Author Mamathi Chari’s ‘Thiruvalluvar’s Kural for Kids’ is the first book in the ‘Kural for Kids’ series. This book is a translated and storified version of the Thirukkural for young readers. Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural is a collection of 1330 short couplets or Kurals, and is considered a masterpiece of Tamil literature. The beauty of these verses is that they are timeless, transcending divisions, and imparting universal knowledge.
In this book, the author references couplets that relate to social and personal life, like enjoying the gift of rain, upholding grace, holding fort, celebrating hearth and home, honoring the ways of wealth, and worshipping God. In uncertain times, values help a person navigate through troubled waters, making them resilient in the process.
The author has given a contemporary feel to her stories, explaining each Kural with relatable stories and anecdotes. Every tale aims to inspire and educate, encouraging young children to think and act responsibly, protect the environment, be kind to other creatures, treat one another with respect, be humble, and have faith.
The protagonist, Gettikutti, learns lessons from their* grandparents through stories and other fun-filled experiences. Another recurring character is Makkukuttu, who is the polar opposite of Gettikutti. Storytelling is a powerful tool for teaching children, and the author imparts Thiruvalluvar’s vision through a riveting narrative. She calls this wisdom a cheat sheet/guide for life and makes it even more intriguing by interspersing riddles in between.
My favourite section is on wealth; the story that involved social media was very relatable and something the younger generation will resonate with. Overall, there are ample doses of tongue-in-cheek humour, endearing moments, and cuteness. There are many mouthwatering delights mentioned- like the Peanut Sundal, Goli Soda, Masala Vadai, Bajjis, and the Ragi Koozhu(malt). The book will make you hungry for knowledge and food! The author is a talented illustrator, and the book is peppered with drawings that make the characters come alive.
If I had to nitpick, it would be that the text is heavily interspersed with Tamil words, which can be challenging if you are a non-Tamil speaker and not used to reading transliterated text. Navigate around these texts to unpack a wealth of knowledge, ranging from science, sustainability, environment, and faith.
Simplifying the Thirukkural for children is no mean feat. Kudos to the author for creating this impactful and meaningful work!
*Read the author’s notes at the end to understand the beautiful reasoning behind this pronoun.
I received this book as a giveaway in a Penmancy – PenKonnect Interaction with the Author, Mamathi Chari.
