Valluvar’s
concept of an ideal country
Dr. R.
Prabhakaran
Introduction
The words “country” and “nation” are often used interchangeably.
But they mean different things. A country is a self-governing political entity
that has its own territory with internationally recognized borders. As of 2017,
193 countries were members of the United Nations Organization. Nation refers to
a group of people sharing a common culture, language, and history. For example,
although the Kurdish people live in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey, they consider
themselves members of the Kurdish nation. In chapter 74 of his book, Valluvar
refers to a political entity ruled by a king. So, all references in Chapter 74
should be considered references to a country rather than a nation.
In the Chapter on
Country, Valluvar mentions that a country should be free of starvation,
epidemics, harassment from enemies, warring factions, internal strife, and
murderous gangsters. Also, the country should not experience major devastation.
Even when such devastation occurs and the financial burden befalls, the country
should be resilient enough to withstand such exigencies and bounce back to
normalcy. He then discusses the positive features that a country should
possess. Finally, he stresses the importance of good leadership for a country
to prosper.
Valluvar’s
foresight is genuinely remarkable. Even in the 21st century, many countries are
plagued with the same problems mentioned by Valluvar. They struggle to provide
satisfactory healthcare for their citizens, are unable to maintain law and
order, and are incapable of providing their citizens with safety, security,
peace, prosperity, and happiness. There are very few countries that meet all of
Valluvar’s criteria to be considered an ideal country. Valluvar’s kurals from
the chapter on Country are presented in the following paragraphs, and his ideas
are compared against the current conditions in many countries of the
world.
The adverse conditions that should not be present in a country:
An
ideal country is one where people are free from starvation and epidemics, and
enemies do not harass the country. (kural – 734)
Starvation, epidemics,
frequent conflicts, and wars are also common in Africa and some Asian countries.
Compared to other countries, Canada and the USA seem to meet the ideals mentioned
in the above kural. Except during the Great Depression, famine and
starvation have not affected the USA. Canada has not been subject to
significant famines or starvation crises. Due to general awareness of hygiene
and the government’s initiatives for disease control, major epidemics have been
rare in the USA and Canada. Of course, the USA has been involved in many
conflicts and wars during its history. But there has been no country powerful
enough to harass the USA. In most cases, it has been the USA that was the
aggressor. However, Canada has never initiated a war. Its involvement in wars
has been only in support of the USA, UK, or United Nations Organization
peacekeeping efforts. For several decades, Canada has not been harassed by
any enemies.
An
ideal nation does not have warring factions, destructive internal strife, and
murderous gangsters.
(kural – 735)
Although the USA was found to meet the criteria in kural 734, it
certainly falls short with respect to the criteria in kural 735. On-going
racial disputes, drug-related gangs, and murders are routine occurrences in
major cities of the USA. Each year, countries are ranked on the Global Peace Index (GPI), a composite measure of
peacefulness according to the levels of safety and security in their society,
involvement in conflict at home and abroad, and their degree of militarization.
Based on the 2017 GPI, the most peaceful country in the world is Iceland, and
New Zealand is considered the second most peaceful country. Since 2008, Iceland
has been undisputed, and number one ranked most peaceful country in the world.
It ranks at the top in just about every measure on the GPI, including being
number one in social safety, security, and militarization.
Resilience and resurgence in case of devastation:
It
is the best among countries that know no devastation; even if any devastation
should occur, its prosperity does not decline. (Kural – 736)
It is beyond the control
of a country to prevent natural disasters. Valluvar says that even if
devastation should occur, a country should be able to recover from it and
continue to prosper. A notable example in this context is Japan. During the
second world war, Japan suffered major setbacks, including the USA’s nuclear
bombing resulting in enormous loss of life and property. The country’s
infrastructure was completely destroyed. But Japan bounced back and regained
its prosperity. This was due to the industry, innovation, and perseverance of
the Japanese people.
An
ideal country bears every burden that befalls yet pays in full all the taxes
owed to the government.
