Cherishing Kinsmen
Kaakkai Karavaa Karaindhunnum Aakkamum / Annanee Raarkke Ula
Classical English couplet — “The crows conceal not, call their friends to come, then eat;Increase of good such worthy ones shall meet”
What it says in plain words
“A crow calls others to share its food instead of hiding it. In the same way, people grow by sharing with their relatives.”
The classical Tamil reading
காக்கை (தனக்கு கிடைத்ததை) மறைத்து வைக்காமல் சுற்றத்தைக் கூவி அழைத்து உண்ணும். ஆக்கமும் அத்தகைய இயல்பு உடையவர்க்கே உண்டு.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
தனக்குக் கிடைத்ததை மறைக்காமல் தனது சுற்றத்தைக் கூவி அழைத்துக் காக்கை உண்ணும் அந்தக் குணம் உடையவர்களுக்கு மட்டுமே உலகில் உயர்வு உண்டு
The ethical and philosophical heart
The crow does not keep everything it finds for itself. It calls others close, so they can eat together. The couplet teaches us to share what we have with relatives. Doing well means including those around us, not keeping every gain to ourselves.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- You invite a relative to share a meal you prepared.
- Workplace
- You share extra snacks with coworkers rather than keeping them hidden.
- Family
- After a good harvest, your family shares vegetables with relatives.
- Society
- A community garden group invites nearby households to share its harvest.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- When you have extra, consider which relatives you could include.
- Integrity
- Be honest about what you can share with your family.
- Communication
- Invite relatives to join you rather than waiting for them to ask.
- Leadership
- Share available resources with your team instead of keeping every advantage for yourself.
- Governance
- Make community resources available to the people they are meant to serve.
For leaders and teams
Show others how to include people in your gains. Let those you lead see you sharing, not keeping everything.
Something to sit with
“What could you share with a relative today, however small?”