Tiruvalluvar and

Anand The Club 12-5-20 Tiruvalluvar (sometime between BC 200 and AD 600) Life events of Tiruvalluvar (speculative)

•Period- after Tholkappiyam (between first and 2nd century BC)- Valluvar uses Tholkappiam directly (நிறை மமொ펿மொந்தர்…) • Period- before Siallpadhikaram (6th century AD) and Manimekalai; these epics quote TK directly (மதய்வம் மதொழொள் …)

No unanimous agreement on any of the following- •Son of Adhi and Bhagavan (kapilar Akaval) •Wife - Vasuki •Valluvan- announcer for the king (announce by beating the drum) •Job- Weaver •Religion- Jain

•Lived first in Madurai and then in Mayilai, Chennai. There is a Valluvar Temple in Mayilai.

•Contemporary of one of the three Auvaiyars

•Sangap Palakai legend •Vasuki and Tiruvalluvar stories

Benjamin Franklin (Jan 17,1706- April 17, 1790) 1706 1722 Sunday January 17: Benjamin Franklin was Franklin published his first letter in the born in the City of Boston. His parents were Courant under the pen name of “Silence and Abiah Folger. Dogood”, a fictional widow of a country 1714-1715 minister who has strong opinions. Attended South Grammar School (Boston He became a vegetarian. Latin). 1723 1715-1716 His brother James was charged with Attended George Brownell’s English School. contempt against law authorities. Benjamin 1717 took over the printing business while was briefly indentured as a cutler. served time in jail. As an avid swimmer Franklin invented swim Leaved Boston for New York where he fins for his hands. failed to find employment. He proceeded to 1718 where he rented a room in At age 12 started apprenticeship as a printer in John Read’s house. Franklin eventually his older brother, James, printing shop. married his daughter in 1720 1730. Moved out of his home into a boarding house. In Philadelphia he found work as a printer 1721 with Samuel Keimer. Brother James started publishing The New England Courant, the first American newspaper to use literary content and humorous essays. 1724 Benjamin returned to Boston to open a 1727 printing shop but his father did not loan him Suffered his first pleurisy attack. the money. In Philadelphia Franklin founded Returned to Philadelphia and under the the Club, a group of young men encouragement of Provincial Pennsylvania who met on Friday evenings to discuss Governor William Keith traveled to London to intellectual, personal, business and buy printing equipment. His loan never community topics. The Junto Club lasted materialized and was unable to travel back to until 1765. America. 1728 In London he was employed by printers Franklin and Hugh Meredith Samuel Palmer and John Watts. opened their own printing shop with a 1725 loan from Meredith’s father. Published his first pamphlet in London “A 1729 Dissertation on Liberty & Necessity, Pleasure Purchased the Pennsylvania Gazette from and Pain”. former employer Samuel Keimer. The 1726 Gazette became one of the most Franklin returned to Philadelphia with a loan prominent publications in Colonial provided by Thomas Denham. To pay his debt America. he worked as a clerk, shopkeeper and bookkeeper in Denham’s imported goods store. He returned to work for Samuel Keimer printing shop. 1730 Elected the official government printer for Pennsylvania. 1734 Franklin bought Meredith’s share in the printing Elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge shop and became the sole owner. of Mason of Pennsylvania. Joined in common-law marriage with Deborah 1735 Read. Brother James died in Newport, Rhode is born out of wedlock to an Island. unidentified mother. 1736 1731 Franklin was appointed clerk of Franklin joined the Freemasons the Pennsylvania Assembly. Published “Apology for Printers” defending His son, Francis Folger, died of smallpox at freedom of the press. age 4. Entered a partnership with Thomas Whitmarsh in Helped organize the of South Carolina. Franklin provided printing Philadelphia which trained and organized equipment in return for one third of the profits firemen. over six years, creating the first commercial 1737 franchise. Appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia, his 1732 service continued until 1753. Benjamin Franklin and Deborah Read have their 1739 first child, .Published the Started campaign to clean Philadelphia’s first edition of Poor Richard’s Almanack under the docks, slaughter houses and tan yards. pseudonym “Richard Saunders”. It became an instant best seller in the colonies. 1749 1740 Wrote and published pamphlet “Proposals Became the official printer for New Jersey. Relating to the Education of Youth in 1741 Pennsylvania”. Advertised his first model of the Pennsylvania Helped organize the Academy of fireplace for sale, also known as the Franklin Philadelphia which later became Stove. He declined on principle on taking a the University of Pennsylvania. patent for the sole right to sell it. 1750 1743 Franklin had first gout attack. Benjamin Franklin and Deborah Read had a 1751 daughter, Sarah who they call “Sally”. Franklin, along with Dr. Thomas Bond, 1745 founded , the Benjamin’s father, Josiah Franklin, died at age nation’s first hospital, to care for the “sick- 87. poor and insane of Philadelphia”. Started electrical experiments after receiving 1752 an electric tube from Peter Collision. Abiah Folger, Franklin’s mother dies in 1747 Boston at age 84. Helped organize a volunteer militia. Conducted kite experiments by flying a 1748 kite in a thunderstorm proving that Took David Hall as partner and Franklin lightning is electrical. He published how to retired from the daily operations of his printing conduct the experiment in business. the Pennsylvania Gazette. Designed a flexible catheter for his brother who suffered from bladder stone.