(kural – 733)
The Center for Research
on the Epidemiology of Disasters publishes an Annual Disaster Review to provide
valuable information on the occurrence of natural disasters and their impacts
on society. According to their report issued in 2014, “China, the United
States, the Philippines, Indonesia, and India are the five countries most
frequently hit by natural disasters. For years, these same countries have
regularly featured at the top of this annual list.” Japan should also be
included in this list. Japan has experienced more than 60 earthquakes of magnitude
6.0 or higher on the Richter scale in the past 500 years. Yet, the people in
these countries have paid their taxes regularly, and there has been no revolt
against taxes. So, several countries pass the test proposed by Valluvar in
kural 733.
Features of an Ideal Country
An
ideal country is one that has an unfailing yield, competent citizenry, and
discerning people with wealth.
(kural – 731)
Unfailing yield implies
that the soil is fertile, there is sufficient and timely rain, and those
engaged in cultivation are meticulous in carrying out their duties. If the
yield is unfailing, then there will be adequate food which is a basic necessity
for the country's citizens. During the days of Valluvar, agriculture was the
primary occupation in the world. But in the context of modern times, “unfailing
yield” can be expanded to include the uninterrupted supply of all goods and
services needed for the citizens of the country. The competent citizenry would
consist of capable people with intelligence, innovation, and enthusiasm to work
hard to produce various products and offer services required for the country's
people. This interpretation allows the inclusion of labor as well as management
in the category of the competent citizenry. Discerning people with ample wealth
can afford to provide the necessary capital essential for the production of
goods.
In his commentary on
Thirukkural, Dr. S. M. Diaz suggests that this kural lends itself to an
interpretation consistent with later-day economists like Adam Smith (1723 –
1790) and Alfred Marshal (1842 – 1924). Adam Smith’s magnum opus, “The Wealth of
Nations,” is considered the first modern work on economics.
Alfred Marshal’s Principles of Economics was the dominant
economic textbook in England for many years. Adam Smith and Alfred Marshal are
considered pioneers in the field of economics. Adam Smith mentions land, labor,
and capital as the three prime factors of production.
Subsequently, Alfred
Marshal added organization as the fourth factor of production. If Valluvar’s
mention of the competent citizenry can be interpreted to include labor and
management, then it is consistent with Alfred Marshal’s view that land, labor,
capital, and organization are necessary factors for the efficient production of
goods. Based on this revised interpretation, the above kural can be restated as
follows: Productive land, competent labor, organization, and ample wealth
constitute a prosperous land.
A land admired for its vast wealth, free from calamities, and
yielding in abundance is the ideal country.
(kural – 732)
The one country that is
admired for its vast wealth and is the envy of the rest of the world is the
United States of America. The USA is considered the land of opportunity. Over
the past two centuries, millions of people from other countries have migrated
legally and settled in the USA. Every day, thousands of people sneak illegally
into the USA, hoping for a better life. However, the USA has not been free from
calamities. It may suffer from earthquakes, torrential rain and tornadoes,
heavy snowfall, forest fire, and other natural disasters. But the people's
resilience, the nation’s abundant wealth, and the government’s emergency
management policies and practices help to overcome these calamities. The vast
size of the country and the fertility of the soil combined with the industry
and enterprising nature of the people have contributed to the abundance in the
USA and helped her to gain the admiration of other countries.
Surface
water, underground water, useful mountains, rivers, and strong fortifications
are five essential parts of a country. (kural
– 737)
According to the World
Factbook (2015), Brazil, Russia, the USA, and Canada are the top four countries
with plenty of freshwater resources. These countries are also blessed with
useful mountains and rivers. Mountains, rivers, and forests can serve as
natural fortifications for a country. The ocean serves as the natural boundary
and fortification for Australia and other island countries. For other
countries, the sea may be part of their boundary. For some countries, mountains
and rivers form the border. However strong the fortification is, people from
neighboring countries and enemies may find innovative ways to cross those
barriers. In modern warfare, aerial attack plays a significant role, and the
traditional land and sea-based fortifications will not be adequate. However,
ultimately war is won as a result of a ground battle. Therefore, Valluvar is
right in emphasizing the importance of land-based fortifications.
