Professional Documents
Culture Documents
to 4th century AD) literature composition. It has 1,330 couplets or kurals. It was authored by the
The Thirukkural is one of the most important works in the Tamil language. This is reflected in some of
the other names by which the text is given by such as Tamil marai (Tamil Vedas); poyyamozhi
Just like Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavad-Gita and other scriptures, Thirukkural is also replete
Thirukkural has 133 chapters, each containing 10 couplets. Broadly speaking, all the 133 chapters can
be divided into three sections: Righteousness, Wealth and Love. In the text below, the serial number
of each couplet appears on the top, followed by its Tamil text and then by its near-literal translation in
English.
Practising as well as aspiring managers could draw quite a few lessons from Thirukkural. Here is a
Leadership
Leadership is more of an attitude and a way of living and behaving. It is about opening ones heart. It
is about inspiring those around one. It is about leading others by example. It is about standing up for
subjects.
A leaders life is not easy. Following dharma (righteousness) is his/her foremost trait. Being impartial
cease from practicing Dharma on all possible occasions to the best of your ability.
Intuition plays an important role in the life of a leader. Steve Jobs life is a living example of this trait.
Mergers and acquisitions often follow the rule of tying up with a former adversary in business. Google
acquired Android, YouTube and Motorola Mobility, so as to extend the reach of its business as also to
Thirukkural has chapters which are intended for developing and managing kingdoms. The attributes of
an ideal kingdom mentioned in the ancient text are equally applicable to the contemporary corporate
world.
738
This can be interpreted to mean that a great company is one which has a strong brand image amongst
all its stakeholders. Healthy and vibrant employees form the backbone of a company. By generating a
surplus for its shareholders, wealth gets created. A culture which enables fertile imagination and
innovation ensures its long-term survival and well-being. A result-oriented but relaxed culture results
into greater happiness of its employees. Guarding the companys assets material as well as
Management
Managers need to be resolute, decisive and action-oriented. Loyalty to the management and operating
within the company policy paradigm are two of the several qualities they need to have.
Stephen Covey has spoken of the habit of sharpening the saw. The poet also emphasizes the need to
Planning, and thinking ahead, needs to be given a high priority. Want to beat the competition? Know
strength of his plan, his own resources, the strength of the enemy and that of the ally.
Restraining anger is important. Anger is also an important weapon in a managers arsenal. It can be
used to put in place a team member who might be getting too big for his boots. When held back and
allowed to simmer within, it can be used very effectively. Patience and forbearance are recommended.
assailed; they allow their anger to smoulder within till the right time comes.
the world if the right time and the right place are chosen.
Management is all about getting things done. A smart manager would know what needs to be done,
who is the best person for doing it, and the right time to get it done.
it and the appropriate time for doing it, must all be duly weighed.
Meetings
Here are some guidelines on when to speak, how to speak and what to speak.
five things resources, means, the time, the nature of the deed, and the place.
Getting Hired
Whether we are hiring a chartered accountant or an engineer, the cultural fit with the company is of
great importance. People who sound the same based on their CVs are all different. Their value
systems are determined by the family they belong to and the environment they have grown up in.
organization? These are some of the questions to be asked so as to ensure that we make better hiring
decisions.
The poet also exhorts us to make a hiring choice with due diligence.
when once the choice is made, let no suspicions crawl into your soul.
tenacity of purpose, birth in a respectable family, welfare of people, profound learning and
perseverance.
Like all spiritual texts, Thirukkural also extols the virtues of connecting with ones inner self.
Helping others in a self-less manner may result into long-term loyalists getting developed. However,
help rendered to an ungrateful person could be a waste of ones time and efforts.
but it is good to forget then and there the injury done by another.
Loose talk, inane gossip and back-biting happen to be some of the tricks of making enemies and
losing friends!
may have forgotten the art of making friends through suavity of speech.
Renown
Truth
soul.
True knowledge
light.
Will Power
Challenges
When it comes to cautioning leaders and managers against amorous advances within the confines of
their place of work, Thirukkural is silent. However, it is interesting to note that in the Love section, it
does deal with matters of romance, sex and lust. If there are observations from the view-point of the
so-called sterner sex, we also find insights from the delicately nurtured amongst us. To that extent,
the text may be held to demonstrate a decent level of gender parity. Chivalry is far from being dead!
Each kural is complete in itself. It deserves to be meditated upon, one at a time, and imbibed in our
day-to-day lives. One wonders at the keen observations of the poet, his sagacity and the effort he has
taken to collate and compile this beautiful work, replete with words of wisdom which continue to be as