A Heart That Smiles: A Kural Conversation with Gustavo Esteva

Friendship, Politics, and the Inspiration of Poetry

With my friend Gustavo Esteva I explore the nature of real friendship, its relationship to politics in a time of upheaval, and the necessity of poetry as reflected in chapter 79, “Friendship,” of THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural.

Here are a few highlights and where in the video you can find them:

• “Friendship is not a face smiling” and the inner smile of real friendship, even in the face of anger or depression: 4:36
• Friendship as beyond expectations: 14:19
• The place of friendship in the life of Ivan Illich and in politics: 18:17
• A question from Gustavo about the meanings of verse 782, “Friendship with wise souls—a moon waxing—fellowship / With fools—a moon waning”: 37:00
• The great need for the inspiration of poetry in the great desperation of present circumstances: 44:18
• Where Gustavo’s many writings are being collected and organized to be shared with anyone who wish to read them: 51:00

Photo Credit: redefineschool.com

Gustavo Esteva
August 20, 1936 – March 17, 2022
Rest in joyful conviviality, queridísimo Gustavo.

Gustavo Esteva can be described as a “deprofessionalized intellectual,” a nomadic storyteller, and the founder of the Universidad de la Tierra (University of the Soil) in the city of Oaxaca in southern Mexico. He is also a columnist for La Jornada and The Guardian. Esteva has been actively engaged in initiatives for reclaiming the commons with indigenous peoples, peasants, and those marginalized in urban life.

Here are the verses we talked about, in both English and Tamil:

From chapter 79, “Friendship.”

Translated from the Tamil by Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma
THE KURAL: Tiruvalluvar’s Tirukkural
Beacon Press, Boston