ஈயத்தைப் பார்த்து பல் இளித்ததாம் பித்தள&

[JR]

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ஈயத்தைப் பார்த்து பல் இளித்ததாம் பித்தள&

Does anyone know how this nice proverb came to be? :der:

 

[Raji Ram]

I wonder whether any story exists for this proverb.

But there is an equivalent in English.

'The pot calling the kettle black!'.

A poem in an early-twentieth-century school textbook runs:

"Oho!" said the pot to the kettle;
"You are dirty and ugly and black!
Sure no one would think you were metal,
Except when you're given a crack."

"Not so! not so!" kettle said to the pot;
"'Tis your own dirty image you see;
For I am so clean – without blemish or blot –
That your blackness is mirrored in me."
​

Read more at ''The pot calling the kettle black - Wikipedia''

 

[JR]

Dear Raji Madam,

What a beautiful story! Love such morals and principles to be learnt from our proverbs!

Also, given that both the pot and the kettle are ugly, jet black and insignificant, doesn't then the 'burden of proof' of calling pot the 'ugly one' fall on the kettle, who is no better actually?

They say when the index finger points at others, the rest of the fingers fold to point at oneself!

 

[Raji Ram]

Dear Jayashree,

I like the alternative interpretation better, given in Wiki!

Here it is:

An alternative interpretation, recognized by some, but not all sources is that the pot is sooty (being placed on a fire),

while the kettle is clean and shiny (being placed on coals only), and hence when the pot accuses the kettle of being black,

it is the pot’s own sooty reflection that it sees; the pot accuses the kettle of a fault that only the pot has, rather than one that

they share.

 

[JR]

Dear Raji Madam,

There is a saying in the West, "Don't throw stones while sitting in a Glass House". I think this subtly hints at the above proverb.

I like the Wiki explanation very much.

We are nothing but specs of dust - perishable, tiny and insignificant, and our accomplishments are far, far inferior to the greatest achievements of some remarkable men and women who have brought about important changes to this world. I think this is what is emphasized by this proverb.

I just returned back from my daughter's 4th Grade Wax Museum - an event in which the children play the role of some important character from history who made changes to the world - to the society. Truly humbled on learning about such immortal characters.

(There is a reason by which I chose this proverb which compares 'eeyam' with 'pittalai' -- instead of comparing 'gold' or 'diamond' with 'pittalai'!!! Should anyone be keen to observe that....).

Cheers!

Have a good day!

 

[Iyyarooraan]

This is not the time to talk about eeyyam (Lead).

 

[JR]

This is not the time to talk about eeyyam (Lead).

LOL! Anything to do with 'eeyyam' will likely get banned!

 

[Raji Ram]

This is not the time to talk about eeyyam (Lead).

Dear Sir,

Right now!! But there was a time when eeyach chombu was a must in the seer given to the bride!

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Lead found in Maggi- Did Nestle add that in their product ?

Lead found in Corporation water - reported some time back Did Corporation add that? Corparation Health department Bans Maggi but continued its water supply!

Is this ஈயத்தைப் பார்த்து பல் இளித்ததாம் பித்தள situation ?

or other metal related proverb Mamiyar Ponkalam marumagal Mankalam story!

 

[Vaagmi]

All these noise about lead in excess by ppms make me wonder what is happening. I enjoy my Eeyachchombu rasam every day without fail. If any thing the lead in ppms has made me only healthy and strong. My punches are always powerful. Whatever may happen to maggie, I intend to continue with my eeyachombu rasam. My father did that and he lived upto 90 years. LOL.

 

[sangom]

Does anyone know how this nice proverb came to be? :der:

Both eeyam (Lead) and pitthalai (brass) are, by themselves, unfit for keeping foodstuff because the food will turn poisonous. Brass can be made usable by coating tin (we call this also as "eeyam" but is also known as veLLai eeyam.) inside. Hence, brass laughing at lead is like one person laughing at an equally nasty, bad or useless another!

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Both eeyam (Lead) and pitthalai (brass) are, by themselves, unfit for keeping foodstuff because the food will turn poisonous. Brass can be made usable by coating tin (we call this also as "eeyam" but is also known as veLLai eeyam.) inside. Hence, brass laughing at lead is like one person laughing at an equally nasty, bad or useless another!

