MGR fought for Thirukkural as national scripture, Indira Gandhi spiked it

Former PM cited the secular nature of the Constitution to turn down the request; back-and-forth correspondence part of 3,000 files PMO will release soon.
The back-and-forth communication between MG Ramachandran and Indira is part of over 3,000 files that the Prime Minister’s Office would soon make public. | Express Photo Service
The back-and-forth communication between MG Ramachandran and Indira is part of over 3,000 files that the Prime Minister’s Office would soon make public. | Express Photo Service

NEW DELHI: In 1981, Chief Minister MG Ramachandran battled with the Centre to get Thirukkural, a classic Tamil text, the status of national scripture, but Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who had swept back to power just a year ago, spiked it citing the secular nature of the Constitution.

The back-and-forth communication between MG Ramachandran popularly known as MGR and Indira is part of over 3,000 files that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) would soon make public. Indira had argued that as a secular State, India cannot adopt any one book as the national scripture, as that would militate against the very concept of separation between religion and State. MGR had countered saying Thirukkural is not a scripture in a religious sense and its teachings are not related to or derived from any particular religious faith.

“Rather, it sets out a code of ethics governing different types of human relationship, embodying principles which have stood the test of time and which we believe have a particular relevance to our society,”MGR told Indira Gandhi. The letters reviewed by the Express show MGR wrote the first letter on the subject in April 1981 to Indira Gandhi (DO Letter No. 10788A/Admin-IV/79- Dated 11.4.1981).

“You are quite aware that ‘Thirukkural’ written by the great poet Thiruvalluvar over 2000 years ago is acclaimed as a code of ethics and moral conduct for the entire human society. It is a secular piece of literature laying tenets of for the conduct of the common man, one who has renounced the world - and the ruler - laying down the rules for the highest form of living and the administration. It is a piece of moral literature, which has been accepted by all religions, though the author and his masterpiece themselves are above all religions. Without being irreligious, India is proud of presenting such as an outstanding piece of ethical and pragmatic literature to the world,”MGR wrote to Indira.

He reminded her about unanimous recommendation of the fifth world Tamil Congress held in Madurai from January 4, 1981 where delegates from various foreign countries called for declaration of immortal Thirukkural as the national scripture of India. Indira was also invited to the conference where in her valedictory address she had praised Thirukkural as a treasure house of wisdom and enlightenment for humanity for all time to come.

“I hope you will use your good offices for declaring Thirukkural as a national scripture. I shall be grateful for early action,”MGR in his letter said. On April 22, 1981, Indira’s Information Adviser H Y Sharada Prasad wrote (D.O. No. 4259/E&S/81) to then Cabinet Secretary T N Chaturvedi asking for a background note on the proposal that could be placed before Indira Gandhi.

Chaturvedi replied after two weeks saying that the government cannot single out one writing for declaring it as a national scripture. In his DO letter No. F.19-19/79-CH-4, Chaturvedi told Sharada Prasad on May 5, 1981: “The social significance of Thirukkural is recognized practically all over the country and it has been translated into most of the Indian languages. Though Thirukkural is not a religious book, strictly speaking, it is concerned with moral values, but it is primarily held in reverence by followers of one particular religion. Therefore, it is for consideration if it will be advisable for the government to declare it as ‘national scripture’in view of the secular nature of our constitution.”

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi then wrote to MGR on May 22, 1981, saying: “All of us have the highest respect for the ‘Thirukkural’ which classic is a fount of profound wisdom. But, as a secular state, we cannot adopt any one book as the national scripture, as that would militate against the very concept of separation between religion and state. Also, if special status is given to any book, there would be similar demands on behalf of others.”

MGR wrote back on February 4, 1982 along with English translations of Thirukkural for Indira to read before taking a decision (DO No. 10778-A/Admn.IV/79). He argued that proposal from Tamil Nadu government stems basically from a desire that this great classic should be accorded formal recognition, which would facilitate its contents becoming better known all over the country.

“There are, in our view, few equals to this epic in terms of antiquity, richness of perception and wisdom of its prescriptions that one need not be worried about a large number of such books having to be accorded similar status by the government. I send herewith an English translation of Thirukkural by Thiruvachakamani and I am sure a glance through it will convince you of both the secular nature of this work and the merit of our proposal to have it declared as national scripture,”MGR argued in his letter.

It appears from the PMO file that the Indira’s secretariat took a decision to discontinue the flow of communication on this issue. N S Sreeraman, deputy secretary in PMO on April 22, 1982 wrote to the secretary of MGR (DO No. 1238-A/E&S/82 Serial No.6), saying: “The Prime Minister finds that it would not be appropriate to proclaim any single book as the national scripture. She had explained this in her letter of 22nd May, 1981 to the Chief Minister.”

This was the last letter in the PMO file on M G Ramachandran’s efforts and struggle to give Thirukkural the stature millions were praying for.

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