knowledge has no horizons

“There are still situations of cleaning of human excretion and wastages by humans themselves in Tamilnadu”, the comment by N.M. Kamble, Vice-Chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes and his further assertion of having photo evidence during his visit to the state on Feb.18 was sure to have disturbed the DMK supremo, K.Karunanidhi, whose government he boasts of implementing various welfare schemes for the upliftment of Adi Dravidas. And this was proved when Karunanidhi released in a hurry in a statement questioning the genuineness of Kamble’s complaints, adducing his state principle of not using human to clean the savages and excretion and his government’s buying of machines for such works. Also he assured to bring the “groundless” complaints to the notice of the Prime Minister.

Whose is true, and to find out this are conducted Surveys. Evidence, a Madurai-based NGO, conducted a survey in certain parts of the State to check the impeccability of the statements of Kamble. The results of the survey came in a horrible ways bringing to light with photos and corroborating Kamble’s complaints. And didn’t come for Karunanidhi’s rescue. What is pathetic is that of the 303 surveyed, who are doing such works, almost half of them allow their sons and daughters to come after their footprints. Also, it is cruel to know that they are often made to be subject of torment, on the basis of profession and caste.


A real upliftment of a community starts with the societal change. That, in a world of scientific advancements and technological developments, scenes such as cleaning of human excretion and savage water by humans themselves remain unchanged is really a hard-to-digest fact. Will Karunanidhi, who calls himself a relative of Dalit (தலித்களின் சம்பந்தி) consider this?

One who has committed a mistake and does not correct it is committing another mistake: this is quite applicable to the AIADMK supreme Jeyalalitha. Being the main opposition party leader and the two-time chief minister of the state, she continues to fail to feel the pulse of the people, who are the real rulers of the democracy(!)

The history of TN assembly has never seen such a long list of by-elections, totaling 11, that started with the demise of P.T.R. Palanivelrajan in Madurai (centre) to that of Periyannan in Pennagaram, and DMK and Congress proved to be the best alliance in all the 11 constituencies – Madurai (centre), Madurai (East), Thirumangalam, Thondamuthur, Kambam, Sri Vaigundam, Ilaiyankudi, Vanthavasi, Trichendur, Pargur and Pennagaram. Ever since the inauguration of the party in 1971 and in its history of contesting in election, the AIADMK has never ever seen such a serious setback in any by-election, albeit the party lost deposit in Hosur and Killiyur by-elections. The results of the Pennagaram by-election has, no doubt, sent shock waves to AIADMK party men, and is, no wonder, for the public. It is pathetic for the primary opposition party to lose deposit, failing to get just a sixth of the total votes polled. And what caused this?

Despite the fact that AIADMK lost deposits in certain constituencies as Thiruvattaru and Vilavanggadu in Kanyakumari in general elections in 2006, Pennagaram asked for much attention, as the party itself considered the election an option for evincing the second biggest party after DMK. The past recorded the winning of the opposition party at rare occasions, as Maya Thevar in 1973 parliamentary by-election.


It is better to discuss not with particular reference to Pennagaram and other constituencies that witnessed by-election in the recent four years, but with the Dos and Don’ts in general that Jeyalalitha takes to heart and remember to face her arch-rival, Karunanidhi. At a time when she is to prove to be the unassailable opposition leader, as the assembly general election is approaching, she risks her political future with her visits to Kodanadu and Siruthavur. Is she aware of ignoring the importance of visiting the assembly and taking part in its session? Does she deny for herself the focus given by the media and the warm response from the people of Tamilnadu, when visiting the assembly alone to question the schemes and projects of the DMK government while all the MLAs of her party were under suspension? For, she has also to project herself the responsible and dutiful opposition leader that evinces interest in the interests and welfare of the people.

It is also important for her to shed the image of “luxurious” leader, the stamp that was borne on her even at her first term as chief minister. It is hard for the voters to digest the comings on helicopter to garner the votes and easy for them to compare it with deputy chief minister’s garnering of votes.

One with average mind can easily comprehend the fact that literature (word play) and cinema interchangeably ruled and is ruling the state, after the independence. That coming from the background of cinema and her closeness to MGR were the real blessings for her and needed no introduction to the people were the past. But the present needs her to present herself an effective opposition leader and orator that puts forth the shortcomings of the government to the public lucidly. Her campaign in Pennagaram is an exquisite example for how a leader should not campaign, which eventually did not attract any attention of the public. Her campaign accusing the ruling party of not implementing the Ohanekkal project, while it is under progress shows her to be oblivion and oblivious of what is going on in the state. Also she should avoid being with Sasikala in election campaigns.

Alliance is formed with parties that share certain aims and common goals and interests in general, anywhere, and it is good for any political party, particularly the alliance formed by the opposition parties, to maintain it (and also respect it) until the common goal is achieved. Any agitation or campaign without seeking the support of the parties in alliance fails to present its strength, however bigger the party be. She left PMK in the lurch, does not respect MDMK and is not sure of herself of the Left parties, whether in alliance. She might be aware of the maxim: united we stand; divided we fall.

The pillars of any party is the party men, who sweat on the field for the party to win. Lending ears to complaints or grievances, giving respect to the ideas of members and fulfilling their needs are the responsibilities of a leader, thus keeping them within the party and making them work for it. R.M.Veerappan, Thamaraikkani (Sri Villiputhur), Liyakath Alikhan, Indhira Kumari, M.C.Thamodharan, Ragupathy (Pudukkottai), Karupasamy Pandian (Trinelveli), Selva Ganapathy (Salem), Anitha Radhakrishnan (Trichendur), Sedapatti Mutthaih (Chozhavanthan), K.K.S.S.R (Viruthunagar), Sathyamoorthy (Trinelveli) all quit or made to quit the party, damaging the vote bank of their respective areas. Ku.Ba.Krishnan and Kannappan were also in the above list, though they are back to the party. It is also to be noted here that some of them in the above list is made to be ministers in the present DM government and others are given a respectable position, which one cannot expect in AIADMK. The two MLAs’ – Radhakrishnan from Kovilpatty and Rajendran from Jayamgondam constituencies representing her party in the assembly – meeting with Azhagiri and Karunanidhi is an indication of her inability to have her men under her control.


Making the impression of being belonged to a particular caste and family is sure to have ill-effects in the elections to come. According to a survey, 18 out of every 100 are Dalits, and concentrating also on them yields better results. And, above all, she is to realize that Kodanad is in Tamilnadu, and not Tamilnadu itself.