Chennai: Amidst a simmering political dispute over the official recognition of Thiruvalluvar’s birthday, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi delivered a powerful address, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance policies across various sectors are profoundly inspired by the timeless wisdom of the Thirukkural. Speaking at the “Thiruvalluvar Thirunaal Vizha” on the eve of Vaikasi Anusham, which he affirmed as Thiruvalluvar’s true birth anniversary according to the ancient Tamil calendar, Governor Ravi strongly criticised attempts to alter the date for political expediency, emphasizing the need to restore Thirukkural’s spiritual grandeur for the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Clad in a traditional white dhoti and shirt, symbolizing Tamil cultural attire, Governor Ravi’s speech was not merely a ceremonial address but a passionate discourse, delivered without notes, where he extensively quoted over a dozen Thirukkural couplets with an eloquence that, according to attendees, rivaled native Tamil speakers.
The Enduring Birthday Controversy
The Governor directly addressed the long-standing controversy surrounding Thiruvalluvar’s birth anniversary. He unequivocally stated that Thiruvalluvar was born on Vaikasi Anusham, a day celebrated today, June 10th. This stands in stark contrast to the decision made by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government, led by M. Karunanidhi in 1972, to officially designate January 15th – the day after the Pongal festival – as Thiruvalluvar Day, declaring it a government holiday.
Governor Ravi lambasted this change as politically motivated, lacking historical and research-backed basis. “Politics has pervaded our life so much that TN government had decided to move it to Jan 15, the next day to Pongal festival, as Thiruvalluvar Day and announced government holiday,” he remarked, questioning the rationale behind fixing a revered saint’s birthday to the Gregorian calendar, a system that came into existence much later, in the 16th century. He voiced distrust in this politically influenced alteration, contrasting it with the “time-tested” Panchang or almanac, evolved by ancient Rishis and sages.
The Governor lauded the efforts of organizations like the Thiruvalluvar Thirnatkazhagam, which has consistently observed Vaikasi Anusham as the saint’s birthday and presented literature, including stone inscriptions and documents, to substantiate this claim. “How can his birth day be fixed to the Gregorian calendar? It came much much later without any historical evidence,” he added, appreciating the Thiruvalluvar Thirnatkazhagam for “sticking to the original date of birth instead of the politically manipulated one.”
Thiruvalluvar: A Sanatan Dharma Icon and Code of Conduct
Governor Ravi unequivocally positioned Thiruvalluvar as “one of the greatest saints of Sanatan Dharma.” He described the Thirukkural itself as an “eternal confluence of Dharma Shastra and Niti Shastra” and fundamentally a “code of conduct.” He underscored the imperative of restoring the Thirukkural in its “full spiritual grandeur” to serve as a guiding force for the realisation of ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) and for the broader good of humanity.
Addressing the Thiruvalluvar Thirunaal Vizha on the eve of Vaikasi Anusham celebrating Thiruvalluvar’s birthday in consonance with Tamil calendar, Governor Ravi highlighted Thiruvalluvar as one of the greatest saints of Sanatan Dharma and the Thirukkural as an eternal confluence… pic.twitter.com/hWDPrrnkVT
— LOK BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@lokbhavan_tn) June 9, 2025
He asserted, “The Nation pays its deepest reverence to Thiruvalluvar, a great saint-poet of the Bharatiya Sanatan tradition, on Vaikasi Anusham, his birthday according to the ancient Tamil calendar. His teachings on integral Dharmic life with healthy combination of Bhakti, Karma and Jnayan yogas encapsulated in the majestic Thirukkural have shaped and continue to guide humanity in individual and collective life. It lays down a comprehensive and enduring framework for all, including individuals, institutions and rulers. His teachings remain a pillar of wisdom, drawing on eternal values to inspire and guide our collective national journey to #ViksitBharat.”
PM Modi’s Policies Inspired by Thirukkural
A significant portion of Governor Ravi’s address focused on what he termed the profound inspiration drawn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he called “a great devotee of Thiruvalluvar,” from the timeless wisdom of the Thirukkural. The Governor illustrated how the Prime Minister’s governance policies across diverse domains—including education, economy, national security, and foreign policy—are deeply rooted in Thiruvalluvar’s principles.
Governor Ravi highlighted PM Modi’s consistent efforts to globalize Tamil language and the Thirukkural. He specifically mentioned the establishment of India’s first-ever Thiruvalluvar Centre in Singapore, aimed at enhancing cultural ties, and the creation of a Thiruvalluvar Chair to promote academic and cultural exchange between Malaysia and India, with a particular focus on Indian studies. He noted that the Prime Minister, a “big admirer of Tamil language,” has been instrumental in spreading Tamil and Thirukkural across the world, frequently quoting its couplets at international forums like the UN and various public functions.
Thirukkural: A Universal Gospel and Guiding Light
Governor Ravi emphasized Thirukkural as a “true Dharma Shastra,” a “seminal text,” and a “universal gospel.” He described it as a “vast ocean of knowledge” encompassing a wide range of physical and spiritual domains, offering clear “do’s and don’ts” for life. He argued that Thiruvalluvar was a “divine poet,” one among a “galaxy of sages/saints,” who propounded the principles of Bhakti Yoga, Gnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga across his 1330 couplets.
The Governor also touched upon historical attempts during the Colonial era to “despiritualize the Thirukkural,” and lamented that some existing translations, in his view, appeared “one-sided.” He reiterated his personal commitment as a devotee to celebrate Vaikasi Anusham in a special way to restore its due importance.
NEP, National Security, and the Thirukkural Connection
In a striking connection, Governor Ravi linked the foundational principles of the New Education Policy (NEP) to the teachings of Thirukkural. He contrasted the NEP as a “knowledge-based” education system with the colonial-era British education system, which he characterized as merely “job-oriented,” designed to churn out individuals for “sarkari jobs.”
Furthermore, the Governor drew a direct correlation between Thirukkural’s teachings and India’s robust national security posture under the current leadership. He asserted that the success of “Operation Sindhoor” was based on the teachings of Thirukkural, implying a strategic and ethical foundation for national defense. He proclaimed, “There was a time when India did not retaliate. Today our military capabilities are far better and can defeat any nation with its modern and latest war fares. None can touch our grounds. Such is the position today all because our PM. Agni-6 is ready and we have a strong military system as envisioned by Thiruvalluvar.” He thus presented Thirukkural not just as a text on ethics and governance, but also as an inspiration for a strong, secure, and self-reliant nation.
"The Nation pays its deepest reverence to Thiruvalluvar, a great saint-poet of the Bharatiya Sanatan tradition, on Vaikasi Anusham, his birthday according to the ancient Tamil calendar. His teachings on integral Dharmic life with healthy combination of Bhakti, Karma and Jnayan… pic.twitter.com/6JRXfJC8sa
— LOK BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@lokbhavan_tn) June 10, 2025
Concluding his address, Governor Ravi paid humble tributes to Thiruvalluvar, calling him the “revered poet, great philosopher and brightest saint of Bharatiya Sanatan tradition, born on the spiritual land of our Tamil Nadu.” He reaffirmed that Thiruvalluvar’s “eternal wisdom has immensely shaped and enriched the ideas and identity of our nation and remains a source of guidance and inspiration for the whole of humanity.”
The event concluded with Governor Ravi presenting the Prof. Sami Thiayarajan award to Sri Swami Sithbhavananda, acknowledging contributions that align with the spirit of Thiruvalluvar’s teachings.
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