Putin Gifted Russian Translation Of The Classic ‘Thirukkural’

NEW DELHI – In a symbolic gesture highlighting cultural diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented Russian President Vladimir Putin with a book containing a Russian translation of the Thirukkural at the start of their meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 11. Translated into Russian by Naira Mkrtchyan, the edition offers the Russian leader a direct window into one of India’s most revered literary works.

Authored by the ancient Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar, also known as Valluvar, the Thirukkural is a classic Tamil-language masterpiece. The work comprises 1,330 short couplets known as Kurals, with each individual Kural composed of precisely seven words. The text is organized into three distinct books detailing aphoristic teachings on virtue (aram), wealth (porul), and love (inbam), covering everything from personal morality and ethics to statecraft, economics, and human affection.

Widely recognized and celebrated for its universal and secular nature, the Thirukkural avoids religious dogma and offers timeless wisdom applicable to all humanity. The precise historical origin of the text has been dated variously from 300 BCE to the 5th century CE. While traditional accounts describe it as the final work of the third Sangam, modern linguistic analysis suggests a post-Sangam composition date between 450 and 500 CE.

The gift underscores the enduring international legacy of the Tamil classic. Translated into at least 57 Indian and non-Indian languages, the Thirukkural ranks among the most translated ancient works in world literature. Remarkably, ever since it first came to print in 1812, the text has never gone out of print. (IANS)