THIRUKURAL 691 : Attitude Towards Higher Authorities

  

 Thirukkural on  
Approach towards the higher authorities 

In modern days, in any  Management,  the  heirarchy is playing any important role.
Heirarchy is the system of executives or officials arranged one above another.
Those who are in the  above  level enjoy more powers and perks.
Heirarchy can typically be depicted as a  pyramid where the height represents the level's status.
What should be the approach of the lower status to the higher status ?
Thiruvalluvar beautifully explains it with  an example.

In a cold weather,  a person is sitting in front of a fire. If he goes too close, he will be hurt by overheat,  if he moves far away, he will not get the required warmth, he has to sit in an apt place. He should not go too far or too close.

This example is applicable to all those who work under higher authorities.

Those who are working close to them, should  not take the advantage of their closeness and go too nearer. If displeased, it will lead to undesirable results.  At the same time moving too far is also not advisable because,  that will end in being branded '  inefficient ' or ' incapable'.

In modern days, those who are very close to political elements, when  misunderstanding develops, face severe consequences.

Persons in king's service, should neither go too close nor too far,

they should remain like people who sit in an apt place  beside the fire for warmth ( Kural 691)

In England when King Henry II (1133 - 1189 ) was in power , Thomas Becket was the chief assistant in the management of public administration.

He was very close to the king. 

King made him the Archbishop of Canterbury ( Head of the Church of England ,1162 AD ). 

Becket went in bad books with the king , escaped to France,  returned after six years and stayed in the Cathedral ( Church )..

One day King was shouting in the palace, " Is there no one who will rid me of this turbulent priest ?"

The four knights standing around understood that the king wants the Bishop to be killed. 

They went in search of him shouting , " Where is the traitor Becket ? "

" Here I am, I am no traitor but a priest of God ". Becket said staying in Canterbury cathedral ( Church ).

No sooner than the Bishop finished speaking did the knights killed him (1170 AD ).

Thomas Becket murder remains one of the most famous stories associated with medieval England .
Because, Becket went very close to the King , he met with  that end.

2000 years ago Thiruvalluvar had clearly said not to go too close to the kings or higher authorities.

அகலாது அணுகாது தீக்காய்வார் போல்க

இகல்வேந்தர்ச் சேர்ந்து ஒழுகுவார் (691)

(Those who work under higher authorities should neither go too close nor too far, they should remain like people who sit in an apt place besides fire for warmth.)

மேல் அதிகாரிகளுடன் பழகுவோர்,  நெருங்காமலும், நீங்காமலும், குளிர்காய்வாற்போல் இருக்க வேண்டும்.

அகலாது = not going too far. 

அணுகாது = not moving too close.

தீக்காய்வார் = those who remain for warmth before fire. 

இகல்வேந்தர் = king/ CEO/ top managers ,etc

சேர்ந்து ஒழுகுவார் = serve with/under

Those who work with the top officials,  should never go too close or too far.

=======================================================================