THIRUKURAL 727 : On Communication Skills

Thirukkural on communication skills

A learned person (scholar) is an individual with a profound knowledge.  One has to study either formally or informally for many years to become a scholar. Thiruvalluvar says that a scholarly person with all his learning, if unable to communicate his knowledge to others is useless to the society,  

Whether a small company or a large corporate establishment, the effective communication skill of its personnel is one of the ingredient s for its success. Style of speaking, body language, expressiveness are the fundamental elements of effective communication. Executives are subjected to present papers on many occasions, if these papers are not well prepared and presented, it will end in a total failure.

Kural 645 gives a guide line:

"The words used should be carefully selected so that no other words can effectively replace them." 
Which means, there should not be any ambiguity in the words used.

சொல்லுக சொல்லைப் பிறிதோர்சொல் அச்சொல்லை
வெல்லுஞ்சொல் இன்மை அறிந்து.( 645)

அச்சொல்லை வெல்லுஞ்சொல் இன்மை = No other word can replace it


An executive capable of communicating complex concepts successfully is well recognized by everybody.People like Winston Churchill, Edmund Burke, Pandit Nehru and others were known for their inspiring speeches which kept the entire audience spell bound. 
In democratic countries only powerful speakers become heroes in politics.

Along with eduacation, students should develop communication skill by participating in debates and elocution competitions. In modern days communication skill is very much required to enter into certain key positions.

It should not be forgotten that,  for a successful executive, communication skills is not  optional but mandatory. 

Toastmaster Club International is dedicated to help its members to improve public speaking and communication skills along with leadership qualities. It is functioning in all metro cities including  in Bangalore (www.toastmaster.org).

I know a person with many degrees with wide knowledge. When he meets friends , he liked to talk on current political , social , economic and International affairs. Unfortunately with all his knowledge he in unable to express his views in a impressive way in a right sequence. Thiruvalluvar says, the knowledge of these people is a waste to the society.

Read Kural  of Kural 728:

" A widely  learned man, if cannot communicate well,

   All his learning is a waste"

பல்லவை கற்றும் பயமிலரே நல்லவையுள்
நன்கு செலச்சொல்லா தார். ( 728)

நன்கு செலச்சொல்லா தார். = Those who cannot communicate well.

Even in the kural 730, it is said that 
if educated people are afraid to covey their thoughts in an assembly , 
Even though  living  , they are considered  as dead.

உளரெனினும் இல்லாரொடு ஒப்பர் களன்அஞ்சிக்
கற்ற செலச்சொல்லா தார்.( 730)
உளரெனினும் = Even though living
இல்லாரொடு ஒப்பர் = Considered  as dead.

The purpose of any education or knowledge is  to educate others. One need not be a teacher to eduacate others.Through their communication , they can educate others in an informal way.
They should have the ability to explain in an effective way. If they do not have that ability,  they are even though  living , considered as dead..

Essence of Kural 727 :

" A learned man afraid of speaking to an assembly of wise is nothing but an eunuch with a sharp sword in hand in a war field."

( An eunuch is neither male or female person )

பகையகத்துப் பேடிகை ஒள்வாள் அவையகத்து
அஞ்சு மவன்கற்ற நூல்.

Thiruvalluvar compares a learned man with no communication skill to an eunuch (hermaphrodite= no gender) with a shining sword in a war field. In this Kural Thiruvalluvar uses the Tamil word பேடி ( Badi )  ( which means eunuch.). An eunuch cannot fight bravely even with the finest sword. A man without  communication skill is similar to him. No use of him to the society.

Just imagine, if  an envoy to UNO does not have communication skill, he cannot present the views of his nation in a right way. Enoys are  the mouth pieces of their nations.They have to reflect their nations views without mixing the words.There should not  be  any ambiquity in  their talks.They should have tested knowlledge on International affairs and hightest communication skill. 
The speeches of the eminent leaders  had brought great changes among the people , 
Edmund Berg's " Speech on American Taxation." in UK parliament ( 1774 )
Abraham Lincoln's " Gettysberg Speech " delivered during the American Civil War.( 1863)
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's " A tryst with Destiny" ( 1947)
Martin Luther King Jr 's " I have a Dream " (1963), 
=================================================