The emergence of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, and its victory in 1967 — sweeping aside Congress leaders, including K. Kamaraj and Chief Minister M. Bhaktavatsalam — can be understood through what the Italian communist leader Antonio Gramsci described as “organic intellectuals”.
Vaaku Porukkikal (Vote Scavengers), despite its rather harsh title, is a short story by Sahitya Akademi Award-winning writer Nanjil Nadan that explores how the then DMK leaders and candidates remained rooted in ground realities and represented the aspirations of the people. The story was published in Kanaiyazhi in 1981.
Three candidates
In the story, the contest is among three candidates. Ayyappan Pillai, son of a Congress man, Adhimoolam Pillai, is traditionally wealthy, owning acres of land, coconut groves, and other agricultural assets, and wears only khadi.
Parameswaran, a development economist, has worked as an economic adviser to a couple of African countries. His advantage lies in having two wives — one from his own community and the other from a Scheduled Caste community — who campaign for him in places where their presence is considered effective.
Committed to his leader
Kulasai Arivarasan, as the name suggests, is the DMK candidate, “a worker committed to his leader, who dedicated his life to Tamil and his body to the soil”. A former handloom worker, he has already spent two months in jail for a protest against price rise, and two weeks during the anti-Hindi imposition agitation. He missed earning the moniker, ‘MISA Arivarasan’, as he developed “heart problems” out of fear during the Emergency.
Adhimoolam Pillai does not enjoy goodwill even among his own community, and would not allow anyone to take a ride in his Ambassador car, even when he is travelling alone. However, during the election, his car carries relatives and friends — a person returning from the market with gunny bags of goods, a farmer returning from the field, and a mother returning from hospital after treatment for her child.
Dr. Parameswaran has the bearing of an intellectual, and everyone wonders why he is wallowing in the filth of caste. There is also a rumour that he would become the Finance Minister if his party is voted to power. Even if he cannot win, there will be a position reserved for him in the Planning Commission, a public sector undertaking, or a foreign embassy. People thinking of approaching him for an MBBS or engineering seat for their children in the future campaign for him.
“Why are you unnecessarily going around in the hot sun,” asked the women on the Vellala streets, who are relatives of his first wife, Isakkiammai.
L.C. Mariammal, wearing a chain with a holy cross, campaigned in the areas where members of her Scheduled Caste community reside. She spoke to pastors with familiarity and kissed the children.
Arivarasan, clad in a handloom shirt soaked in sweat, with a towel placed like a child on his shoulder, went from house to house and addressed the voters as Akka, Mathini, and Aatha.
When he reached a house, it was time for lunch. The owner of the house, with holy ash on his forehead, was about to eat. The aroma of puli kulambu wafted through the air. The house owner’s wife also came out of the kitchen to see Arivarasan. “Periyamma, can you give me water drained from rice with a pinch of salt? My head is spinning after wandering in the heat,” Arivarasan said.
“Haven’t you eaten yet,” she asked.
“No. I have been going from one place to another. Do we have a club in our village where I can have a cup of tea?” he said.
“You can eat in our house, but we don’t have a proper curry (side dish),” she replied.
“Who wants curry? Give me some pazhayathu [fermented rice], a pinch of salt, and two chillies,” he said.
The women, filled with kindness, watched Arivarasan eating puli kulambu and thogayal. The courtyard of the house was filled with people who had come to see him eating.
Published – March 27, 2026 11:16 pm IST
