Divide and Conquer
The Kongu velala community, which constitute a good percentage of Tamil Nadu population have started their own political party. I was in Coimbatore the day this ‘ezhuchi maanadu’ happened. I could sense an unmistakeable sense of pride among some gounder youth that day.
S.Ve Shekar has started his own sangham supposedly for the welfare of Brahmins. Sharath Kumar has a party based largely backed by his Nadar community. Ramdoss already has a party for Vanniars. Thiruma for the scheduled communities. Forward block means Mukulathors.
It is also interesting to note that each of these communities are concentrated in a particular belt.
There are quite a few educated folks who support these caste affiliations in the label that ‘jaadhi pattru’ is okay; only ‘jaadhi discrimination’ is bad. The way it actually works is like this. If all things equal between two candidates, the one belonging to the caste of the interviewer can be selected for a job because that is ‘jadhi patru’. Jadhi patru is okay apparently.
Honestly, I think its better we split the entire Tamil nadu across caste lines. Let’s give Coimbatore, Erode, Karur regions to Gounders – Gounder Naadu. Kongu Naadu sounds too euphemistic.
Mylapore, Triplicane, West mambalam, parts of Kumbakonam to be called Brahmana Naadu, Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Thirunelveli, Tiruchendur will henceforth be known as Nadar naadu, the town portions of Madurai will be Sourashtra Nadu, Vilupuram, Thindivanam, are Vannia Nadu even now; Karaikudi, Sivagangai, Devakottai, Pudukottai can form Naatukottai chetti nadu.
I may have missed out some jaadhis. This is not to be construed as I am discriminating against those. It’s just that I don’t know. Please enlighten me.
Such an arrangement is a true win-win for all. The community leaders who all have their eyes on political power - this arrangement ensures they get the positions of power. Splitting a bigger state to smaller states aids administrative convenience (is that not what we hear all the time? So I am repeating it here as well). Since all subjects will be of a particular jaadhi, the government folks will move the files for a smaller bribe since its all their ‘community fund’ and what they are doing is kinda giving it back to their ‘community’.
Such an arrangement also ensures ‘their man’ is the head of some government all the time. They need not worry about if the next chief minister will be from their community or not.
All want ‘their men’ to be judges, all want reservation for their community. I say lets go further and make it exclusive. I suppose that’s the only way you can stop reservation.
I’d say its better we do this partition right away in a peaceful manner. Why wait for tomorrow when it can be done today?
February 19th, 2009 at 5:12 am
A sangham for Brahmins already existed. It is headed by a person (I believe Balasubramaniam) who comes on Sun TV every sunday 730 AM. But I heard getting membership to that sangham is far difficult.
February 19th, 2009 at 5:13 am
// Mylapore, Triplicane, West mambalam, parts of Kumbakonam to be called Brahmana Naadu, Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Thirunelveli, Tiruchendur will henceforth be known as Nadar naadu, the town portions of Madurai will be Sourashtra Nadu, Vilupuram, Thindivanam, are Vannia Nadu even now; Karaikudi, Sivag //
Cant beat this ….
But may turn out to be true if this situation goes this way ….
February 20th, 2009 at 2:16 am
good suggestion. who knows, this might already be discussed in the parliament sessions!
but what about the sub-castes? will they form the districts then?
February 20th, 2009 at 3:55 am
AAR
Thanks.
The tendency is there for sure in all practical purposes - jobs, admission to schools/colleges, business opportunities (major factor). Its much easier to start a business for the folks belonging to the majority community in a region than elsewhere. A few friends of mine who have succeeded very well in business using this community networking.. To a much lesser extent this works in IT companies too…
If one belongs to community X which has a huge population in a region, then all things being equal, the person has a clear advantage over less populous community guy. It’s still hard work for the guy, he is not getting any back door entry, but he still has an edge over others.
This is my take.
February 20th, 2009 at 3:56 am
joseph,
sub-castes… yeah… thats for sure in the road map but out of scope for now
February 20th, 2009 at 8:50 am
lol
Rombha veruthu poi irukeenga pole
February 22nd, 2009 at 11:11 am
WA
Ennamo..onnum solra madhiri illai
February 23rd, 2009 at 6:31 pm
PK, the reason behind many Caste-based political parties originating is because atleast two of them have succeeded already. And the inevitable fear of neglect, if the caste did not have a political party, is what urges each community to start one of their own.
Im, kind of, one of the Brahmin Assocation member (which is only trying to become a political party.. not yet there) and the objective is not a political party, but to have a Body whose voice can be loud enough to be heard, when a discrimination based on the caste is made. And when are you heard ?? When you are a Vote Bank. This is the base reason for communities needing a political party.
And for your idea of splitting TN based on Castes, here’s a glimpse of some castes listed on a website. I was trying to search for the full list, I only got this. http://ncbc.nic.in/backward-classes/index.html
February 24th, 2009 at 1:33 am
Keerthi
Andha reason I can understand vaadhiyaare.
If I think from a higher level and if I think long term.. it doesn’t make sense except where i am the one starting a party.
Caste based grouping is next only to Rich DeVos’s Amway where people in the bottom contribute so passionately to the ones at the top.
I don’t believe an average vanniar has grown in proportion to Dr. Ramdoss in the last 20 years.
Who has gained more because of the ‘Thamizh ina thalaivar’ tag in the last 30 years… MK or an average Tamilian?
Eventually the purpose will get hacked to work in favor of those in office.
The parties who started early, have huge illiterate population have a good advantage in elections.
My conscience speaks louder when i am alone, not when i am with a group. So in that sense if we need more people who are just individuals without affiliations as much as possible.
Pogira road thappu.. it doesn’t matter if one joins the group or is left behind.