ANNA
DREAMS OF TAMILS UPLIFT
Mr. Chancellor, Mr.
Pro-Chancellor Mr. Vice- Chancellor, Graduates of the Year and Friends:
Thankful as I am for
the unique honor conferred on me by this institution, it is not without
hesitation as a good deal of trepidation that I stand before this august
assembly to-day to deliver the Convocation address, for though it is a pleasure
to be present on the happy occasion of greeting the graduates of the year and
wishing them all a bright and prosperous future, it is not an easy task to
place before them appropriate guidelines-conscious as I am of my own limitations
and aware of the eminence of those who stood at this rostrum in the past and
gave weighty and worthy advice to the graduates. Stalwarts in various walks of
life, scholars of erudition and experience, administrators of rare abilities,
have all been here to deliver instructive discourses, and I do not for a moment
imagine that I have the capacity to add any thing substantial to what has been
already said by those who preceded me. I am convinced therefore that to be
called upon to deliver this address is
not so much an invitation as a command to me bestow the most careful and
considered thought on the role of Universities in general and of the Annamalai
University in particular.
The fact that I am
conscious of my own limitations gives me a sense of relief, for attempt I shall
not to offer original ideas or theories with a special stamp, but only
reiterate some of the cardinal principles enunciated by those who offered their
a advice in past years, perhaps with annotations here and there, bringing to
bear the lay-man’s point of view to the findings of experts in various fields
connected with education.
This is the age of the
common man-whatever the regrets some might have –and it’s his point of view
that matters most and I do claim to represent him in all his ruggedness.
Systems and schools of
thought, whether it is in philosophy or politics, ethics or economics, are certainly
meant for him. Of course, the interpretation should come from scholars and
experts and the art of translating them into every day activity is to be
undertaken by the administrators. Universities, as the repositories of
knowledge and the nursing ground for the emissaries of thought wisdom and service,
have got a prominent role to play-and
the prominence is growing every day, as more and more individuals get
themselves equipped for the task of bettering society in all its age when we
have eschewed monarchy and autocracy and have inaugurated the era of democracy.
During the monarchical
or feudal days, Universities had to train scholars and poets to adorn the
chambers of Royalty or the gilded mansions of Lord and nobles and their wisdom
was meant for the mansion, not for the market place. Those were days when
numbers did not count, nor were eminent scholars asked to face the problems
confronting the masses. They were content to work in secluded spheres, far from
the din and noise of the common man and weave the costly fabric of philosophy
of poetry which on turn was to be converted into dazzling garments for the
select and the privileged.
The role of the
University to-day is not cloistered and confined as in the past. Its function
has been enlarged-not in its fundamentals but in its domain. It has to take
into account the commonness, but to trim and train, guide and lead him, for
asked to do his duty as the citizen of a democracy-a task which kindles sweet
hopes but which demands, patience and perseverance, faith and confidence, faith
in himself and in others and confidence in his inherent ability to shoulder the
responsibilities. The common man has become the birth place of a potential
ruler and the duty today, the responsibility today of the universities is to
fashion out of him as an individual fitted and equipped for the task of making
democracy fruitful and effective.
I said that the duties
and responsibilities of Universities have grown in dimension and scope, but
pointed out that the fundamentals remain unaltered and these fundamentals are
of permanent value and of perennial interest. The supreme task before the
University is to give those who seek a vision of knowledge in its true
proportions and perspectives, to maintain the sovereignty of ideas and ideals
in the world. A balanced mind, the ability to discriminate between what is
merely trivial and what is important, the capacity to look at a problem from
all its angles without fear or favour, to be tolerant of the other man’s point
of view. These are fundamentals which are unalterable and it’s only the
universities that can provide society with a continuous stream of men and women
endowed with these qualities.
While addressing the University
of Brussels, Dr.S.Radhakrishnan, our former president, made the following
statement:
“For its proper
functioning democracy requires more qualities than other forms of government.
It is in the universities that we can develop the true spirit of democracy,
appreciation of other points of view and adjustment of differences through
discussions. It can be kept healthy and strong by the exercise of individual
responsibility and judgement.in universities we have to re-call the struggles
of the past and realize the perils and possibilities, the challenges and opportunities,
of the present.”
Democracy is not a form
of government alone –it is an invitation to a new life-an experiment in the art
of sharing responsibilities and benefits-an attempt to generate the common
task. Hence we cannot afford to waste a single talent, improverish a single man
or woman or allow a single individual to be stunted in growth or held under
tyranny and the universities should through the graduates it sends forth year
after year, annihilate the forces that attempt at aggrandizement and tyranny,
fight against caste and hypocrisy and enthrone human dignity.
