Vyasai Thozhargal, VyasarpadiWhat began as an informal gathering of a group of friends who played cricket together, has now grown into a voluntary movement with purpose in Vyasarpadi. N Sakthivel, a documentary photographer who is the coordinator of Vyasai Thozhargal, recalls how all of them would talk about the caste-based discrimination they faced in school when they met. “I did my higher secondary in a school in Besant Nagar,” says Sakthivel: “Some students there would not call me by my name and would address me as ‘Vyasarpadi’ instead.”When he realised they were mocking him since he was from a disadvantaged locality, he channelled his anger towards sports. “I won several trophies for my school. Once, they called my name in the assembly to congratulate me. The name ‘Sakthivel’ rang through the campus,” he says. It is a moment he will never forget. “It made me understand how important sports and education were for one’s self-worth,” he says, adding that these fields are the primary focus of Vyasai Thozhargal.
At Dr Ambedkar Pagutharivu Padasalai, Vyasarpadi
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The movement was started by Sarath Kumar, an advocate, along with president, Prem Kumar, who is also an advocate; and R Vijayalakshmi, a teacher, another core member.
