Today's Tamil word – 15th July 2020 – வடிவம்

Form/Shape - ரூபம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word(s) - வடிவம்/உருவம்

Roop is the Hindi word for Shape. ரூபம் is the Tamilised version of that Sanskrit word.

The Tamil word வடிவு means shape and the word உரு means form or appearance. From these two door words come the Tamil words வடிவம், உருவம்.

Tamil God Murugan is given a name வடிவேலன், known for his beautiful appearance.

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Today's Tamil word – 14th July 2020 – சுத்திகரிப்பான்

Sanitiser - கிருமிநாசினி
Germ/Virus - கிருமி

Original Tamil words:
Sanitiser - சுத்திகரிப்பான்
Germ/Virus - நோய் நுண்மம்

The words ‘கிருமி’ and ‘நாசினி’ are both Sanskrit words which mean ‘germ’ and ‘that which destroys’, respectively. (நாசினி comes from the Sanskrit word நாசம்)

Since both these words are common in Tamil, the Tamil academicians and administration have used these words to give a Tamil name for Sanitiser.

But, originally Tamil had a word for this; in Tamil, cleansing/to clean is given by the word  சுத்திகரிப்பு (from the root word சுத்தம்). Using that word, a sanitiser can be given the Tamil word சுத்திகரிப்பான்.

Before the word கிருமி took over as the Tamil word for germ/virus, we used a word call நுண்மம் (that which is microscopic). So, Virus/Germs, in Tamil was called நோய் நுண்மம். The root word நுண் means tiny/minute/very small.

Unless our Tamil Nadu govt administration translates such new words using original Tamil words rather than by using commonly used Sanskriti words, there can’t be much hope for a revival in the purity of the Tamil language.

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Today's Tamil word – 13th July 2020 – துணிவு

Brave - தைரியம் (Dhairiyam from Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - துணிவு

How often we say Dhairyam when we want to refer to someone’s bravery in Tamil. We don’t we use the original, simple and easy Tamil word ‘துணிவு’ hereafter?

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Today's Tamil word – 12th July 2020 – இயல்

Chapter - அதிகாரம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil words -
நூல்கூறுபாடு, இயல், பகுதி

We say Thirukkural has 133 அதிகாரம். Yet, the words அதிகாரம், காண்டம் are derived from Sanskrit.

By the time of Thirukkural itself, there had been quite a number of Sanskrit words that had come into the Tamil language. ஆதி, பகவன், குணம், தானம், தவம், தெய்வம், தேவர், மங்கலம், காலம், கருமம், ஆசை, காமம், நாமம், மந்திரி, குலம், குடும்பம் are some of the words which have been used in the Thirukkural which are not of Tamil origin.

There is also an argument that some parts of the Thirukkural we know of today, were not part of the original written by Valluvar. However, we don’t know how valid this argument is. Yet one thing is certain, the influence of Sanskrit over Tamil and the converse (albeit to a lesser extent) has been happening for over 2000 years.

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Today's Tamil word – 11th July 2020 – வாணிகம்

Business - வியாபாரம் (from Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - வணிகம்/வாணிகம்

The common word for business used today வியாபாரம் comes from the Sanskrit/Hindi word Vyapar. The word for a businessman/businesswomen is from this word : Vyapari (வியாபாரி).

However, the bonafide Tamil word for business is வணிகம் and the people who do business are called வணிகர் (வணிகன் for male; வணிகையர் for female)

I am sharing a blog that talks about the history of Tamil வாணியர்; it tells us the various business folk present in the Tamil community during the ancient Sangam time.

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Today's Tamil word – 10th July 2020 – அறிஞர்

Scholar - பண்டிதர் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - புலவர்/அறிஞர்

We often refer to a scholar as பண்டிதன் in Tamil, but the word is a Tamil version of the Sanskrit word Pandit.

Tamil has words like புலவர்/அறிஞர் to refer to a scholar. Over time, புலவர் has come to only mean scholarly practice in the field of literature/poetry.

The word அறிஞர், ofcourse, comes from the base word - அறிவு, which is knowledge. Tamil Nadu’s Former CM Annadurai, was popularly revered as அறிஞர் Anna, which I believe is one main reason why this word is still among the masses.

So, words which are out of practice can be put back into common use by popular/repeated usage over time. The word அறிஞர் is one prime example for that.

