I wanted to take a photo of all the tricycle-man there, some 8 years ago, but they insisted that I had to be among them . Next to me you see Ochappan at my right. I never had more quarrels then with him as he is a stubborn proud Thevar man.
The Thevar-cast is a very known and feared cast around Madurai. They are known that they don't like to discuss too much or they use a knife. One year the whole area was blocked by police-controls as they took one of their leaders in to custody.
So these men are like my body-guards, any problems ... f.i. with a police-man, they urge to tell the man who I am and next I am invited to visit the police-station to drink a tea over there. I went at least to 5 marriages, made 2 photo-albums.... they claim me in their community as to be part of them.
A pleasant thing, last year I gave Ochu a cell-phone blocking outgoing calls, everybody laughed at first, a tricycle-man with a cell-phone, but soon he could help his friends to get more work as many company-man started to call him up as soon they had some job. I tell you this only to explain how difficult it is to help, money isn't the solution, seeing their need and sharing is.
Thanks for reading and I hope this is of some help for you as you come to Tamil Nadu. Wanakkam.