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 <jš”
“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 15hours 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]
