Ignorance
Merpirandhaa Raayinum Kallaadhaar Keezhppirandhum / Katraar Anaiththilar Paatu
Classical English couplet — “Lower are men unlearned, though noble be their race,Than low-born men adorned with learning's grace”
What it says in plain words
“Being born into a highly respected family does not replace learning. A learned person from a less respected family deserves greater respect.”
The classical Tamil reading
கல்லாதவர் உயர்ந்த குடியில் பிறந்தவராக இருப்பினும் தாழ்ந்த குடியில் பிறந்திருந்தும் கல்விக் கற்றவரைப் போன்ற பெருமை இல்லாதவரே.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
கற்றவர் என்ற பெருமை, உயர்ந்தவர் தாழ்ந்தவர் என்ற வேறுபாட்டைப் போக்கிவிடும்
The ethical and philosophical heart
People sometimes judge others by the family they were born into. This couplet puts learning above family status. A respected family name cannot make up for a lack of learning. Valuing what people have learned helps break down unfair social barriers.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- Learn from a skilled neighbor, even if others look down on their family.
- Workplace
- Value a coworker's knowledge more than their well-known family name.
- Family
- Teach children to respect classmates for their learning, not their parents' standing.
- Society
- Celebrate learners from families that have long been treated as less important.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Choose someone for what they know, not the family they come from.
- Integrity
- Give people's learning fair respect, whatever their family background.
- Communication
- Listen carefully to informed people whose families are often overlooked.
- Leadership
- Let people share their knowledge, regardless of their family's standing.
- Governance
- Give people from every family background fair access to education.
For leaders and teams
A fair leader values what people have learned over family status. Give knowledgeable people a voice, even when others overlook them.
Something to sit with
“Whose knowledge could you appreciate more if you looked beyond their family background?”