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.

அண. நாகப்பன்

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.

அண. நாகப்பன்

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!

அண. நாகப்பன்

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.

அண. நாகப்பன்

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?

அண. நாகப்பன்

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).

அண. நாகப்பன்