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Today's Tamil word – 9th July 2020 –ஈகை

Donate - தானம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - ஈகை, கொடை

In Avvaiyar’s Aathichudi, where she gives one-liner life lessons for each Tamil alphabet ஈ is given by “ஈவது விலக்கேல்”, which means ‘Do not stop or avoid charitable deeds’

The stand-alone Tamil letter ஈ by itself, means to donate. கொடை is also a word for being charitable; it comes from the word கொடு which is the verb for -to give. Its usage is famous in the great Tamil leader Paari being known as கொடை வள்ளல் (one of the seven great philanthropists of Tamilagam - கடை ஏழு வள்ளல்கள்)

Ofcourse, the words தானம், தர்மம் have come from the religious influences into Tamil. They have almost replaced the native Tamil words like ஈகை and கொடை now.

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Today's Tamil word – 8th July 2020 – ஊர்தி

Vehicle - வாகனம் (from Sanskrit)
(Vaahan in Hindi)

Original Tamil word - ஊர்தி, வண்டி

The word ஊர்தி has become limited in its usage to only அமரர் ஊர்தி these days. Unsurprisingly it shows the place of Tamil today through that usage; It is the real Tamil word for vehicle.

The word comes from the verb - ஊர்ந்து which means to crawl (to move by crawling). Thus, the vehicle which moves by crawling was given the name ஊர்தி.

Prior to motorised vehicles, the word for animal based carts were called வண்டி; this word has now been used in Tamilised name given for a train (தொடர்வண்டி)

உந்து - is a Tamil word that means to propel (also means motivate/urge). This word became the word that gave Tamil words like பேருந்து (bus), சரக்குந்து (lorry) and மகிழுந்து (car) in due course of time as these inventions were made.

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Nepotism, the hue and cry!

Nepotism is a hotly debated topic in recent times. The larger consensus is that, nepotism is a bad thing within any society/industry. But my point of debate is that nepotism isn't something that is avoidable.

Nepotism is part and parcel of any opportunity, how could any society be devoid of it?

Any parent who has had an entire career in a particular industry/field would have acquired the necessary skills and expertise in that area. They would have developed an understanding of what it takes to succeed in that field. They would have made a network of close friends and colleagues within their industry as a result of their career.

It is highly likely that the child would have developed an interest for that field of profession as well, as they would have grown up under the influence of their parent, consciously or unconsciously. It is only practical to think that the kids have a natural tendency to drift towards their parents' profession having always been around discussions and friends from that field.

All this makes it a straightforward decision for the next generation to carry on from where their parent left off in their career. This is exactly why I think nepotism is inevitable. I see it as the son/daughter en-cashing their parent's goodwill to create a path for themselves in their career. I even feel, they are right in being entitled to do so.

It is just the entry we are talking about. Nepotism/Nepotists don't even stand a chance to succeed in their entitled profession if they don't show enough merit once they enter. I believe, nepotism is not a flaw in the society as long as there is always enough place for merit, in the opportunities on offer.

Once there is no place for merit at all, then I would agree that nepotism would have gone too far. But I don't see that happening at all, as no one can have a full control of a field or profession so much so that others can't enter.

The main argument in this debate is that we should give equal opportunities to everybody... As discussed here, I don't see how every one is equal in this regard when clearly there are some who have an advantage due to a generation of work in that field. It only is too idealistic to expect equal opportunity, when the means to achieve it is not equal to everyone.

So, in conclusion, I believe the argument of nepotism being a flaw in the society, in terms of equal opportunity creation, is a lost one. It is highly impossible to have an ideal system which only selects based on merit. A nepotist will always have an edge in terms of entry. But, his/her success is certainly not a determinant of the parenthood. Until merit is the biggest factor in success of a person in their chosen field, nepotism is hardly an issue to grapple with.

Vignesh Nagappan 

Today's Tamil word – 7th July 2020 – ஓசை

Noise/Sound - சத்தம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - ஓசை/ஒலி

The Tamil word ஒலி means sound (It is appropriate to mention here that ஒளி means light and ஒழி means to destroy).

The word கூச்சல் is the word to denote noise from talking (argument). It comes from the word கூவு which means to call out/say loudly.

சத்தம் is clearly the widely used word today for this context by Tamil speakers. How nice it would be to hear us say, கூச்சல் போடாதே, instead of saying சத்தம் போடாதே!

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Today's Tamil word – 6th July 2020 – ஆசான்

Teacher - Guru/குரு (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word - ஆசான்/ஆசிரியர்

The word ‘Guru’ has become known across the world now. I have seen it being used in the US movies and shows too. It has travelled with Indian expatriates across to all corners of the globe.

We have been told the popular Indian saying, ‘Matha, pitha, guru, deivam’, all these four are Sanskrit words; matha and pitha couldn’t infiltrate into Tamil but the words Guru and Deivam have become widely accepted words in Tamil.

