Down but not out

Chennai, the city I call home, has for long been industrious, understated and largely unaffected by the global appeal of its more flashy and glamorous neighbors - Bangalore and Hyderabad.

The tolerance levels of our people will find a place in folklore. We don't get flustered when we are generally branded as Madrasis and grossly confused with keralites or kannadigas.. We hardly react when people mock our cuisine, our dress sense or our inability to speak hindi. We are generally at peace with oursleves... we are quite happy to celebrate larger than life politicians and film stars who seldom offer anything more than lip sympathy or service to the common man. But I guess the quote "hell hath no greater fury than a silent man's anger" is very fitting for Chennai and people of tamilnadu

Chennai has been subject to some really challenging times and unrest more recently - some triggered by nature, some man-made. A series of events since October 2015 have brought the spotlight on the otherwise attention-shy chennai and its people. Floods of 2015, jayalalitha's death, jallikattu, vardah cyclone and now the protracted struggle to helplessly wait for our CM to be sworn in despite voting a party to majority. Life has not been easy - we have struggled to explain to our customers - inside and outside of India - on the constant disruptions. We have struggled to ensure safety of our families, children, friends, colleagues and brethren. We have had to battle everyday adversities to lead a normal life - something that Chennai seldom had to battle for. Clearly Tamilnadu has been brought down to its knees, grounded.

But, Every dark cloud has its silver lining, I have always believed. The silver lining in recent times, to me, has clearly been the emergence of people power. The people that were historically divided between rajinikanth and kamalhassan, vijay and ajith, karunanidhi and MGR/jayalalitha are finally unifying for more worthy reasons. Even the "arm chair critics" whose social consciousness was limited to sipping filter coffee with THE HINDU for company are now in action mode.

Today people cutting across ranks, genuinely care for issues that impact them and even those that don't impact them directly, but matter to their brethren ..they don't mind taking to the streets or culminating at the Marina to drive change. The very fact that they are booing away stars, blocking the participation of politicians in their activities means that the movement has begun. Be it mobilizing relief during floods or organizing protest for protecting a cultural identity in Jallikattu, people are taking charge with absolutely no dependency on government or its machinery.

There is a new found awareness, responsibility and drive in every chennaiite and people of tamilnadu, at large. This change is fresh but also one that is making the power mongers of the state uncomfortable.. There are concerted and disruptive forces at work, to derail this movement. It is time to tread with caution but without losing focus and momentum.

It is heartening to see the Tamilnadu Rising and like i also mentioned in one of my FB posts - Tamilnadu is awesome not because of who ruled us, but despite who ruled us.. - Let's march on my brethren, we have miles to go. Remember, We maybe down but certainly not out

Edit: added the pic that so beautifully captures the emotion...the text in tamil literally means "and you thought I will fall"