Graduates of the year,
I wish you all a prosperous future-for, after all, the immediate concern of
every individual, graduate or no graduate, is to acquire the means for a decent
living. That is the first motivation for all human activity and no one can
ignore it, but that ought not to be the sole objective. Something higher and
nobler than mere individual material advancement is expected of you – for
remember that this University education is a privilege that you enjoy, for
which you are deeply indebted to the community of which you are a member. Most
of the money needed for maintaining institutions of higher education come from
the revenues collected from the community through the State, and a good
proportion of that revenue comes from the tillers and the toilers, men who did
not enjoy this privilege, men who willingly submit themselves to discomfort, so
that they can enable the next generation to lead a better life. Graduates of
the Annamalai University, may I ask you, how you are going to repay – what is
to be your contribution to the social chest on which you have drawn so largely.
Unless you replenish it richly, coming generations will find only an empty
coffer. Your superior education increases your responsibility to society and
therefore, apart from or along with your own individual advancement, society
has got a right to expect an adequate return from you – not so much in terms of
money as in terms of service – in toning up society, in bringing light into the
dark alleys, sunshine into dingy places, solace into the afflicted, hope unto
the despondent and a new life unto every one.
That this is a welcome
and worthy ideal none would dispute, but not every one will come forward to
translate that ideal into action – and yet our ancient as well as modern
thinkers have all stated in unmistakable terms that wisdom is manifested in
action.
Unless service is the
outcome, the sermons become sweet nothings. As Jefferson stated,“We must dream of an
aristocracy of achievements arising out of a democracy of opportunities”
And when I seek your
help and co-operation in the supreme task of serving society, please do not
wink and smile and say, it is all so easy to say. I am not unaware of the
difficulties in the way, nor am I going to brush aside the influence of the
environment on you. May be, the world in which you are to begin the journey is
one which will dim your hope, disturb your determination. You may come face to
face with the unpleasant sight of practices widely differing from the principles
inculcated in you. You may find self-seekers enthroned and the patient worker
decried. Tyranny of all sorts may stare at you and every step you take will be
a struggle. I admit that the environment is such that even people with robust
optimism will be discouraged and forced to take to the part of ease and
comfort.
But, we should also
realize that a continuous stream of men and women endowed with the spirit of
service has been carrying on the crusade successfully and have conferred rich
benefit on humanity.
We, the Tamilians have
been holding aloft this ideal for more than two thousand years and hence we
find in Pura Nanuru this passage,
"c©lhš m«k ï›îyf«
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
jk¡bfd Kayh neh‹whŸ
ãw®¡bfd KaYe® c©ik
ahnd!"
As inheritors of that
rich legacy, you are best fitted to overcome even the environment and serve
society to the best of your abilities,
Anyone, who proposes to
do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept
his lot calmly if they even roll a few more upon it. A strength which becomes
clearer and stronger through its experience of such obstacles is the only
strength that can conquer them – says Albert Schweitzer.
Though the problems in
various countries are of a similar nature, the peculiarity attached to the
problems of our country is of a pronounced nature.
Ours is not case of
starting from scratch-had that been the case the only thing needed would have
been the intensity of effort to be put forth.
Ours is a case of erosion of the
mind – we are not in search of fields, but have to engage in the task of
fertilizing it, irrigating it, we are not in search of ideals, but are engaged
in the more intricate task of classifying, codifying and verifying layers of
ideals. We are not wanting in culture-but have to cleanse it from the cob-web
of time and de-adulterate it. In short, we have to re-discover ourselves, and
re-construct our entire thought. Once task to-day is to allow fresh air and
sunshine and regain the original shape and stature – that which made us well
Known is distant lands
and climes.Our literature, art and architecture are fine specimens of human
intelligence – but they bear the ravages of time and also the effect of
currents and cross currents so that to-day we have to listen to the foreign
historian or scholar in order to realize the “glory and grandeur” of our own
country.
Age commands veneration
–but unless it is recuperated, decay sets in. our culture and civilization are
hoary, but we have allowed scars and wrinkles to disfigure them. It is our duty
therefore to re-discover and re-construct what is ours and enrich it by drawing
liberally upon the achievements of other countries.
Our problem is not want
of a system –in any branch of knowledge. We have fine specimens in all spheres.
