Proverbs are valuable cultural artefacts that reflect a society’s wisdom, beliefs, and values. In the case of India, a country known for its linguistic diversity, proverbs play a significant role in establishing a relationship between Indian languages. Despite the linguistic differences, there are often similarities and shared themes found in proverbs across various Indian languages, demonstrating the interconnectedness of Indian culture.

1. QTY
PROVERBS – ESTABLISHING
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
INDIAN LANGUAGES
PROVERBS ARE VALUABLE CULTURAL ARTEFACTS
THAT REFLECT A SOCIETY’S WISDOM, BELIEFS, AND
VALUES. IN THE CASE OF INDIA, A COUNTRY
KNOWN FOR ITS LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY, PROVERBS
PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN ESTABLISHING A
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDIAN LANGUAGES.

2. UNITY IN DIVERSITY:
PROVERB IN HINDI: “वसुधैव कु टुम्बकम्” (VASUDHAIVA
KUTUMBAKAM)
TRANSLATION: “THE WORLD IS ONE FAMILY.”
EXPLANATION: THIS PROVERB EMPHASISES THE IDEA OF UNITY
AND INCLUSIVENESS, HIGHLIGHTING THAT DESPITE INDIA’S
LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY, ALL PEOPLE ARE
INTERCONNECTED AND SHOULD LIVE TOGETHER HARMONIOUSLY.
IMPORTANCE OF HARD WORK:
PROVERB IN TAMIL: “செயல்படும் எவன் கண்கலன், அது
வெற்றியாகும்” (SEIYALPATUM EVAN KANGALAN, ATHU
VETTIYAGUM)
TRANSLATION: “WHATEVER ONE DOES WITH FOCUS WILL
SUCCEED.”
EXPLANATION: THIS TAMIL PROVERB HIGHLIGHTS THE
SIGNIFICANCE OF DILIGENCE AND PERSEVERANCE. SIMILAR
SAYINGS EMPHASISING THE VALUE OF HARD WORK CAN BE
FOUND IN OTHER INDIAN LANGUAGES AS WELL, REFLECTING THE
SHARED CULTURAL EMPHASIS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
DEDICATED EFFORT.

3. WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE:
PROVERB IN BENGALI: “বয়স যত্নের বই” (BOISHYA JATNER BOI)
TRANSLATION: “AGE IS THE BOOK OF CAREFULNESS.”
EXPLANATION: THIS BENGALI PROVERB SUGGESTS THAT WITH
AGE COMES WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE. THE SENTIMENT
EXPRESSED IN THIS PROVERB RESONATES ACROSS DIFFERENT
INDIAN LANGUAGES, ILLUSTRATING THE BELIEF THAT ELDERS
POSSESS VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE TO BE CHERISHED AND
RESPECTED.
ADAPTABILITY AND FLEXIBILITY:
PROVERB IN MARATHI: “अनुभवांचा अभ्यास उपयोगी”
(ANUBHAVANCHA ABHYAS UPYOGI)
TRANSLATION: “EXPERIENCE MAKES ONE ADAPTABLE.”
EXPLANATION: THIS MARATHI PROVERB CONVEYS THAT
EXPERIENCE HELPS INDIVIDUALS BECOME ADAPTABLE AND
FLEXIBLE. THE CONCEPT OF ADAPTABILITY IS SHARED ACROSS
INDIAN LANGUAGES, RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF
BEING OPEN TO CHANGE AND LEARNING FROM ONE’S
EXPERIENCES.

4. PERSEVERANCE AND PATIENCE:
PROVERB IN MALAYALAM: “സാഹസത്തിന്റെ ഫലം
താഴ്ന്നുപോകുന്നു” (SAHASATTINTE PHALAM
THAZHNANUPOKUNNU)
TRANSLATION: “THE FRUIT OF COURAGE RIPENS SLOWLY.”
EXPLANATION: THIS MALAYALAM PROVERB EMPHASISES THE
VIRTUE OF PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE. SIMILAR SAYINGS
STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF PATIENCE AND WAITING FOR
FAVOURABLE OUTCOMES ARE FOUND IN OTHER INDIAN
LANGUAGES, ILLUSTRATING THE SHARED CULTURAL VALUE OF
RESILIENCE.
LET’S EXPLORE HOW PROVERBS CAN BRIDGE THE LINGUISTIC GAP
AND HIGHLIGHT THE SHARED CULTURAL HERITAGE AMONG
INDIAN LANGUAGES.
COMMON THEMES AND SHARED EXPERIENCES:
PROVERBS OFTEN REVOLVE AROUND UNIVERSAL THEMES
AND SHARED EXPERIENCES. WHILE THE SPECIFIC SAYINGS
MAY DIFFER ACROSS LANGUAGES, THEIR UNDERLYING
MESSAGES AND MORAL LESSONS CAN BE REMARKABLY
SIMILAR. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HINDI PROVERB “जैसा देश, वैसा
भेष” (AS THE COUNTRY, SO THE ATTIRE) AND THE TAMIL
PROVERB “NADUVAANUKKU NAADU” (FOR THE DOG, ITS
OWN COUNTRY) EMPHASISE THE IMPORTANCE OF
ADAPTING TO THE CULTURAL NORMS AND CUSTOMS OF
A PARTICULAR PLACE.