Budget speech: P. Chidambaram evokes muse Thiruvalluvar

An ardent lover of Tamil literature, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today evoked his muse Thiruvalluvar in the Budget speech quoting a couplet from 'Thirukural' to drive home the point that India can progress further if it makes right decisions and choices.

Chidambaram always ends his Budget speech by quoting from 'Thirukural', which has a couplet for every subject ranging from ploughing a piece of land to ruling a country, and followed the tradition this year as well.

This time, the 67-year-old Harvard-educated Finance Minister also quoted Swami Vivekananda in his speech to drive home his point that India can become one of the top economies in the world if we take right decisions and right choices.

India is the tenth largest economy in the world, the Finance Minister said and added that "we can become the eighth, or perhaps the seventh, largest by 2017. By 2025, we could become a USD 5 trillion economy."

To drive home his point, he quoted Vivekananda's words "All the strength and succour you want is within yourself. Therefore, make your own future."

Finally, as he was about to finish his speech, Chidambaram recited a Thirukural: "Kalangathu Kanda Vinaikkan Thulangkathu Thookkang Kadinthu Seyal" (What clearly eye discerns as right, with steadfast will and mind unslumbering, that should man fulfil).

Thirukural made a comeback in the Budget speech after five years as Chidambaram presented his Budget the last time in 2008.

Chidambaram started quoting Thiruvalluvar in his Budget speeches ever since he became Finance Minister for the first time in 1996.

ALSO READ

Budget 2013: Rich don’t get richer, no one gets poorer

Budget 2013: Balanced Act?

Budget 2013: Achieving the impossible, three times in a row

Budget 2013: In tough year, Chidambaram vows by prudence and patience