U Vasuki
IT was in December 2021 that we visited the tribal community in Kothattai village, Parangipettai taluk, Cuddalore district. Summing up the experience, an article titled “The Alchemy of Sir Becoming Comrade” was published in People’s Democracy on December 19, 2021.
Around 20 Irula tribal families reside in the village. It was the CPI(M) that organised sustained struggles and secured caste certificates for them and other tribal families in the surrounding areas, numbering a total of around 115. The next phase of the struggle focused on reclaiming land that had been occupied by a few upper-caste families. When the pattas were finally issued, the community decided to celebrate the victory by naming the area Sengodi Nagar (Red Flag Nagar) and holding a small inauguration programme.
Following this, the Party organised an impressive tribal convention, which brought together nearly 500 tribals from various parts of the district. This convention led to the formation of a tribal association, further strengthening collective organisation.
In Bharathi Nagar, another tribal area, the Party took the initiative to help construct 105 toilets by mobilising government funds and CSR support from a nearby company. Construction is currently underway.
Meanwhile, in Kothattai, 11 families decided to construct houses on the allotted two-and-a-half cents of land each. The CPI(M), with the help of the sub-collector, arranged government housing grants. As of now, four pucca houses have been completed. Recently, the proud homeowners invited us to inaugurate the houses. On June 22, CPI(M) leaders formally inaugurated all four houses by cutting the ribbon and lighting ceremonial lamps. The function was quite emotional, and it was the comrades who shed tears while recalling the struggles and hardships endured by the tribal families.
Tribal children and women presented cultural performances, including a moving dance-drama. One act portrayed a landlord exploiting a tribal worker and refusing to pay wages. The worker approaches the Party, and a comrade arrives with a red flag, confronts the landlord, and secures payment. A young boy playing the comrade transformed instantly – by changing his posture and draping a red towel over his shoulder – eliciting cheers from the audience. It was heartening to see children raising red flags and shouting Inquilab Zindabad with pride and enthusiasm.
The Party has developed contacts in 13 neighbouring villages, and Party units have already been formed in five of them. We appealed to the people of Kothattai to become ambassadors of the Party and help organise tribals in the surrounding areas.
The programme was attended by CPI(M) Polit Bureau member U Vasuki, state secretariat member S Kannan, district secretary G Madhavan, state committee member S G Ramesh Babu, area committee secretary A Vijay, Kothattai branch secretaries S Radhakrishnan, R Chandrakala, S Ranjitha, and several others, including members of the district secretariat.