This process is called Kalaai Poosaradu - It is not pure lead but the an alloy - lead and tin probably in the ratio of 20 and 80 - that is used (Called veleleeyam) There is another alloy of lead call Kaareyam different from veleeyam This is what I can recollect from my college chemistry - Alloy corrupted to become Kalaai May be my Imagination!

 

[JR]

Both eeyam (Lead) and pitthalai (brass) are, by themselves, unfit for keeping foodstuff because the food will turn poisonous. Brass can be made usable by coating tin (we call this also as "eeyam" but is also known as veLLai eeyam.) inside. Hence, brass laughing at lead is like one person laughing at an equally nasty, bad or useless another!

Respected Sir,

The above definition is correct. I made a slight change in the last line to make it sound more right (according to me):

"Hence, brass laughing at lead is like one nasty, bad or useless person laughing at an equal another!"

Now on for some fun!

Fill in the blanks as you wish:

"நல்ல மாட்டுக்கு ஒரு சூடு நல்ல மனுஷனுக்கு ஒரு சொல்லு
நல்ல பாத்திரத்துக்கு ___________________"

Thanks.

 

[sangom]

This process is called Kalaai Poosaradu - It is not pure lead but the an alloy - lead and tin probably in the ratio of 20 and 80 - that is used (Called veleleeyam) There is another alloy of lead call Kaareyam different from veleeyam This is what I can recollect from my college chemistry - Alloy corrupted to become Kalaai May be my Imagination!

Lead is poisonous (to humans, at least AFAIK) and lead ingested cannot be ejected at all by the body, ever. It makes the bones brittle. Kalaai is done with tin (almost pure in form, except manufacturing impurities, if any) and lead or kaareeyam is never mixed with it. Kaareeyam is simply lead and not alloy. Kalaai is a north indian word.

 

[sangom]

Respected Sir,

The above definition is correct. I made a slight change in the last line to make it sound more right (according to me):

"Hence, brass laughing at lead is like one nasty, bad or useless person laughing at an equal another!"

Now on for some fun!

Fill in the blanks as you wish:

"நல்ல மாட்டுக்கு ஒரு சூடு நல்ல மனுஷனுக்கு ஒரு சொல்லு
நல்ல பாத்திரத்துக்கு ___________________"

Thanks.

Smt. JR,

your change is OK but do you think the original wording gives a wrong meaning?

 

[JR]

Dear Sir,

கனி இருக்க காய் கவர்ந்தற்று (When sweet words are there to make a point, why choose harsh words?)

Therefore for choosing the abusive derogatory words to address the eeyam, the adverbs highlighted in Black belong to the pittalai, since afterall it possesses the same qualities!

Cheers!

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Lead is poisonous (to humans, at least AFAIK) and lead ingested cannot be ejected at all by the body, ever. It makes the bones brittle. Kalaai is done with tin (almost pure in form, except manufacturing impurities, if any) and lead or kaareeyam is never mixed with it. Kaareeyam is simply lead and not alloy. Kalaai is a north indian word.

The lead is alway confusing. The lead pencils donot contain lead ! clarification regarding lead is appreciated! Thank you
I think lead has no role today in industry ecept with Octane rating in Petroleum and to safe- guard against nuclear emissions.

A Madrasi's Musings: Kalaai poosaradhu

Is it seen in Chennai as it was in Madras!

 

[sangom]

Dear Sir,

கனி இருக்க காய் கவர்ந்தற்று (When sweet words are there to make a point, why choose harsh words?)

Therefore for choosing the abusive derogatory words to address the eeyam, the adverbs highlighted in Black belong to the pittalai, since afterall it possesses the same qualities!

Cheers!

The point is a lead vessel cannot be made usable even by tin-coating whereas a brass vessel is slightly better.

 

[sangom]

The lead is alway confusing. The lead pencils donot contain lead ! clarification regarding lead is appreciated! Thank you
I think lead has no role today in industry ecept with Octane rating in Petroleum and to safe- guard against nuclear emissions.

A Madrasi's Musings: Kalaai poosaradhu

Is it seen in Chennai as it was in Madras!

Newspapers were printed with ink which contained lead. Newspapers have agreed to discontinue such inks but small scale printing presses and some newspapers may still be using such inks. Doctors' gowns worn at X-ray clinics also use lead plates.

 

[P.J.]

Respected Sir,

The above definition is correct. I made a slight change in the last line to make it sound more right (according to me):

"Hence, brass laughing at lead is like one nasty, bad or useless person laughing at an equal another!"

