TAMIL PROVERBS ABOUT ENGLISHMAN
It is a well known historical fact that, India was ruled by the Britishers for a long time. A number of Tamil proverbs came into being during the British rule. It is very common practice among Tamilians and for that matter, Indians to chew betel leaves. But Englishman is not at all accustomed to this practice. Even if betel leaves are offered, an English man would never chew them. You may tell many times but, an Englishman will never chew betel leaves goes a Tamil saying (E thanaimurrai sonnaalum parangi vetrilai poada maattan). Englishmen employed Indians for office as well as domestic work. Whenever the domestic servants committed serious mistakes, the Englishmen used to beat the Indian servant with canes. Hence the domestic servants used to say the lord (English word) is good but has become popular folk proverb. During the British period, there were many good and noble English lords at the helm of affairs. They were very kind and sympathetic towards Indians. In spite of their extreme love and profound compassion, the scavenger had to carry head loads of grass.
Following is a family saying Even if the country is governed by a good lord (English lord) we could not avoid a scavenger carrying load of grass. Naattukku nalla durai vandhaalum thoattikku pullu sumai poagaadhu. A minor land dispute or land revenue affair could be easily and amicably settled by a village accountant but not by the district collector, the post, which was usually occupied in the past by Englishmen. The administrative facet of the British period is very clearly brought out in the following Tamil proverb. “What can be done by district collector, can be done by the village Accountant” (kalectaraal aagaadhandhu kankkapillaiyaal aagum). Englishmen are totally ignorant of rituals, ceremonies and variety of religious practices pertaining to Hindu culture resulted in the following proverb ‘Does an Englishmen know the ceremonies and Vedic lore (parangikkiku theriyumaa sadangum saasthiramum).
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