The battalion on Mount Road - Part II

You can read the first part here

Caste is a parcel of daily life in southern districts. There was widespread violence in 1996-98 period because the government had renamed a state transport corporation after Dalit leader. Schools would remain closed for atleast one week a year because of this violence.

Atlast, the government decided to remove all leaders name from state transport corporations .Kamaraj district was renamed as Virudhunagar district and V.O.C district was renamed Tuticorin district.

When i was in my teens, i heard a dialogue from my friend's grandpa which resonates in my ear to this date.

ஏலே! இந்த நாடன்(ர்) இருக்கான் பாத்தியா ,அவன் பேசிட்டு தான் வெட்டுவான். ஆனா தேவன் வெட்டிட்டு தான்லே பேசுவான்

(a guy belonging to nadar caste will talk and then kill. But a thevar will kill and then only talk)

You can trace why tamil movies still needs punch dialogues! 

There is an interesting but sad phenomenon that happens in Paramakudi district. The ruling classes and the labour classes work together all days in a year but takes leave on 2 days. These 2 days are the birthday functions of leaders from both the castes.

For their functions, the government specifically gives them the routes through which they should go and pay the respects. 

But some people specifically violate them and try to go through other caste's dominant area, thereby making problems and resulting in killings. They even have a count of people they killed last year and this year.

When the one guy is celebrating the function, the other caste guys gather together in a marriage hall and try to be in safe mode. Obviously, hate speeches and tasmac liqor are a must. Once the functions are over, the next day , both the parties return to work as usual!

These things still happen but they may not continue for ever. Guess what is the reason? No enlightenment or law enforcement,the reason is our beloved IT companies. The guys -whose fathers and relatives participate in the procession and gather in marriage halls- are writing java scripts in Singara chennai and san francisco offices.

Till that time arrives, you have to face that traffic on mount road and i have to hear the thevan magan song (போற்றிப் பாடடி பொன்னே.. ) again and again in mike sets outside my house