We claim also –and that rightly –immortality for our systems, but we have not
succeeded in keeping them fresh and young, effective and energetic, for we have
allowed them to decay.
If a system has to
endure, says, Dr.Radhakrishnan, it must be perpetually young and ready to
change. In other words, it must be capable of accepting new ideas, have the
resilience of mind which the young have, have the openness, flexibility and
spirit of adventure by which they accept what is given to them and transform it
out of recognition.
Eos, a goddess falling
in love with a mortal, prayed to god to grant immortality to the lover-‘yes’,
said god, and the mortal gained immortality. But he grew old, infirm, senile,
decayed –and what was a feast once to the eyes of Eos became a sight to shun
and grieve over –and he who gained immortality longed for death – for what is
life if it becomes a prey to decay? Then Eos sighed and said, “I prayed for
immortality for my lover, forgetting to pray for perpetual youth.”
We in this country are
facing some such situation – and we are in charge of the task of rejuvenating
our culture and civilization – our entire thought, instead of attempting that,
we have been, for too long a period, doting upon the decayed forms attempting
to defend them from critics and currents of new thought. And while other parts
of the world, after persistent and patient search after truth, have arrived at
new conclusions and are scaling new heights, we are content to sit near the
shattered rampart and narrate past glory.
Our religion has
degenerated into rituals, our society which was once classless and casteless
has degenerated into water –tight compartments of caste and creed and all the
while, we have kept either silent or have been supplying defense to
superstition and orthodoxy by offering liberal allowing this state of affairs
to exist, despite condemnation and protest, and, more than that, whenever a doughty
warrior comes forth to fight against the evils prevalent, we decry and denounce
him as an annihilator of noble values and hoary systems.
Periyar Ramasami
represents and symbolizes the fury and frustration in a sizable section of
society at this state of affairs. To allow systems to degenerate and at the
same time denounce those who champion the cause of rationalism is but to
perpetuate superstition and orthodoxy and allow this society of ours to get
decomposed.
Universities offer the
proper forum for a free and full discussion of these intricate problems and
graduates trained here are to go forth as emissaries of that social
reconstruction which is long over due. The country looks to centers of learning
like this
Universities to enable
the people to pursue the path of progress, braving difficulties and if need be,
courting danger.
Graduates of the
Annamalai University, let me call upon you to carry on the crusade against
caste which cannot co-exist with democracy, against superstition which cannot
co-exist with science and against tyranny of various dimensions which cannot
co-exist with liberty, equality and fraternity.
Pursuing vocations for
your and your families’ well being, you have to perform your duty towards society.
You are to become torch – bearers of rationalism – and rationalism does not
mean repudiation of basic and fundamental truths and maxims, but the
annihilation of dubious modes of thought and action. You have to work hard and
with daring and dash, for we have to clear cob-webs which are centuries old and
let reason reign supreme.
Another peculiar
feature of our times is the fact that we are a nation in the making, and if in
their anxiety to forge integration, some confuse unity with uniformity, it is
the duty of men trained here to clearly enunciate the principle and see to it
that, in the name of unity, no part of the country is made to become the vassal
of another part-knowingly or unknowingly. We cannot be a party to foul play,
however worthy the goal. Just on the eve of independence Rajaji stated with an
acumen all his own, “our political experiment is really like melting iron and
metals and pouring them in to a crucible and making an alloy, an alloy which
can stand wear and tear . It is not like the chinaware that other people have
turned out in their countries. Their democracies were easy to make – like
plastics. But we are dealing with metals.” National integration is a goal,
worthy and much – sought after, but neither in the field of language nor in the
economic sphere, could we tolerate injustice and domination. That is exactly
why this government was brought into existence – it represents the
determination of the people to be coerced into accepting Hindi as the official
language.
When we plead for the
continuance of English as the link language, some people do misrepresent us and
misinterpret our motive. They trot out untenable arguments and disputable
statistics, bring in the bogey of disintegration and want to silence people by
threats and troops. Problems were never solved by autocratic methods – and this
problem of language is intimately connected with our way of life, not for the
present alone but for the future as well.
The government of Tamilnadu
has stated in unmistakable terms that Tamil and English can serve all our
purposes, the former as the official language of this state and the latter as
the link language. If it is accepted and the most emphatic of Hindi protagonists
do accept that - if it is accepted that English can serve admirably as a link
between our state and the outside world, why plead for Hindi to be the link
language here? What serves to link us with the outside world is certainly
capable of rendering the same service inside India as well. To plead for two
link languages is like boring a smaller hole in a wall for the kitten while
there is a bigger one for the cat. What suits the cat will suit the kitten as
well
English is foreign,
some argue, as if we were out to destroy or give up everything foreign. We
bring foreign wear in foreign ships. We seek foreign aid not only in the shape
of money bur also in the from of technical know-how and not a week passes
without one or other leader undertaking a journey to the west or east to secure
whatever aid is possible to secure. And on top of all these things, we have
given up so many systems peculiarly our own.
