Valasai Jayaraman, a trustee of the prominent Sri Agatheeswarar Velveeswarar Temple on Arcot Road in Valasaravakkam, Chennai (Inset box)
Chennai: Valasai Jayaraman, a trustee of the prominent Sri Agatheeswarar Velveeswarar Temple on Arcot Road in Valasaravakkam, Chennai, staged a unique protest by smearing mud all over his body and face on September 1, drawing public and devotees’ attention to his decades-long demand for the restoration and desilting of the temple tank.
However, the protest attracted the attention of the public and devotees but not the authorities, more specifically the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.
The Agatheeswarar-Velveeswarar Temple tank spans approximately two acres and has a significant depth of 20 to 40 feet. The rain-fed waterbody is centuries old and serves as a major source for recharging the local groundwater table.
Speaking to Organiser, Jayaraman, a former Councillor, social and civic activist, explained the reasons behind his protest and how his requests to 11 consecutive MLAs have failed.
Jayaraman, an active volunteer of Kanchi Mutt and a Hindu Munnani functionary, has been fighting to protect the temple’s water body.
“I have been taking up this issue since 1986 but without success. In 1986, I met Congress MLA Kalan, a union trade union leader. I gave a petition asking him to renovate the temple tank. From him, the demand has now reached 11 MLAs from Kancheepuram.
“Our area people or resident welfare association would give memoranda to all these legislators seeking several civil needs like a bus stop and regular bus service and other flood mitigation measures, drinking water, roads, underground sewage facilities, street lights, etc. But I would always give a petition to renovate and desilt the tank. I have seen 11 MLAs but no one acted on my pleas,” he said.
According to Jayaraman, the issue also involved attempts to alter the tank’s original layout. Earlier, AIADMK MLA Benjamin, who was also Deputy Mayor of Chennai Corporation and a minister, allotted some amount for the tank. “One fine morning there were activities in the tank. Some construction works were going on. It was reduced to a fish tank from 1 acre 86 cent land spread. There were attempts to build a commercial complex, a building for VAO and a police station. They passed resolutions in this respect in the council. I moved courts and got stayed them,” he said.
Explaining further, he said officials asked him to vacate the stay and assured him that they would renovate the tank. “But after that stay was lifted, the western side was expanded and the northern side, which had a retaining wall worth several lakhs, was also torn down and rebuilt, changing the tank’s layout. Even so, I’m still fighting alone.
“I have no personal gain in this. This is about protecting a vital public water body and seeing it properly renovated for the community. I’ve held protests, and those were covered by multiple TV channels and online platforms, reaching lakhs of people,” he said.
Jayaraman said he would regularly visit all-party functionaries, MLAs at that time, Corporation and HR&CE officials, engineers and joint commissioners to press his demand.
“I will not give up my efforts. I am now nearly 74. I want to see the tank freed from illegal constructions and renovated to its original position. I am not getting support from the public and devotees. Fighting alone. I am not expecting any funds, but physical support is much needed,” he said.
Jayaraman also recalled his interaction with former DMK HR&CE Minister Sekar Babu. “Former DMK HR and CE minister Sekar Babu was angry for giving falsehoods in public. I called him late night and explained everything to him. Surprisingly, he reviewed the tank and agreed with my points. He took efforts but officials played spoilsport.
“They announced a sum of nearly Rs 3 crore was allotted. Surprisingly, nothing happened. It did not move an inch. He wanted to do something very serious but officials and local politicians did not like it,” he said.
Jayaraman further said that around two years ago, the authorities dumped building rubbish and other solid waste into the tank. “I opposed it single-handedly. I moved court and got a stay,” he said.
After the TVK government came to power, Jayaraman said he again started sending petitions to all concerned authorities. Local functionaries wanted him to give in writing seeking appointments with the HR&CE Minister.
“I tried to meet the Maduravayal TVK MLA Rhevanth Charan, brother of a BJP functionary and the minister. But nothing moved forward. After waiting for some months, I decided to do a protest to attract their attention,” he said.
On September 1, Jayaraman entered the tank and applied mud all over his body, including his face. The protest was flashed across leading TV channels, YouTube channels and social media platforms.
Jayaraman said he had earlier considered ending his life by tying a stone and jumping into a well. “Officials came and assured me not to do such protest. Now TVK government has asked me to wait, so waiting and hoping some good would happen,” he said.
