Absence of Terrorism
Thakkaangu Naatith Thalaichchellaa Vannaththaal / Oththaangu Oruppadhu Vendhu
Classical English couplet — “Who punishes, investigation made in due degree,So as to stay advance of crime, a king is he”
What it says in plain words
“A ruler should examine wrongdoing fairly before deciding the punishment. The punishment should match the wrong and help prevent it happening again.”
The classical Tamil reading
செய்த குற்றத்தை தக்கவாறு ஆராய்ந்து மீண்டும் அக் குற்றம் செய்யாத படி குற்றத்திற்குப் பொருந்துமாறு தண்டிப்பவனே அரசன் ஆவான்.
An expanded Tamil interpretation
நடைபெற்ற குற்றங்களை நடுநிலை தவறாமல் ஆராய்ந்தறிந்து, மீண்டும் அவை நிகழா வண்ணம் அக்குற்றங்களுக்கேற்பத் தண்டனை கிடைக்கச் செய்வதே அரசின் கடமையாகும்
The ethical and philosophical heart
People in power must understand what happened before taking action. They should check the facts without favoring anyone involved. The key is to match the response to the wrong. A fair punishment addresses the harm and helps stop the same wrongdoing.
In personal life, work and society
- Personal
- Before asking a friend to replace something broken, find out what happened.
- Workplace
- A manager checks a theft report fairly before choosing a suitable penalty.
- Family
- A parent checks why a child broke a rule before setting a fair limit.
- Society
- A court examines the evidence fairly and sets a punishment that fits the crime.
How to apply this today
- Decision-making
- Check what happened before deciding how to respond to wrongdoing.
- Integrity
- Apply the same fair standards to friends and strangers.
- Communication
- Explain what went wrong and why the punishment fits.
- Leadership
- Choose a fair response that helps prevent the same wrongdoing.
- Governance
- Investigate crimes fairly and set punishments that match their seriousness.
For leaders and teams
When someone does wrong, understand before you act. Choose a fair response that helps stop the problem happening again.
Something to sit with
“How could you respond more fairly when someone makes a mistake today?”