We are not content with
rural economy, we want Trombays and Ennores. And we are not conscious of their
being foreign; only in the matter of language we pose as being ultra
–nationalists and dub the English language as foreign.
Shelly and Byron, Keats
and Coleridge, Emerson and Bacon-they are not foreign to us in the strict sense
of the term. Is Tiruvalluvar a mere Tamilian? They are all world citizens –
world teachers. And the language enshrining their thoughts is not to be
discarded just because it comes from another country. That we are not going to
accord a higher status to English is borne out by the fact that we have
accepted and are implementing with due caution the principle of making Tamil
the medium of instruction in colleges –progressively.
University education is
an epitome of all that is best in thought cultivated in various countries, and
from you should radiate universal thought and cosmopolitan ideas.
And if we are to get
all these and more from out of the graduates of the University we have to
re-examine the methods in vogue in universities, in teaching and in
administration, and so perfect them that every student feels that he is a
co-sharer of the pleasure and privilege of knowledge along with his professors.
I shall not dabble in methods of teaching or administration-experts in that
field are the natural custodians-my plea is only as regards the necessity for a
re-examination.
While the functions
assigned to universities are mostly of the same type, the Annamalai University,
by its structure and spirit, has got a special function of its own. The great
founder’s nobility and generosity has made this institution gain the esteem of
eminent men here and elsewhere; but if we analyze the thought and motive force
of Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar, we will find that he wanted this place to be
not only a seat of learning and research of Tamil Culture and Tamil polity. He
had the foresight to realize that Tamilians were going to cultivate their
special talents and that was exactly why he started and made a success of the
Tamil Isai Movement. Rajah Sir was never a man of tall talk-he believed in
solid work and he knew the time was bound to come for us to delve deep into our
annals and literature, culture and civilization and succeed in getting due and
adequate recognition in the world forum.
Truly great has been
our achievement in the field of literature. To be able to announce to the world
that we the Tamilians do process.
“e‰¿id ešy FWªbjhid
I§FWü
bwh¤j gâ‰W¥g¤ njh§F
gÇghlš
f‰w¿ªnjh® V¤J« fÈnah
lf«òwbk‹
¿¤âw¤j v£L¤ bjhif”
And to present to the
world the great Tirukkural which is a Code of Conduct for the entire humanity
are something about which we can have pardonable pride and pleasure.
And yet, are we
devoting enough attention to these Tamil Classics? Addressing the Convocation
here in 1943, the late lamented Sir R.K. Shanmukham Chetty had the following to
say:-
“I graduated with a
complete ignorance of Tamil Culture and History: in fact with a great deal of
contempt for these. I attained a fair degree of proficiency in English
literature and the history of European culture. I acquired some knowledge of
even Anglo- Saxon and Gothic. I read the translation of the Bible in the Gothic
language , but I had not read the Kural of Valluvar. I could understand
Chaucer, but the name of Ilango was nothing but a name. Even after leaving
College, I kept alive my interest in these studies and built up a Library in
which there was not a single Tamil book.
In my early youth when
I lived in a world of my own with no sense of responsibility, all this made no
difference to me and I was proud of my learning. Soon when manhood came with
its cares and problems, I found myself a stranger in my own home…….Gradually I
began to realize the incongruity of my scheme of life and for some time now I
have been endeavoring to rectify the balance. It was only a few years ago that
I seriously attempted to study some of the Tamil Classics. I find that they are
fit to rank among the immortal works of the world. I now bitterly regret my neglect
of the treasures of my own land.”
It was not an apologia,
but the expression of a new determination and Sir R.K.Shanmukaham lived to
establish the truth that he had mastered not only the Tamil language but Tamil
literature as well. Had he lived for some more years, he would traveled many a
land carrying the message of the Tamil Classics, which spoke at such a hoary
past about
“x‹nw FyK« xUtnd njtD«”
“ahJ« Cnu ahtU« nfË®”
“Éidna Mlt®¡F cÆnu”
“ešyJ brŒjš M‰Ö uhÆD«
mšyJ brŒjš X«òÄ‹”
“v›tÊ ešyt® Mlt®
m›tÊ mšy thÊa Ãynd”
“bršt¤J¥ gand
“ÔJ« e‹W« ãw® ju thuh”
“gF¤J©L gšYÆ® X«òjš
ünyh®
bjhF¤jt‰WŸ všyh« jiy”
Thoughts now placed
before the world as blossoms of the modern age.