The original Tamil word for teacher is ஆசான். Its reference can be found in the third chapter of Tamil epic Silapathikaram, titled “அரங்கேற்று காதை” (story of the debut on-stage performance). It is about the first dance performance of Madhavi in Poompuhar (the Cholan Capital) before the court of the Chola king Karikalan. Here, Ilango Adigal uses the word ஆடல் ஆசான் to refer to Madhavi’s dance teacher.

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Today's Tamil word – 5th July 2020 – கேடு

Danger - அபாயம்/அபாயகரம்
(வடமொழி/Sanskrit)

Original Tamil words -
அழிவு, கேடு, இடுக்கண், துன்பம், பேரிடர்

We have seen அபாயம் written in cautionary signs/symbols to refer to danger, even by the government of Tamil Nadu. But it isn’t even a Tamil word;

Tamil has many words to convey the meaning of danger/hazard; depending on the context the right word should be used.

அழிவு - ruin/destruction (நாசம் is Sanskrit too)
கேடு - detriment/disaster/evil
இடுக்கண்/துன்பம் - misery/distress
இடர்/பேரிடர் - danger/trouble

When will we Tamils ever realise what is Tamil and what is not?

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Today's Tamil word – 4th July 2020 - தமையன்/தமக்கை

Brother/Sister - சகோதரன்/சகோதரி (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil words -
தமையன்/தமக்கை/தம்பி/தங்கை

Sahodar is the Sanskrit word for sibling; this has become a part of the common Tamil vocabulary as சகோதரன்/சகோதரி, along the way.

But, உடன்பிறப்பு (உடன்பிறந்தான்/உடன்பிறந்தாள்) is the generic original Tamil word for sibling.

Tamil has individual words for elder and younger siblings - தம்பி, தங்கை, தமையன் (அண்ணன்), தமக்கை (அக்காள்).

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Today's Tamil word – 3rd July 2020 – இயல்பு

Character/Nature - குணம் (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word(s) - இயல்பு, தன்மை

The word இயல்பு is from the noun இயல் which has a wide array of meanings as explained by its root words:

உய் – to live, make, prepare, engage, lead, direct, guide, enjoy, experience, send, dispatch, tell, reveal

இய்/இய –move, live, light, splendour, custom, manner, trait, great

So, the meaning of இயல் is contextually taken from the many meanings mentioned here.

When used alone இயல் means literature (one part of the basic three categories of the Tamil language - இயல், இசை, நாடகம்)

Given this, the study of anything is referred to as a இயல் - அறிவியல், வாழ்வியல், உளவியல் etc..which essentially means the literary study of that field.

So, let us all say நல்லியல்பு or நற்தன்மை instead of நற்குணம் when someone shows good character from now on..

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Today's Tamil word – 2nd July 2020 – விருப்பம்

Desire - ஆசை (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil words:

அவா, விருப்பம், பற்று, வேட்கை, விழைவு

Words like ஆசை, பயம், காமம், பாசம் are all misinterpreted to be Tamil words..but actually these are all Sanskrit words which have come into the common usage of Tamil, having been widely used words in the religious preachings of the Vedas.

Tamil lost many of its nuanced words for such meanings after the Bhakti movement. In this example, Tamil had(has) different words for the different forms of desires (ஆசை), as explained below:

அவா - wish
விருப்பம், விழைவு - desire
பற்று - attachment/affection
வேட்கை - want

I’m sure, we know all these words too; it’s time we start using them again consciously over the word ஆசை in an attempt to revive the greatness of Tamil.

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Be a political citizen...

Lets start with a question: why don't we discuss politics at home with our children/parents?

 

Politics is a field which is about serving the society. Yes, politics has now been made to be a business of scoundrels. But is that reason enough to stay away from it. Aren't we adding fuel to the fire, by staying indifferent to it? 

They say, 'politics is a virtue'. It is something that affects our daily life, in ways we can barely imagine. The language we speak, the religion we follow, the biases we have, the clothes we choose to wear, the system of school we go through, are all a result of our political past. We can't wish away politics as something that wouldn't affect us, no matter who we are. 

Thus, it is imperative to be politically aware of what is happening around us. It will help us to stay cautious of what might happen to our next generation. Politics, for a citizen, is misunderstood as about choosing the right leader. A citizen's politics is about voicing his/her views for the betterment of the society. It is about having an opinion on how much taxes we pay, how the selection is for college admissions, why is someone not allowed justice, how can someone be refused their voice, etc. 

