Proverbs
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PROVERBS: WHO’S ‘ABSOLUTE TRUTH’?
A proverb (from the Latin ‘Proverbium’) is defined as ‘a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity’. The 19th century famous American essayist and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson remarked: ‘Proverbs are the literature of reason, Or the statements of absolute truth, without qualification. Like the sacred books of each nation, They are the sanctuary of its intuitions’. From the above-mentioned citations on the subject, it is clear that a proverb is believed to be a statement of wisdom and absolute truth which but reflects the commonly held ideas and beliefs. If such is the real meaning of the term, then one can say that ‘Proverb’ as a literary genre, is placed on a very high position. To deconstruct more than to acquiesce with such definition, I would like to provoke the readers’ thought towards some elements which I believe will contribute towards luring the readers to rethink on the politics involved in proverb-making enterprise. Besides giving due caution on the serious and jocular elements contained therein, the attitude of ‘the humanity’ reflected in the subject handled can not be condoned. Questions like: Who represents the ‘humanity’? Whose ‘truth’ is assumed to have been reflected in Proverb? reveal the social and cultural system and value of the proverb originators. In our community, we have a good number of proverbs. There are some proverbs which every member of the community - irrespective of difference in Gender- will readily believe to be statements of wisdom. Those are like1) A hrat zar le keipui zar. 2) Aite fun suol. 3) A tawngin saipui ru a vuok hawp. 4) Bakin phuhlum an hro ngai nawh. 5) Hliemna tuor ngainaw mi chun pan ser a nuisan. 6) Innui le tap chu unau an nih. Etc., etc. Besides these, there are a number of proverbs on and about womenfolk. To this kind of ‘Statements of Wisdom’ it is, I would like to draw the attention of my readers. Let’s have a look: 1) Nuhmei le khuoihliin umna ding an hriet nawh. 2) Nuhmei le pilbel chu a dawi thiem thiem. 3) Nuhmei pakhat enkawl theitu chun hnam a enkawl thei. 4) Nuhmei varin tuipui ral akai nawh. 5) Nuhmei le pal chu nuom hun huna thleng thei.etc, etc. If these are the Statements of wisdoms, who are those representing ‘humanity’? Whose truth it is that is reflected in these proverbs? How is the subject ‘Nuhmei’ handled by the ‘humanity’ here? I shall put a full stop here. I would very much appreciate feedback and wholesome comments from my readers, please.
Kim Hmar.
A proverb (from the Latin ‘Proverbium’) is defined as ‘a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity’. The 19th century famous American essayist and philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson remarked: ‘Proverbs are the literature of reason, Or the statements of absolute truth, without qualification. Like the sacred books of each nation, They are the sanctuary of its intuitions’. From the above-mentioned citations on the subject, it is clear that a proverb is believed to be a statement of wisdom and absolute truth which but reflects the commonly held ideas and beliefs. If such is the real meaning of the term, then one can say that ‘Proverb’ as a literary genre, is placed on a very high position. To deconstruct more than to acquiesce with such definition, I would like to provoke the readers’ thought towards some elements which I believe will contribute towards luring the readers to rethink on the politics involved in proverb-making enterprise. Besides giving due caution on the serious and jocular elements contained therein, the attitude of ‘the humanity’ reflected in the subject handled can not be condoned. Questions like: Who represents the ‘humanity’? Whose ‘truth’ is assumed to have been reflected in Proverb? reveal the social and cultural system and value of the proverb originators. In our community, we have a good number of proverbs. There are some proverbs which every member of the community - irrespective of difference in Gender- will readily believe to be statements of wisdom. Those are like1) A hrat zar le keipui zar. 2) Aite fun suol. 3) A tawngin saipui ru a vuok hawp. 4) Bakin phuhlum an hro ngai nawh. 5) Hliemna tuor ngainaw mi chun pan ser a nuisan. 6) Innui le tap chu unau an nih. Etc., etc. Besides these, there are a number of proverbs on and about womenfolk. To this kind of ‘Statements of Wisdom’ it is, I would like to draw the attention of my readers. Let’s have a look: 1) Nuhmei le khuoihliin umna ding an hriet nawh. 2) Nuhmei le pilbel chu a dawi thiem thiem. 3) Nuhmei pakhat enkawl theitu chun hnam a enkawl thei. 4) Nuhmei varin tuipui ral akai nawh. 5) Nuhmei le pal chu nuom hun huna thleng thei.etc, etc. If these are the Statements of wisdoms, who are those representing ‘humanity’? Whose truth it is that is reflected in these proverbs? How is the subject ‘Nuhmei’ handled by the ‘humanity’ here? I shall put a full stop here. I would very much appreciate feedback and wholesome comments from my readers, please.
Kim Hmar.