You, graduates of the
Annamalai University, have got undertake the special task of carrying the
message that our classics contain to the entire world and declare that what was
the most ancient here is what is being introduced to-day as the most modern.
South India is the home
of the most ancient culture Though for a fairly long period there was the mist
of ignorance, thick and widespread, it has now been acknowledge by all that
Dravidian Civilization of a highly developed character can be traced back to
the second and third millennia before Christ. Many a Foreign scholar has borne
testimony to the perfection with which Tamil language has been developed into
an instrument of precise and subtle thought and to the beauty and richness of
the literature – which is contained in it. Dravidian literature, philosophy, art
and architecture offer therefore a rich and fruitful field for exploration and
critical investigation.
Not for more
glorification but for a just appreciation of all that is of real value and
beauty in our past heritage. We need this research and investigation.
I do not propose to
talk about your responsibility in the political arena. Suffice it to say that
you should make democracy safe and sound, salubrious and fruitful.
Carry
the message that this Universities has given to you wherever you go, whatever
the station you find yourselves in and elevate the common man- the average man-
“He seems incredible
but represents two –thirds of mankind. He lives in hut. He cannot read or write.
His energy is sapped by disease. He labours up to 15 hours a day. He works on
land he does not own. He and his family are family are usually hungry. He will
die young. But he still has hopes for his children; that they will be strong
and healthy; will be able to read and write, will know individual freedom in a
peaceful world. This is the world’s average Man.”
And the world over,
this average Man has become conscious of the injustice done to him and as a
consequence we find agitations and marches, struggles and clashes. In many a
country, measures to raise his level have been undertaken. Take a pledge, here
and now, that we will not lag behind and leave our average man in the lurch.
For if the base is weak, the dome is doomed. Inheritors as you are of a noble
heritage, you are eminently fitted for this noble task, and on its success
depends the future of this nation as of others.
Let us remember what
Woodrow Wilson said,
“Nations are renewed
from the bottom not from the top . . . real wisdom of human life is compounded
out of the experiences of ordinary men. The utility, the vitality, the fruitage
of life comes like the natural growth of a great tree, from the soil, up
through the trunk into the branches to the foliage and the fruit. The great
struggling unknown masses of the men who are not the base of everything are the
dynamic force that is lifting the level of society. A nation is as great and
only as great as her rank and file.”
May I submit my plea to
you, youths blossoming forth from this institution, be firm but not obstinate,
let here be a blending of ideas, but never cheap imitation and injurious
adulteration, beware of mistaking obsessions for principles and fads for facts,
strike at a synthesis and avoid subservience, view as the final on to protest
against injustice but project not your own view as the final one, forget not
the ancient saying
“f‰wJif« k©zsî fšyh
Jyfsî”
And father not when you
practice what you profess.
University education
gives you the basic needs for this stupendous task, but that is not enough. Say
along
I read, I study
I examine, I listen
I reflect, and out of
All this, I try to form
An idea in which I can
put as
Much of commonsense
As I can.
And remember the
longest journey is the journey inward, and since graduation is but the starting
point of that journey, I wish you success-reach the goal yourselves-teach
others to march towards the goal and let that goal be,
A world without the
beggar’s out-stretched
palm, the miser’s
heartless, stony stare,
the piteous wail of
want, the pallid face
of crime, the
livid lips of lies,
the cruel eyes
of scorn,
A race without
disease of flesh or
brain, shapely and
fair, the married
harmony of form and
use-where
life lengthens, fear
dies, joy deepens,
love intensifies, and
Man regains his
Dignity.
And to get these things
realized, let us one and all strive towards the ideal enunciated by
Thiruvalluvar,
“cWgáí« Xth¥ ãÂí«
brWgifí«
nruh âaštJ ehL”
I am confident that you
are being sent into the wide world by the Annamalai University with this
objective-you are bound to win, for you are adequately equipped with the spirit
supplied by this great institution. May your life be a bright one, and may its
luster brighten the entire land! Accept my congratulations and march onwards,
towards the land of smiles.
[Annamalai University
Convocation Address of Tamilnadu Chief Minister C.N.Annadurai on 18.11.1967]
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