When Vanchinathan, a Tamil scholar, who had made a deep study of many Tamil literary works, written a number of scholarly essays expounding Tamil literary works and authored a few books too, received an offer to participate in a debate, he was reluctant to accept it.
However, his friend Namasivayam talked to him and convinced him to accept the offer.
"You are more erudite than all the people who will be participating in the debate, including the Tamil scholar, who will be serving as the moderator. While people with a little learning have been showing off their knowledge, you have been keeping a low profile, like a lamp glowing inside a pot, as the saying goes! Someone who is aware of your erudition has given you this opportunity. Please make use of it" said Namasivayam.
The two debating teams had four speakers each. Vanchinathan was the third person to speak on his his team.
The moment he stood before the mike, Vanchinathan became nervous. His mind suddenly went blank. He didn't know where to begin.
While listening to the speakers from the other side, he had made mental notes of the points made by them and decided how to counter those points. But, all those thoughts seemed to have evaporated the moment he came before the mike.
Vanchinathan said something for the sake of saying something. He was at a loss for words and he couldn't speak coherently.
After speaking a few sentences, he looked at the moderator, hoping that his time would have been over. The moderator signaled him to continue with his speech.
Vanchinathan spoke for a few minutes, without even being conscious of what he was saying and concluded his speech, even before his time was over.
After going back to his seat, he looked at the leader of his team and the other two speakers on his team. Their faces reflected their disappointment about the bad job done by him. The speakers from the other side appeared to look at him with glee and a sense of mockery.
After the event had got over, neither the leader of his team, nor the other two speakers said anything to Vanchinathan. The moderator attempted to say something, but on second thoughts refrained from saying anything.
When Vanchinathan was leaving the hall, he heard some members of the audience speaking disparagingly of him. He heard one person remark, "Everyone except one person spoke well. But, one speaker seems to be an ignoramus!"
When Vanchinathan wondered whether all his education, research and extensive studies were only to get the title 'ignoramus' from a member of the audience, he could not help feeling amused, even at that moment of humiliation.
Thirukkural
Section 2
Materialism
Chapter 73
Knowing Your Audience
Verse 727 (in Tamil):
pagai agaththup pEdi kai oL vAL avai agaththu
anjum avan kaRRa nUl.
Meaning:
The learning of a person who is diffident before an assembly is like the shining sword in the hand of a coward facing a foe.
(This is the English version of the Tamil story 'kaththukkutti' by the same author.)
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