Not in my wildest dream had i thought that a திருக்குறள் would buy him so much trouble. So much trouble that the embarrassment never wore off from him even after his graduation from college. It started when we were studying 10th standard in our public school. We had a bicycle to share and both me and Rama Subbu had been the doubles partner cycling our way back and forth to school and also to tuition center. Chettiar’s Tuition center were a source of great fun. Chettiar was horizontally challenged and most of the time, remained bare-chested.
Chettiar had announced that we need to recite Thirukkural the next day. Konar guide to our rescue. We were both armed with Thirukkural in our lips.
Sunday 7 Am, the next day. As told, i started reciting Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural.
கற்க கசடறக் கற்பவை கற்றபின்
நிற்க அதற்குத் தக.
Chettiar said “எடுத்துக்காட்டு….எடுத்துக்காட்டு”. I followed it up by explaining what the kural means with an example.
Rama subbu’s turn was next. The same kural. He narrated the kural quickly and followed it up with an example too. Chettiar did not pay any attention. He thought that Rama Subbu is yet to say the examples. He roared “”எடுத்துக்காட்டு….எடுத்துக்காட்டு”. Rama went back again. This time too, Chettiar yelled “”எடுத்துக்காட்டு….எடுத்துக்காட்டு”. I am not sure, if the king of stupidity was reigning Ram Subbu’s mind at that point of time, coz it still remains a source of great mystery to me, so as to why he did that?. He, in a sudden moment, when no one anticipated it, his hands went near his trousers zip and in a sudden outburst said “இந்தா பாரு!”. The action definitely looked like he was about to expose his gender identity to Chettiar. Laughter from the students echoed the walls. I had always thought that reflexes were weak for taller persons, ( the brains command to your hand takes time, i had thought) but it seems true for horizontally challenged persons too. Chettiar was late to react. (Possibly from the shock!!.)
Furious Chettiar, slapped Ramasubbu. எலே!எடுத்துக்காட்டுனா எத வேனும்னாலும் எடுத்து காட்டிருவியா?”. Dead silence. By this time, neighbors had crowded near the wall facing our tuition center. என்ன ஆச்சு சார்? “குறள் எடுத்துக்காட்டுன்னு சொன்னா குஞ்ச எடுத்துக்காட்டுறான்!”. I said to myself. “What an exaggeration Mr. Chettiar!. His intention may be that, But his execution had failed.”. Gasp!. Murmuring sound. Faces of shock and surprise.
Tuition dispersed soon, with an ultimatum to Rama Subbu that he should come to tuition with his parents the next day. By this time, news had already reached his Dad. His Dad came to my house, to confirm his son’s misdemeanor.
His Dad: Is it true. That he unzipped his trouser?
Me : No uncle. His Hand went to the wrong place at the wrong time. ( i bluffed).
His Dad: I know. My son will not do anything like that ( Famous last lines of proud fathers)
He received tumultuous welcome at school and at every other place where students crowded. Every one asked. “வாத்தியார் பயந்திட்டார டே?”. He became the ” எடுத்துக்காட்டு Man”.
As far as i am concerned, i am probably the only person surviving in this world, who had been asked million times, if he unzipped his “trouser or not”. Let me say this to every one now. “He did not. But the INTENTION was always there.“. And for why he did that stupid thing, is still a mystery for me too.
Note: The title is inspired from Pudhumai Pithans short story. His short story is based on an exuberant detective’s attempt to arrest a fundamentalist after reading a pathetically written Thirukkural. He finally ends up with egg on his face. Here goes the Thirukkural.
துப்பார்க்குத் துப்பாய துப்பாக்கி
துப்பர்க்கு துப்பாய தூ மழை
No wonder, it set a detective on his quest to catch a revolutionist 
19/08/2008 at 12:56 am Permalink
எலே!எடுத்துக்காட்டுனா எத வேனும்னாலும் எடுத்து காட்டிருவியா?
குறள் எடுத்துக்காட்டுன்னு சொன்னா குஞ்ச எடுத்துக்காட்டுறான்!
Thanks Raj.Enough to laugh for my entire life. Really superb…superb.. superb
19/08/2008 at 1:44 am Permalink
Annoymoous
Hope you had a whale of a time reading this. I had , when i wrote. The term “Eduthukkaatu” had a new meaning after that incident. I burst out into laughter when some one utters this word every time.
19/08/2008 at 6:30 am Permalink
Bro!!! Oh god!!! I dont want to imagine anything, I just couldnt control myself laughing!!! Just reminded of my school dyas.. those fun! tutitions centre and indeed the most fun-filled days in life…
19/08/2008 at 8:36 am Permalink
விலாநோகச் சிரிப்பது, விழுந்து விழுந்து சிரிப்பது என்னென்னு புரிய வச்ச தற்கு நன்றி
19/08/2008 at 9:25 am Permalink
hai,that means everyone should be careful while using that word ,especially to you i suppose. thank god the teacher was a male
19/08/2008 at 9:54 am Permalink
Hi Raj,
எலே!எடுத்துக்காட்டுனா எத வேனும்னாலும் எடுத்து காட்டிருவியா?
குறள் எடுத்துக்காட்டுன்னு சொன்னா குஞ்ச எடுத்துக்காட்டுறான்!
i was thinking all vadivelu comedies are happened in our school days itself. Vadivelu is having star but not us still i admire the way your friend gave the example for Thirukural even valluvar might not have thought in this manner.
Still Laughing………………………………………………………
20/08/2008 at 7:26 am Permalink
இதுவல்லவோ “எடுத்து-காட்டு”
ஐயா சாமி… முடியல!! கொஞ்ச நாளா வேலையில பிஸி i missed a few posts on thoughts to bytes… ellathukum sethu sirichachu…:) now to your other posts…
21/08/2008 at 8:12 pm Permalink
@barath,
Laugh…Laugh..Good for health. Tuition’s were indeed great fun. Bunking tuition was more fun :), only to be thrashed when parents find out that u had done so.
@sameAnonymous
நன்றி!. I hope i will continue to bring smiles via this website
@rani
LOL!!. You bet. However, who uses this word now?. every one says “example?”
@Narayanan
Machan!, College was more fun. More real time jokes flew than anywhere. Jokes where all about timing, and man some guys were damn good.
@Vignesh
Your presence is required in i-raj.org. Hope this post was a stress reliever in your stress filled day at work.
I met rama subbu once near Kodambakkam bridge. Here goes the conversation
Me: Enga da Pora
He: Interview’kku
Me: Best of Luck
He: Vaaya Vachuttaya . Urupputaapla Thaan.
He was indeed fun to be with all the time.