" - meaning, even if you do something wrong to your mother, don't do anything wrong to water. This appeared to the poet to be more sensible. In a fit of anger or ingnorance, some one can scold his mother, she may excuse him. But even unknowingly if a person spoils or contaminates water, he is creating a health hazard to himself and his immediate neighbourhood.
There are, as I have been saying and have started posting on blogspace, many such olden sayings misunderstood and misinterpreted. Let us rectify these misunderstandings and march forward to the light of knowledge, awareness for our own good!
11:57:38 AM
Posted By Listen to Me Comments (1) Musings
Comments
K.Venugopal Friday, May 25, 2007 5:09:42 PM
Your example is simply great. We have indeed to think deeply whether all handed down knowledge has been handed down properly or even if they are relevant to the present times. We should stretch the bed to fit our body and not cut our body to fit the bed!