Finding Resilience in Ancient Wisdom When Facing Modern Falsehoods
In an age where digital misinformation spreads rapidly, the timeless teachings of the classic Tamil text 'Thirukkural' offer profound guidance for navigating contemporary challenges. This ancient work, composed by the poet-philosopher Thiruvalluvar, contains 1,330 concise couplets organized into three foundational books addressing virtue, wealth, and love. Recognized globally as a masterpiece of ethical philosophy, Thirukkural has influenced countless scholars, leaders, and thinkers across diverse fields for centuries.
A Disturbing Digital Deception Unfolds
The modern relevance of these ancient teachings became strikingly apparent when motivational speaker, author, and diversity champion Bharathi Bhaskar experienced a jarring personal ordeal. Returning from international travel while battling jet lag, Bhaskar received an unexpected early morning call from her school friend Priya, whose mother had been their beloved botany teacher, Miss Vathsala.
"Amma was sobbing and extremely disturbed," Priya explained with evident relief that Bhaskar had answered. "At her age, explaining social media complexities proves challenging. She tends to believe everything she encounters online."
Initially puzzled—perhaps her former teacher had encountered alarming weather reports—Bhaskar soon understood the gravity of the situation as a cascade of concerned calls began flooding in. Polite voices with careful tones inquired: 'Are you alright?' 'We heard the terrible news,' 'We were deeply worried about you.'
The Viral Falsehood and Its Emotional Impact
The situation crystallized when Mallika Akka called from their ancestral village. Upon hearing Bhaskar's voice, she exclaimed in profound relief, "Muruga! I will take paal kavadi for you!" Her relief quickly transformed into righteous anger, delivered in a rolling Thirunelveli cadence that cursed the unseen wrongdoer with traditional imprecations: 'may scorpions rain on his head,' 'may his house be filled with mud.'
The shocking truth emerged: A malicious YouTuber, seeking video views and engagement, had created and distributed a video falsely announcing Bharathi Bhaskar's death. The fabricated content included discussions of her various achievements alongside photographs showing VIPs supposedly visiting her home during this non-existent mourning period.
The remainder of Bhaskar's day transformed into an exhausting cycle of reassurance—answering countless calls, calming distressed relatives, repeatedly explaining she remained alive and well, and formally lodging a cybercrime complaint against the perpetrator.
Historical Parallels and Botanical Wisdom
Suddenly, Bhaskar found herself sharing an unexpected experience with legendary American author Mark Twain, who in 1897 faced similar circumstances when a newspaper prematurely reported his death with a moving biographical account. Twain famously responded with immortal wit: "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."
That evening, Bhaskar called Miss Vathsala again, now fully understanding her former teacher's previous distress. Speaking softly, as though the world had grown harsher, Miss Vathsala observed, "It must be a very tough life out there. I don't know how you manage such challenges."
Bhaskar smiled and responded sincerely, "Miss, you taught us how to navigate these very situations." When her teacher assumed this was mere courtesy, Bhaskar clarified she meant this literally. "Every water flower demonstrates this principle," she explained. "It must maintain its position above the water level or face perishment. Whether the pond's depth rises or falls, the flower adjusts its stalk length accordingly—a classic example of plasticity in plant morphology."
Thirukkural's Insight on Human Resilience
The botany lesson Miss Vathsala had once taught now returned as life's essential algorithm. A lotus rooted in mud doesn't argue with the pond's conditions; instead, it grows with precisely enough zeal to remain within the light.
After a moment of thoughtful silence, Miss Vathsala laughed with recognition—her subject had transcended the classroom to enter lived experience. Botany, after all, was never exclusively about plants.
Centuries earlier, another keen observer of flora and fauna had articulated this identical truth. In Kural 595, Thiruvalluvar writes:
Vellath Thanaya Malarneettam; MaandharthamUllath Thanayadhu Uyarvu
This translates to: As the water flower shoots up to the water's surface, humanity is hoisted to the level of its inner zeal.
The depth of water—like life's circumstances—remains beyond our control. But our inward reach, our determined will to rise, ultimately determines whether we bloom magnificently or drown in adversity.
The Choice to Rise Above Circumstances
That day's false rumor represented something Bhaskar couldn't choose or control. Yet something else remained within her power—the conscious decision to stay above the waterline of fear, to return by evening to emotional equilibrium and perspective.
Zeal represents that silent struggle occurring beneath the water's surface, unseen and unknown to outside observers. Depths may increase unexpectedly; shadows may gather ominously. Still, the flower remembers the sun's existence—and precisely because it remembers, it finds the strength to rise.
This incident illuminates how ancient wisdom, whether from Thirukkural's ethical couplets or basic botanical principles, provides enduring frameworks for navigating modern digital landscapes where falsehoods can spread with alarming speed. The lesson transcends the specific false death announcement to address broader human resilience in facing unchosen circumstances with chosen responses.
