The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Reporter's Diary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 25, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Reporter's Diary

IT IS a common sight to see shopkeepers and commercial establishments breaking pumpkins and coconuts at the end of the day in front of their shops to ward off jealous eyes and evil glance.

This is a superstition followed by a large number of entrepreneurs. The huge pumpkins are broken in the middle of the road while the shells of the coconuts injure the legs of the pedestrians.

But they seldom bother about the safety of motorists who would stumble on it.

In fact, when a vehicle with a smaller wheelbase like a scooter or a moped runs over it, the chances of skidding are more.

When a vehicle rider tries to negotiate a huge pumpkin on the road, the chances of the vehicle being brought to a screeching halt or being steered to any of the extreme ends of the road also led to mishaps.

But most of the shopkeepers seem to be less worried about it.

Such self-centred acts of shopkeepers most often led to mishaps taking the motorists by surprise. None is interfering with the freedom or privilege in adhering to beliefs; however they should take care in ensuring the safety of the road-users by at least removing the pumpkin pieces or the coconuts to the roadside. Warding off jealousy and evil glances could be one's right and prerogative but cannot be at the cost of safety of others and convenience.

* * *

A DARK, mute and otherwise backward Dharmapuri was dazed by the momentous encounter at Padi in which Veerappan and his three associates were killed. As news spread like wildfire the district became the centre of attraction. Public started thronging the gates of the Dharmapuri Government Hospital by midnight itself waiting to have a glimpse of the bodies of Veerappan and his associates kept in the mortuary.

Hotels were choked with visitors and started running out of food materials. It meant that people had to remain content with whatever was available.

Dharmapuri also witnessed a beeline of media and presspersons who had come to cover the major event.

Outdoor broadcasting vans were stationed at every available space outside the hospital premises ready to present a live coverage. By early morning the bypass road, the main arterial road of Dharmapuri, was completely flooded with traffic.

Heavy police protection was provided at the hospital to prevent any untoward incident. There was a serpentine queue of visitors waiting for their turn to have a glimpse of the bodies and the police had to resort to a mild lathi charge to manage the surging crowd.

* * *

(Contributed by

V.S. Palaniappan in Coimbatore & S. Prasad

in Dharmapuri)

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