PREAMBLE அணிந்துரை

Rev.Fr.Bali Reddy, 
Rector -SVD SEMINARY,
DIVINE WORD CENTERE 
St.Thomas Mount, Chennai-600016

Dr.R.J.A.Stephen Loie has been our visiting Professor of English Phonetics and Descriptive Grammar,teaching our seminarians studying at Loyola College, Chennai. His teaching is combined  with his knowledge in psychology, law, criminology and administration. He is actually qualified in all these subjects,being allied to law, which is his Profession. He visits our seminary at 8 AM and takes crash courses in the summer vacation, wich never affects his Profession at all  as an Advocate of Madras High Court.

Now I am really happy  to write a few lines about the great work of Dr. R. J. A. Stephen Loie. He is a man of letters with a sense of great commitment to the world in the process of evolution. His thirst for knowledge is immeasurable. His educational qualifications speak for himself of his determination in pursuing knowledge in various fields to help the society to live in peace.

4+3 WORD COUPLET TIRUKKURAL TRANSLATION by Dr. R. J. A. Stephen Loie  is a master piece. He took a great trouble to put it into present form without affecting the original meaning by applying various tools to be accurate. It is a challenging task to stick to the 4+3 formula without deviating from the original text in Tamil.

I, being a non- Tamil, went through the book not like a newspaper but like scripture. Every couplet is loaded with immeasurable depth in meaning. One can easily get connected and get struck by the words. It is a book to meditate and reflect and draw inspiration for life. I wonder how such a great wisdom flowed in this land centuries ago. I have also come across many biblical verses which made me feel that I was reading the Holy Bible.

I wish the readers to draw more inspiration and wisdom through this translation which is a master piece. Though it is such an ancient writing it comes alive when we read it afresh today. We may have read the book as it is translated widely. But we can’ t help appreciating the author for his meticulous work as it is a unique translation. It is worth having it in our shelf, recommending it for schools, colleges, and universities. I recommend all communities and states in India to take steps in all respects for this great wisdom to be spread with a view to bringing harmony and peace among all walks of people.