<p>Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her budget speech, referred to a folk couplet while talking about farmers' issues. </p>.<p>While she was talking about the 16 action points in the Agriculture sector, she quoted a Tamil woman-Saint poet Auvaiyar - Sangam Era "Aathichoodi" verse 81, which was roughly translated to "One must first tend one's land and then eat. One must eat only after work."</p>.<p>In Tamil literature, several women were referred to as Avvaiyar through different periods. The word Avvai is used for old women who are devoted to God.</p>.<p>According to the linguists, there were three avvais - one from Sangam-age Avvaiyar, another from Chola-age Avvaiyar, and the third one belonging to contemporary times. </p>.<p>The poet whose name was mentioned in Nirmala Sitharaman's speech was Sangam-age Avvaiyar. She authored various aphorisms as a guide to the moral life. They are taught to children as an introduction to poetry and are recited by school kids even in Tamil Nadu even today.</p>
<p>Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during her budget speech, referred to a folk couplet while talking about farmers' issues. </p>.<p>While she was talking about the 16 action points in the Agriculture sector, she quoted a Tamil woman-Saint poet Auvaiyar - Sangam Era "Aathichoodi" verse 81, which was roughly translated to "One must first tend one's land and then eat. One must eat only after work."</p>.<p>In Tamil literature, several women were referred to as Avvaiyar through different periods. The word Avvai is used for old women who are devoted to God.</p>.<p>According to the linguists, there were three avvais - one from Sangam-age Avvaiyar, another from Chola-age Avvaiyar, and the third one belonging to contemporary times. </p>.<p>The poet whose name was mentioned in Nirmala Sitharaman's speech was Sangam-age Avvaiyar. She authored various aphorisms as a guide to the moral life. They are taught to children as an introduction to poetry and are recited by school kids even in Tamil Nadu even today.</p>