Five
ornaments of a country are the health of the citizens, the wealth of the
country, rich harvests, people’s happiness, and people’s safety. (kural – 738)
The five items that are
mentioned in the previous kural (kural -737) are essential features of a
country. But the five items mentioned in the above kural (kural – 738) - health
of the citizens, the wealth of the country, rich harvests, people’s happiness,
and safety add value to the country and make it superior to other countries.
These are ideals that most countries strive to accomplish. Most third-world
countries are not able to achieve these ideals. Even a wealthy country like the
USA cannot guarantee affordable healthcare for its citizens. Because of the
proliferation of drugs, violence and hate crimes, terrorist attacks, the safety
and happiness of US citizens are often at risk.
The United
Nations’ Human Development Report 2016 ranks where
people live long, healthy lives. In other words, the countries that are best to
live. The UN looked at nearly 200 countries across many categories, including
life expectancy, education, gender equality, and financial wealth. The report
concludes that several pitfalls work against human progress: discrimination,
intolerance, and social norms that target vulnerable groups like women and
racial minorities who face prejudice in a number of areas, including
employment, education, and property rights. According to the Human Development
Report (2016), the top eleven countries that scored high are Norway, Australia,
Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Singapore, The Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland,
Canada, and the USA.
A
place where prosperity comes effortlessly deserves to be called a country, not
where prosperity entails hard labor.
(kural – 739)
This kural sets up a
very high standard. As seen from the above-cited UN Report, even in developed
countries, life is not easy, and individuals do not achieve prosperity without
hard work. Because of the existing prejudices, gender, and racial inequalities,
discrimination, inefficiencies of the governments, and corruption among
politicians, the life of an average citizen is difficult, and achieving
prosperity is not easy. However, in developed countries like the USA,
opportunities are more for achieving prosperity than in underdeveloped
countries. Individuals who take advantage of the opportunities and work hard
prosper. Effortless prosperity for everyone is perhaps the ideal and not a
reality in most countries in modern times. The only exceptions are some of the
countries in the middle east whose prosperity is solely based on the enormous
oil and natural gas reserves. For example, Qatar's average per capita income is
more than $100,000.
Importance of good governance
Even if a country has
all the blessings, it is worth nothing if it lacks a good ruler. (kural
– 740)
The outstanding examples to validate this kural are North Korea
and Venezuela. In the case of North Korea, three generations of dictators have
been totally corrupt, and they have impoverished their country with callous
indifference to its citizens. The land and the people of North Korea are not
much different than their southern neighbor, South Korea. While South Korea has
significantly improved its economy with significant industrial development, and
its people are prosperous, North Korea has failed to do so. Millions of people
are starving and dying of malnutrition each year, while the dictator is proud
to build intercontinental ballistic missiles and strengthen the armed forces.
The primary reason for the people’s misery is the attitude and actions of the
country’s leader. Venezuela is a fertile country and has the world’s largest
oil reserve. The corrupt leadership and the failed socialistic ideologies of
Hugo Chavez and his successor Nicolas Maduro are responsible for the abject
poverty and anarchy in that country.
Conclusion
In the Chapter on Country, Valluvar mentions several unfavorable
conditions which should not be present in an ideal country. An ideal country is
one that is free of famines, starvation, epidemics, wars, internal strife, and
warring factions. On the positive side, the country should be fertile with
ample water, seasonal rain, unfailing yield, wealthy people with undiminishing
wealth, strong fortifications, effortless prosperity, and responsible
government working towards the welfare and happiness of its citizens. There is
increasing violence, poverty, terrorism, crime, inefficient governments, drugs,
immorality, and decadence. The best thing we can do is to hope that someday
things will be better.
Hope springs eternal in the human breast.
Man, never is, but always to be
blessed:
The soul, uneasy and confined
from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life
to come.
–
Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man
