Thirukkural on International Relationship.: DIPLOMATS

Thirukural on International Relations. 

 DIPLOMATS

Diplomats are the  ambassadors or envoys 

or messengers send by one country to another.

They are mainly responsible for maintaining 

inter country relationship.

*Strabo who lived during  

Augustus Caesar (27 BC - 14 AD ) had 

mentioned that a Pondian King of South India  

had sent an ambassador to  meet

Augustus Caesar with a letter and gifts.

.

Diplomatic relation among countries is very much 

required. Thiruvalluvar  gives a guide line to be 

adhered while selecting the diplomats..

He prescribes number of skill sets for them. 

  

They should be scholarly among scholars,

they should have extraordinary communication 

skills with loving nature, appealing personality,

pleasing manner, benevolent heart , 
humourous in  talk, courageous by nature, etc 
( kurals 681 to 690 )

Long time ago, I went to my wife's native place Vellore 

in Tamil Nadu.We were invited by a known family, 

the house was traditional brahmin house,

after the dinner, I was talking to  the eldest women 

of the house.She showed me a room and said, 

"This is the room where Radha stayed and attended

the college, Radha was very intelligent, pious,

dignified with extraordinary communication skills,

never insulted any body,  ..............."

I was wondering, who this Radha  who possessed 

all the skill sets specified by Valluvar.

On the way back, I asked my wife. 

She said, " Radha is Dr. Radhakrishnan, 

our former president of India,

he stayed in this house and studied 

in the Voorhes College."

The old woman was correct in her assessment. .

Dr. Radhakrishnan , a learned among scholars 

proved an exemplary ambassador. 

He was the Indian ambassador to USSR from 

1949 to 1952 He laid a strong  foundation for 

the Indo-Russia mutual relationship.

After this assignment he became the vice-president 

and then the  president of India.

Thiruvalluvar prescribes in the Kural 687,

the skills required for the top level diplomats,

A top level diplomat is a person who realises 

very well the responsibilities of his duties, 

wait for the right time to speak  and determine  

correct place to perform his diplomatic mission 

using measured words.

கடன் அறிந்து/ காலம் கருதி/ இடன் அறிந்து/

எண்ணி/ உரைப்பான் தலை. (687)

தலை= a top level diplomat

To-day diplomatic service is rendered by 

All India Foreign Service ( IFS ),  

the personnels are selected from the 

All India Civil Service Examination, .

In heirarchy IFS is next to IAS ans IPS.

The skill sets advised by Thiruvalluvar and other 

required skill sets are inculcated  during the 36 months 

training in the Lal Bhahadur Sastry National 

Academy, Mussourie.They are given 

indepth knowledge on major world issues..

Today it  is  an era of Interdependence,

no country is fully independent, 

every country depends upon other countries 

for some thing or other. Mighty countries depend upon 

oil hidden countries for their fuel requirements, 

highly populated China depends upon US for  

the sale of  cheap labour,many  small countries 

depend upon their  exports . 

International Relation is governed by game plans., 

every country is selfish.. 

In fact it is nothing but the survival of  fittest,

hence diplomatic service had become  very crucial.

Thiruvalluvar says in the kural 689        

A devoted diplomat selected to deliver a message, 

even by slip of the tongue,

will never utter unworthy words 

that would bring discredit to his country.

விடு மாற்றும் வேந்தர்க்கு உரைப்பான் வடு மாற்றும் 

வாய் சோரா வன்கணவன் (689)

( வாய் சோரா = Slip of the tongue )

An efficient diplomat can convert a deadly enemy country 

into a potentially  friendly country  by using his diplomatic 

tactics. In UNO a diplomat can present his country's views 

on International issues in a convincing way and impress 

other countries.

The diplomats with acknowleged wisdom and 

tested knowledge  become a great asset to their countries.

2000 years ago Thiruvalluvar had said 

these diplomats are not free from life threats. 

As said by Thiruvalluvar, in the recent past many 

ambassadors have been killed. 

   .

1970 Armenian ( not American) terrorists killed 

Turkish diplomat..

1973 US ambassador Cleo a Noel to Sudan was 

taken hostage and killed.

1973 American Ambassador Adolp Dubs was 

killed in Afghan.

2005 Cairo's ambassador to Iraq El Sherif was 

abducted and murdered. 

2010 Indian Embassy in Kabul had a  Bomb attack.

 In fact many American Ambassadors 

had faced life threats. 

 In US, in the lobby of Harry S Truman building 

of the state Department, two memorial plaques are 

placed with names of diplomats who risked lives during 

their mission despite of the  immunities given by

 **Vienna convention1961,

King Rajaraja cholan ( 11th Century ) sent 

one ambassador to Chera king, 

King insulted and arrested the ambassador. 

History says,  Rajaraja Cholan invaded and 

defeated Chera King and imprisoned him. 

Insulting an ambassador is nothing but insulting  

the sovereign authority itself. 

  

See the Kural  690  in which Thiruvalluvar says 

about the life threat to  the ambassadors.

" Even under the threat to life , 

an ideal ambassador  

will serve his Nation without any fear "

இறுதி பயப்பினும் எஞ்சாது இறைவற்கு

உறுதி பயப்பது ஆம் தூது (690)

இறுதி பயப்பினும் = even if the end of life approaches

எஞ்சாது = without fear

இறைவற்கு = to his King or  Nation

உறுதி பயப்பது ஆம் = will serve as directed

தூது = an ideal ambassador

In simple words,

" an ideal diplomat will complete his mission  

without fear even if his end approaches"

In corporate companies sales and 

marketing executives are the diplomats,

they also need all the skill sets prescribed 

by Thiruvalluvar.

                                       

For Students  reference

*Strabo lived during Augustus Caesar Time ( 27 BC -14 AD ), 

 he Compiled book on Geography

 He was felicitated by Augustus Caesar.

Ptolemy had referred Pondian king as Medura Region Pandian.

Periplus as referred Pondian king as Pandyan Mediterrea

In 1942, the escavation conducted at Arikumedu 

near Pondichery unearthed many Roman coins with 

Augustus Caesar head.which proved the trade relation

between Tamilakam and Rome 2000 years ago.

**Vienna convention 1961 had given many 

immunities (safeguards) to the diplomats.

1) They can not be arrested by 

the host country ( country where they function )

2) If the host country is dissatisfied with 

the functioning of the ambassadors, they should be 

asked to leave the country , 

no action could be taken on them.

3) Host country can not enter into the embassy  premises 

without permission, it is the territory of the 

representing country( extraterritoriality )

High Commissioners are the ambassadors 

between common wealth countries.

Common wealth countries are the countries 

once ruled by British.

The Indian Ambassador to UK is called 

High Commissioner to UK. 

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