Now on for some fun!

Fill in the blanks as you wish:

"நல்ல மாட்டுக்கு ஒரு சூடு நல்ல மனுஷனுக்கு ஒரு சொல்லு
நல்ல பாத்திரத்துக்கு ___________________"

Thanks.

"நல்ல மாட்டுக்கு ஒரு சூடு "

சூடு அல்ல சுவடு...

சந்தையில் மாட்டை வாங்கும்போது அது பதிக்கும் தடம் சுவடு..

அழுத்தமான சுவட்டை பதிக்கும் மாடே அதிக பலம் வாய்ந்தது...

ஒரு சுவட்டை பார்த்தாலே மாட்டின் பலம் புலனாகும்....


நல்ல மனுஷனுக்கு ஒரு சொல்லு

It is about following the advice of elders.

???? ?????????? ??? ???? - ???? ????????

 

[Raji Ram]

Is the word 'kalaaykkaRadhu' derived from 'kalaay poosaRadhu'?? :decision:

 

[Vaagmi]

As I was getting scared after reading all that people have written here about lead, I was wondering whether I should reconsider my decision about my eeyachchombu rasam. The birdie sitting outside my bed room on the tree asked me what was the problem. When I told her the problem she 'kasakkified' her tiny brain and came out with this gem:

Eeyaththai paarththu ilichchathaam piththalai is the tamil sentence. Here piththalai fell in love with eeyam and so smiled at it (iliththal and asadu vazhithal are the essential qualities of people in love). So it is a love story. The eeyam and piththalai finally married and became the inseparable partners. You humans are stupid and do not put your brains to good use.

The birdie flew away leaving me stunned. So I continue with my eeyachchombu rasam.

 

[sarang]

Kalchutty, manpanai replaced by ceramic coating.
Brass with tin coating vessels are still available in specialist shops.
Cast iron dosai kal and iluppachatti are making a come back. US made pans are available for online purchase; NRIs returning after summer or winter holidays can be seen in mylapore indira metals shop selecting, weighing and bargaining cast iron tawa and chutti.
Not sure about the fate of bronze!

 

[Janaki Jambunathan]

Stone vessels (Kachatti) of an earlier era of Stone Age unlike the Metal Age eeyachchombu is Micro Compatable - Vathha Kuzambu and Keerai masial comes great in Kalchatti in Micro oven!!

 

[Raji Ram]

This page says that 'eeyach chombu' is Tin chombu! So, not to worry, Vaagmi Sir!

''S. Narayanan, who runs his grandfather's business of selling tin utensils in Triplicane, rues that the lack of knowledge about the

useful properties of the metal and has led to the decline in its use. “Cans that are used to store fruits and vegetables are actually

coated with tin. Even brass vessels are coated with tin to prevent food poisoning. But unfortunately people have mistaken tin for

lead,” says Mr. Narayanan. “I am 72 and am talking to you now. Every day, rasam at my home is cooked in eiyachombu and I am

still healthy. It is not at all true that cooking in tin utensils can cause food poisoning.”

The tin is mostly imported from Malaysia and sold through a government quota system. The selling price of the metal is Rs.1,800-

Rs.2,000 a kg.

“It requires care while using the vessel, that's why people don't want to use it,” says R. Venugopal, proprietor of a small utensil

shop on South Usman Road that stocks just a dozen vessels in a crevice on the compound wall of the Shiva Vishnu temple.

The metal's melting point is around 200 degree Celsius. So, if you place the empty vessel on the stove, you might end up with a

blob of silvery-white metal in a matter of minutes.

Even though the utensil is gradually vanishing from kitchens in the city, the taste of rasam cooked in eiyachombu lingers in many

mouths. So much so that at wedding feasts, chefs often seek to remind guests of the traditional flavour of rasam by

investing in the tin utensil: no, not to cook the rasam in it but to drop the utensil into the boiling pot of rasam

so that the metal lends its flavour to the dish.

“That way, the rasam tastes as if it has been prepared in an eiyachombu,” says Arusuvai N. Kumar, a caterer.''

Source: Why does rasam taste the way it does?


Wow!! My mom had the SAME idea as that of the caterer! Once, she forgot all about the rasam boiling on the stove and later
found a ball of metal on the stove! Idea!!

She started dropping it in the boiling rasam in a stainless steel vessel, to add flavor! :clap2: