In the semi-arid climes of Vellore, the summers can turn nasty. Mercury leaps northwards, turning the plains into the sun’s anvil, boiling the brain in its very cranium. But Vellore these days is not scampering for cover, but is abuzz with activity. People are eagerly watching the build-up to the battle royale between two brothers – separated by different ideologies, but sewn together by the common pursuit of people’s mandate in the polls. If it’s P Neelakandan the AIADMK is fielding, the DMK has given ticket to his younger brother P Karthikeyan, making the fight between the Dravidian parties a fraternal affair.
It’s not politics alone that keeps the city ticking. Despite the inhospitable climate, Vellore is an industrial hub, with scores of leather and tannery industries dotting the landscape. The SIDCO-Ranipet is the base for various installations like the BHEL, chemical and explosive plants, automotive parts manufacturers and even foreign companies. The city in recent times has emerged as a hotspot for medical tourism, with world renowned Christian Medical College and Hospital among others catering to various health needs. Presence of institutes like the VIT has gone a long way in making the city a preferred destination for higher studies across the globe.
The mushrooming of industries came as both boon and bane for the residents. While the tanneries gave jobs to hundreds, the untreated discharge of effluents into the Palar left the river water contaminated and unsuitable both for drinking and agriculture. Despite being one of the largest exporters of leather in the country, the working condition is far from desirable. A shoe stitching unit worker says, “I have been in the trade for over five years, but I earn a measly `100 a day. The working condition and timings are taxing and we seldom get breaks.”
Agriculture, once, was the primary source of income for the people here. Over the years, the advent of industries and suspense surrounding rains have weaned people away from farms. Those who still till the lands have reasons aplenty to dissuade prospective farmers. Kannayah Naidu, a farmer, says, “There was a time when we used to surpass Thanjavur in terms of yield. What with erratic rains and lack of proper irrigation facility, we are lucky to harvest even half of what we used to get till a few years ago. If the government makes efforts to link Thenpennai with Palar, farmers may turn the tide.” Industries and influx of workforce from across the country served as a catalyst for the city’s development, as many educational institutions set up base here to cater to the needs of the expanding population. The resulting social awareness played a major role in tackling social issues like child and bonded labour. The district has taken a giant leap towards attaining hundred per cent literacy rate by launching the Arivoli Literacy Movement.
Education and social awareness have made the voters conscious of their power. The residents have a whole charter of demands they want action on. For Virumandi, a resident, shutting of TASMAC outlets figures high on the list of demands.
Prison Turns City’s Key Landmark
The Vellore Fort, which gives Vellore its sobriquet of Fort City, is a prominent landmark. This fort acted as a prison for the last of the Tipu Sultan’s family members and the last king of Sti Lanka Vikrama Rajasinha. It was here the first rebellion against the British East India Company erupted in 1806. The Jalakandeshwarar Temple, Srilakshmi Golden Temple and the Wallajapet Dhanvantri Temple are among the various temples in Vellore. Assumption Cathedral and the 150-year-old St John’s Church on the Fort’s premises are among the churches in the city. The Big Mosque, in the heart of the city, houses the largest Arabic college in India.
[[Most of the residents are not able to decide for whom to vote. If any candidate promises that they will remove liquor shops located near each other, then I will vote for them — Virumandi, A resident
[[I have been in the trade for over five years, but I earn a measly `100 a day. The working condition and timings are taxing and we seldom get breaks — A shoe stitching unit worker