10). On Fort/Fortress (75):

10). On Fort/Fortress (75):

A Fort is one, which has water, plains, mountains, cool forests etc; which cannot be captured, by assaulting or blocking; which has all things needed and excellent heroes to defend. The inmates within the fort must possess excellence of action in defence to overcome the enemy.

9). On Kingdom (74):

9). On Kingdom (74):

According to Valluvar, for the prosperity of a country, three factors are indispensable: farmers (Land), merchants (Capital) and virtuous people (Labour). Valluvar’s economic thought includes what later economic thinkers like Adam Smith (1776) and Alfred Marshal (1880) proposed as factors of production – Land, Labour, Capital and Organization. In an ideal kingdom there is no starvation, no epidemics, no destructive foes, and no internal enemies. The constituents of a kingdom are: two sources of waters - one from above and the other from below (rain and under-earth water), well situated hills and indestructible fort. A prosperous nation is one in which there is plentiful harvest, industrial productivity with agricultural inputs, and consequent abundance of production and wealth.

8). On King’s Advisors or Secretaries (Ch. 70):

8). On King’s Advisors or Secretaries (Ch. 70):

In this section Valluvar writes on those who are chosen to serve the king. Secretaries or advisers to king are like those who “warm themselves at fire, neither too close nor too far” from the king; “they neither whisper not smile in the presence of the king; they should always know king’s disposition and suggest desirable things to king; they should understand the king, just by his disposition; they should neither over hear when the king is in secret council or pry into it; they should be able to read the eyes of foreign kings and visitors, and reveal to their king.” They shall not desire the same thing, which the king himself desires.
Thiruvalluvar says that the adviser to the ruler should give firm advice to rectify errors. It is gratifying to find an ancient saint giving this advice when the present day advisers (secretaries to Ministers and ministries) are shy of being firm in giving advice to mend their ways.

7). On Envoy/Ambassador (69):

7). On Envoy/Ambassador (69):

This section is on diplomacy. “Ambassadors should have: love for the king, knowledge of his affairs, pleasing attributes; power of speech (brief & pleasant) and ability to bring glory to his country. The ambassador should fearlessly seek his country’s good even though it might cost him his life.”

6). On Qualities of Ministers (64 - 68):

6). On Qualities of Ministers (64 - 68):

Chapter 64 is a dissertation on ministers – their qualifications, characteristics and activities. This is an important section on Statecraft. “A Minister is one who makes excellent consideration of time, means, place, manner and the difficulties. He excels in firmness, knowledge, perseverance, and protection of subjects. He gives sound advice to kings and people. Minister should possess 1) power of speech (because wealth and evil result from his speech); 2) firm in action; and 3) proper consultation. “ Far better are the seventy crores of enemies for a king, than an unfaithful minister at his side”. Chapter 68 is on management techniques and decision-making process. “A Minister is conversant with the best methods of performance; he should avoid actions that yield no benefit or bring grief to the king. Even though he may see his mother starve, he should not act hastily”. After considerable thought, planning and analysis, one arrives at a decision. Once a decision is taken, any hesitation or delay is suicidal.

5). On Employing spies and Law (59):

5). On Employing spies and Law (59):

A spy and the book of law are the two eyes of a good king. It is the duty of a king to know quickly all that happen in the kingdom. A spy is one who has an appearance of no alarm and who does not reveal his purpose. He assumes the appearance of an ascetic and discovers what is hidden and helps the king in his benevolent administration. The spy engaged in collection of secret information should never be honored in public by the king; otherwise it will lead to leakage of secrets.

4). On Upright Government (55 – 56):

4). On Upright Government (55 – 56):

This section is on just rule. Valluvar emphasized the Rule of Law, a good governance by law – ‘equality before the law’ and equal protection of the law’. If there is a delay in identifying and redressing the people’s grievances in time and failure in rendering justice to them according to the law, the reputation of the government will go down the drain and the government will have its natural end. Government is to examine the crimes which may be committed, to show no favor to any one, and to inflict such punishment as may be wisely resolved on; “When there is rain, the world enjoys prosperity; when the king rules with justice, his subjects prosper”; It is king’s duty to guard his people from harm and punish criminals. Kingdom will fall to ruin, if the government does not examine its works and business daily. “The king defends the world, and justice defends the king”. “Prosperity gives more sorrow than poverty under unjust rule.”

The world will embrace the feet of the king who rules with love. The scepter of justice will bring rain and plentiful crops. Unjust government will fall to ruin. “ As is the world without rain, so is the country with unjust government”. If the king and his rule ensures “just government”, his kingdom will surely be blessed with seasonal rains and rich harvest, which never fail. If the guardian fails to guard or if there is misrule and failure of justice, everything in the country will fail – from the milk yield of the cow to the performance of priests.

Thiruvalluvar’s precepts on just government should remind us of our rulers and governments, and the scams and scandals attributed to them. 1990s has been a decade of scams – the Bofors, the Bank Securities scam, the Hawala scam, the Animal Husbandry scam, the Sugar scam, Telecom scam, Fertilizer import scam, PSE disinvestment scam etc. Our governments, Centre and States, are full of scandals and corruption charges involving those who occupy top political positions. Corruption manifests itself in many forms: at the highest political level as horse-trading of MLAs and MPs; at the fiscal level in the form of evading taxes; at the corporate level in terms of financing elections by black money and so on.

As Ruddar Datt puts it, “ A strong feeling has grown in Indian political life that corruption has become a way of life. In case, you are caught taking a bribe, you can get rid of the crime by paying a bribe”. Bribe has become an incentive these days, which increases work efficiency in public offices. It is disturbing to note that corruption has brought India among the lowest in the list of countries of the world in the matter of prevalence of corrupt activities. Today government is being gradually transformed into a company/a business enterprise. Can governance become a business? Our political system needs reforms, and the political process requires purification so that political will is strengthened to take necessary action against forces that generate black money, and sow the seeds of division, casteism, hatred and communal violence. There is a need for transparency at all levels.