The next generation of Narikuravar Community also lives in platforms.
- Johnpaul, Aug30, Chennai
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| Vellaiyamma selling bead in Broadway platform |
The dawn has not
yet risen to the life of Narikuravar families. The clan has not received a respectable
education or worthy part in the ordinary society. They were given numerous opportunities
by the government and NGO’s at various levels of function. Yet, there is a
question about what stops them from accessing such facilities.
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| Pachaiyappan showing the threads |
The Narikuravar
name comes from work of hunting jackals. The name Kuruvikarar was used to
denote them for hunting Sparrows (Kuruvi in Tamil). They are a kind of gypsies
who lived on hunting and selling the animals and whatever precious things they
get from forests.
The Narikuravar
community has got ST status only in 2016 and for the past 100 years they were
neglected any opportunities of participating in the life of a common man. Their
life as hunter gatherers ended long time ago and they were forcibly moved to
the cities. They started selling beaded ornaments and herbal medicines.
One such family,
Pachaiyappan and Vellaimma were selling the beads and threads on the platforms
Broadway. They have six children of which four boys continue to do the same
work as their father. Two of their daughters were given in marriage to the same
community people. These children had gone to the school initially but dropped out
on the go.
Pachiyappan says
that he is happy with the daily income in selling beads and stones. He added
that life has no meaning if you don’t enjoy today. His wife Vellaimma was fair
enough according to the name replied him “you drink daily for half of the money
we get”.
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| The Narikuravar family selling beads and ornaments on the platform of Broadway Bus stand |
They find it
comfortable in sleeping in platforms guarded by the Night Patrol Police men.
The initiatives to put them in school have not succeeded in many places. The
places allotted for them were occupied by other community people and they were
bullied even if they want to live with others. Their life is not improved and
the next generation also pushed to live on the same platform. Will there be a way
for these people to come out of their stigmas and live with due respect in the
society is a big question.
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