1753 Appointed joint Deputy Postmaster General of 1764 the Colonies. Franklin lost his seat in the Pennsylvania 1754 Assembly. To make a point about their own defense and Returned to London as colonial agent. colonial unity with the British against the 1765 French and Indians, Franklin printed his The Stamp Act was passed by the House famous cartoon “Join, or Die” in the of Commons. Pennsylvania Gazette. A decade later the Charted the . cartoon would mean colonial unity against the 1766 British. At the expiry of his partnership with Attended the as David Hall, Franklin sold his entire representative of Pennsylvania proposing printing business to him. common defense for all colonies. The plan was 1767 rejected. Daughter Sarah married , 1757 a Philadelphia merchant. Franklin was elected to go to England as 1769 a colonial agent. The American Philosophical Society 1762 elected Franklin as its president. He was Awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Law elected every year until his death. from Oxford University. Invented the glass armonica. Mozart and Beethoven later composed for it. Mapped postal routes in the colonies. 1778 1771 Negotiated Treaty of Alliance with France. Began writing his autobiography. France declared war on Great Britain. 1773 1783 Hutchinson Affair. John Adams, John Jay and Benjamin Franklin 1774 signed the which put an end to Deborah Read, his wife, died in the war between the colonies and Great Philadelphia. Britain. 1775 1784 Elected as Pennsylvania delegate to the Franklin wrote the essay “An Economical Second Continental Congress. Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light” Elected as Postmaster General of the proposing the innovative concept of Daylight Colonies. Savings Time. King George III declared the American 1785 colonies in rebellion. Franklin described his invention of bifocal 1776 glasses. Franklin was appointed as part of the Returned to the United States after 18 of years committee of 5 who drafted of service in Europe. the Declaration of Independence. Elected President of the Pennsylvania Appointed to the French Court as one of Executive Council. the commissioners of the Continental 1786 Congress. Invented instrument for taking books down from a library shelf. 1787 Signed the United States Constitution. 1788 Franklin wrote his will leaving most of his estate to his daughter Sarah. 1789 Elected president of the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery. Submitted the first antislavery petition before the U.S. Congress. 1790 April 17 – Franklin died at age 84. He is buried in Christ Church burial ground in Philadelphia. The cause of his death was pleurisy. Almanack published annually from 1st Edition: 2000 1732-1758 This book: 1980

நிறை뾿ை் 鎿ரியொ鏁 அடங்垿யொன் ததொை்ைம் மறை뾿ꟁம் மொணப் மபரி鏁 (அ鎿கொரம்: அடக்க믁டடடை 埁ைள் எண் :124)

More imposing than a mountain is the greatness of a man who, steadfast in domestic life, has mastered self-control. –Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

He that can compose himself, is wiser than He that composes books - Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack)

எப்மபொ쏁ள் எத்தன்றமத்鏁 ஆ뾿ꟁம் அப்மபொ쏁ள்

மமய்ப்மபொ쏁ள் கொண்ப鏁 அ잿ퟁ

(அ鎿கொரம் :மைய்뿁ணர்தல் 埁ைள் எண் :355)

In everything of every kind whatsoever, wisdom perceives Truth in that thing.

-Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

What signifies knowing the Names, if you Know not the Nature of Things -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack)

இ羿க்埁ம் 鏁றணயொறர ஆள்வொறர யொதர மக翁க்埁ம் தறகறம யவர் (அ鎿கொரம் :மெரியாடரத் 鏁டணக்ககாடல் 埁ைள் எண் :447)

Who can destroy the man who enjoys the friendship of aides who will not hesitate to admonish him? -Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

No better relation than a prudent and Faithful friend -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack)

ம쏁ந்மதன தவண்டொவொம் யொக்றகக்埁 அ쏁ந்鎿ய鏁

அை்ை鏁 தபொை்잿 உணின் (அ鎿கொரம்:ை쏁ந்鏁 埁ைள் எண் :942)

The body requires no medicine if you eat only

after the food you have already eaten is digested -Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

Eat few suppers and you’ll need few medicines -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack) இ翁ம்றபக்埁 இ翁ம்றப ப翁ப்பர் இ翁ம்றபக்埁