Once we are politically aware, we become politically responsible as a citizen to contribute to the society through our voice. It becomes difficult for leaders to avoid us. It becomes difficult for our leaders to hide their mistakes. Debate and discussion, then becomes the cornerstone of progression in the society. 

It is easy to be cynical and say, "nothing is going to change unless the politicians change and act responsibly with little vested interest". They are not going to change unless there is need for them to. So it becomes our responsibility as good citizens to force them into changing for the better. We should always remember, the politicians are one of us. The better the society and its citizens are, the better the leaders and the political system we get. 

Now, while having a viewpoint it becomes important to avoid biases to as much as possible; it is also important to respect the other person's views and opinion as much as yours. It is easy to get into arguments, when it comes to political and religious discussions. But it is both possible and essential to stay focused on what is good for the society rather than to think, 'how could I possibly win this argument?' or 'how could let my view/party down'?.

It is important to review our views when others give a valid outlook to change our stand. It is important to believe and understand that no political party is an angel or a saint. Each and every party has its own prejudices and flaws. We need to weigh them against that.  If we fall into the trap of being completely in favour of one party, we fail to see their bad aspects and vice versa. We end up being part of the party's propaganda machinery. We needn't be judgmental on anyone; it is always better to take a case to case view on every situation rather than be a holistic pro or against approach.

So, to answer the opening question - yes, we should discuss anything under the sun with our household ranging from politics, to religion, to sex, to education, to personal doubts; not necessarily all issues with the same people, but chosen people for chosen topics. We only get to be better as individuals by fostering a healthy discussion between us. 

Vignesh Nagappan 

Today's Tamil word – 1st July 2020 – மிகுதி

Excess - ஜாஸ்தி (Sanskrit)

Original Tamil word(s) - மிகுதி/மிச்சம்/மீதம்

Related words :
Abundant - பெரும் வளம்
Plenty - ஏராளம்

The word மிகுதி/மிகுந்து/மீதம் means excess or much. There is a nuanced difference between the meanings of மிச்சம் and மீதம் . While மீதம் refers to the useful excess, மிச்சம் refers to the excess in vain.

அதிகம் is not an original Tamil word, as we can’t explain its root in Tamil. The words அதிகம், அதிகாரம், அதிகாரி, அதிசயம் etc have a Sanskrit connotation to them.

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Know Your Money

Investing is an essential part in achieving financial freedom. When the money sits idling, it loses value. It is a must to put to work somewhere. In that vain, everybody has to make investing decisions in some shape or form.

Choosing to buy something now vs later is also, in one way, an investing decision. Broadly, any decision involving money is an investing decision. So, it is actually an everyday decision. Therefore, it becomes important to understand how money works to take better investing decisions. 

The value of money is always a factor of the environment it is being used in. So in order to understand money, we have to have an grasp of the market place in general. Thus, investing is not only about us, but also about the others around us. If others have a fancy for X, the value of X will go up and thus it makes sense to invest in X. 

The other factors while making an investing decision may include availability of money/product, value of underlying product vs other products.

Yet, having said all this, investing is a very personal decision as it involves one's personal money. Hence, there can be no right or wrong decision when it comes to investing. 

Every strategy has its own risks and benefits. One has to choose an appropriate investing strategy that suits one's personality or risk appetite. So, while there is no right or wrong in investing decisions, common ill-attributes in life like greed, fear, over-confidence etc end up being the difference between the success or failure in investing. 

It is my experience that one needs discipline to succeed in investing more than skill. That makes investing a level-playing field for all. A highly educated financial expert may not earn the returns you would (in percentage terms) while investing if he doesn't follow the required discipline.

Patience and conviction are the key attributes in investing. These two help in achieving the benefits of compounding on a right investment decision. 

Given this broad outlook, I have devised my 10-point investment framework as follows:

1. Know your needs, wants and personality (risk-appetite)

2. Spread your risk (asset allocation/diversification)

3. Only invest in what you know/understand

4. Invest regularly/systematically 

5. Buy at a reasonable price

6. Understand asset cycles and invest suitably

7. Invest in good historical performance with good future growth prospects

8. Sell only when you need money

9. Sell if underlying asset is not value generating

10. Hold irrespective of the price if asset is good

This is applicable across all types of investments - land, gold, financial assets, rare collections etc. 

I felt a generic write-up on investing would be useful to readers, as everyone is unique in deciding about their money and may not find it pertinent if it is discussed with specifics. As discussed here, it is essential for everyone to learn about money and on how to put it to best use; I hope this post helped a bit in that regard.

Vignesh Nagappan