IPS officer recites couplets from Thirukkural to motivate

Poetry is seldom associated with the toughness the job of a police officer entails.

But it is precisely because of his love for verses loaded with messages in lofty human ideals and conduct that Deputy Commissioner of Police,Chennai, R Thirunavukkarasu, has been made brand ambassador for the works of legendary Tamil poet and humanist Tiruvalluvar, who had sounded on subjects as varied as ethidcs, politics, economics and delicate matters of love centuries ago.

The officer said he has had more than the usual exposure to Tamil literature, in particular the reatise of Thirukkural, from an early age, since his parents were teachers.

Thirunavukkarasu said he had been reading out a couplet from the Kural each day for many years as he thought it would help and motivate him.

"Life has become stressful for most of us and I thought reading out one couplet from the Kural every day would help and motivate me. I have been doing it for years."
"So with the permission of my superior officers, I started the practice of reciting one couplet from the Kural before the start of the roll call every day for police personnel about seven years ago."
Even as he was doing it, he found school going children to be "many times more burdened than we were."
"Life becomes easy, purposeful and rewarding for both the individual and the society at large by reading and following the Kural."