இ翁ம்றப படொஅ தவர் (அ鎿கொரம்:இ翁க்கண펿யாடை 埁ைள் எண் :623)

Trouble itself they send away troubled who do

not trouble themselves at the sight of it. -Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

Those who have nothing to trouble them, will be troubled at nothing -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack) நொள்என ஒன்쟁தபொை் கொட்羿 உ뾿ர்ஈ쏁ம்

வொள鏁 உணர்வொர்ப் மப잿ன்

(அ鎿கொரம்:நிடலயாடை 埁ைள் எண் :334)

Though it seems a harmless gauge of time, to those who

fathom it, a day is a saw steadily cutting down the tree of life

-Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

Tomorrow I’ll reform, the fool does say Today itself, too late, the wise did yesterday -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack) இை்ைொறர எை்ைொ쏁ம் எள்쿁வர் மெை்வறர எை்ைொ쏁ம் மெய்வர் 殿ைப்ꯁ (அ鎿கொரம்:மொ쏁ள்மெயல்வடக 埁ைள் எண் :752)

Those who have nothing have everyone’s contempt, while the rich are exalted by one and all. -Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

A light purse is a heavy curse -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack) நத்தம்தபொை் தக翁ம் உளதொ埁ம் ெொக்கொ翁ம் ힿத்தகர்க்埁 அை்ைொை் அரி鏁 (அ鎿கொரம்:ꯁகழ் 埁ைள் எண் :235)

Loss that is gain and death that is life of immortal glory are attained only by the wise. -Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

The things which hurt, instruct -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack)

யொகொவொர் ஆ뾿ꟁம் நொகொக்க கொவொக்கொை் தெொகொப்பர் மெொை்쮿폁க்埁ப் பட்翁 (அ鎿கொரம்:அடக்க믁டடடை 埁ைள் எண் :127)

Whatever you may fail to guard, guard well your tongue, for flawed speech unfailingly invokes anguish and affliction. -Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

A slip of the foot you may soon recover But a slip of the tongue you may never get over -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack)

இன்னொமெய் தொர்க்埁ம் இனியதவ மெய்யொக்கொை்

என்ன பயத்தததொ ெொை்ꯁ. (அ鎿கொரம்: ொன்றாண்டை, 埁ைள் எண் :987)

Of what gain is perfect goodness if it does not do good to all, even to those who have done painful things to others?

-Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

Do good to thy friend to keep him, to thy Enemy to gain him -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack) தன்றனத்தொன் கொக்垿ன் 殿னம்கொக்க கொவொக்கொை் தன்றனதய மகொை்쯁ம் 殿னம் (அ鎿கொரம்:மவ埁ளாடை 埁ைள் எண் :305)

If a man be his own guard, let him guard himself against rage. Left unguarded, his own wrath will annihilate him. -Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

Take the remark from Richard, poor and lame What’er begun in anger, ends in Shame -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack) நொெ்மெை்쟁 ힿக்埁ள்தமை் வொரொ믁ன் நை்ힿறன தமை்மென்쟁 மெய்யப் ப翁ம் (அ鎿கொரம்:நிடலயாடை 埁ைள் எண் :335)

Do good deeds with a sense of urgency, before death’s approaching rattle strangles the tongue. -Valluvar (as translated in Weaver’s Wisdom)

If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or Do things worth the writing -Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack) •Franklin and Valluvar are several centuries apart. However some of Franklin’s sayings look very similar to Valluvar. Franklin mentioned the sayings in Poor Richard’s Almanack were the “Wisdom of many Ages and Nations”. How did he know Valluvar’s thoughts? If it is not from Valluvar, was there a common source for both Valluvar and Franklin?

•The style of the original language (for Tirukural) is superior to the translation, though I consider Weaver’s Wisdom as the best American English translation.

•Franklin filtered the sayings from many sources and wrote it in his witty American English. It is fresh and snappy to this day.

• There are at least ten topics common to both men.

Topics of common interest to Valluvar and Franklin

No Topic in Tamil Topic in English

1 நிறையொறம Impermanence of All Things 2 அடக்க믁றடறம Possession of Self-Control 3 ெொன்ைொண்றம Perfect Goodness 4 மவ埁ளொறம Avoidance of Anger 5 இ翁க்கண펿யொறம Being Undaunted by Troubles 6 மபொ쏁ள் மெயை் வறக The Ways of Acquiring Wealth 7 மமய்뿁ணர்தை் Knowledge of Truth 8 ம쏁ந்鏁 Medicine 9 மபரியொறரத் Gaining Support from the 鏁றணக் தகொடை் Great 10 ꯁகழ் Glory