Twenty years ago, young children would take the sand from the dry river bed of Vaigai in Madurai in summer. They would wait until the water was clean, and then they would drink to the content of your heart.
The river comes from the periyar plateau of the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, and the southeast is flowing near Madurai to empty itself to Palk Bay. Throughout the course, the river enriches not only the landscape, but also the lives of people living nearby.
Madurai, Tiruchi, Viluppuram and Krishnagiri are the highest number of internal fisheries in Tamil Nadu. “Among these, with 6,000 families, with 6,000 families, 4,000 in Dindigul and each of them follow 2,000 and 2,000,” he says. Vaigai fills about 1,500 human -made ponds and irrigation tanks in Madurai. Many of these are the chief fishing sources with the Vaigai Dam in the Thein region.
Fishing techniques may vary depending on the depth of these water bodies, while most rakıgur says that most fishing tools use simple tools and a business ethics that does not use the award of nature. “They take what nature gives and get more, or he says.
The mainipatti Fisherman C. Vijayalingam shows the capture of the day. | Photo Loan: G. Moorthy
In the Dindigul region, several families in the villages of the master and Mettupatti are internal fishermen. The mainipatti is home to the Peranii organizer built by the British in 1918 in Vaigai. Fisherman C. Vijayaling is spreading here Veamechu Valai – Fisherman network type – an elegant shot descending into the water in a perfect circle. Almost noon and the sun beats at the beginning of the turban with a square towel. He doesn’t have much chance today and he decides to get out of the water after a few shots.
The 28 -year -old is among the 50 people in the homeland, which hosts about 800 families and is connected to fishing to live. Vijayalingam says, “My father is a fisherman and my grandfather,” he says. He goes to fish for the year, only stays away during the days when the river is flooded during the monsoon.
Back to Back
A typical river fisherman’s working day begins at midnight. Vijayalingam explains, “Then I’m going to the Vaigai Dam at that time,” he explains. He travels on a bike who joins the five -person team reaching the river within two hours. Once there, the networks pass through shallow waters sloping towards his shoulder. Another man-they work in a two-person teams-with a basket-like basket AAPPA VALİ Fixed on the hip, follows. Vijayalingam shed his network, which weighs 5 kg due to iron pellets connected to the ends, collects and empties the capture into his assistant AAPPA VALİ.
HASTER FISHERMAN C. Vijayalingam | Photo Loan: G. Moorthy
Uz We repeat the process until they are caught enough and we start at dawn, or he says. The capture is exhibited in a basket on the bikes and men sell it in many towns and villages along the way. Vijayalingam says, “We are sold when we’re at home in the afternoon,” he says. After a quick meal and a short candy, it is prepared to start again at midnight.
It is a work that draws it back to sleep, but Vijayalingam is happy to do it. “This is mine Parambai Thozhil [family occupation] And it gives me freedom. I can earn up to 500 a day, and if I plan well, I can save them a little. Some men prefer to fish in irrigation tanks. ARI VALİVij says Vijayalingam. Tanks and ponds are not full throughout the year. “ When there is no water, these men work as drivers, farm hands and cooks. Edi Despite these difficulties, the river has rooted in the village and does not move to larger cities for better opportunities.
Fishing in Lake Coimbatore Vedapatti. | Photo loan: Periasamy M.
Another fisherman S. Syria is in the flow of the river, Kattu VALİA During certain extensions. “This is a network that is tied to the water like a curtain, weighing with iron pellets at the bottom, or he says. They leave the arrangement for about an hour, after which men get caught.
Contains fish caught fish Salli Kendai (Carnatic carp), viraal (Murrel), Pallu Kendai (grass carp) and Jalebi (Tilapia). “Smaller species, while selling kg 100 to 150 viraal He goes to 300 addresses, Vij says Vijayalingam.
Stand up
The Noyal River passes through Coimbatore, caused by the hills of Vellingiri in West Ghats. Although the city supplies a stable sea fish from nearly Rameswaram, it has a demand for fresh water fish. Here, fish, Bhavanisagar, Mettur, Thanjavur and Manimutharu are reorganized by fishermen who buy children from fish farms of fishing department.
Bhavanisagar, Deputy Director of Fisheries S. Thilllaijan, “2,000 lakh three days a year produce three -day children, fishing in Tamil Nadu ponds and lakes to buy from behind,” he says. Catla, Rohu and Mrigal are among the varieties.
On a Sunday morning, we see that fisherman N. Rajkumar came out of Valankulam, a lake fed by Noyal in the heart of the city. He has a good Tilapia for only 100. Orum I’m going home, I’m giving that too, 40 says 40 -year -old. Most of the River Fisherfolk family live in the five corners of the city and from the Siviyar community, according to Rajkumar.
“We use mainly NATTU VALI”Rajkumar adds that they are clinging to the sacks full of polystyrene cubes to survive while fishing.
Thillaijan explains that he is a member of Fisheries Cooperative societies at the regional level that receives a lease agreement for the fisheries’ rights of internal fishermen. In Western Tamil Nadu, Erode adds that there are the highest number of internal fishermen due to the presence of the Bhavanisagar dam.
Like a mother
A fisherman threw his network to Vaigai in Madurai. | Photo Loan: G. Moorthy
The homeland has a few restaurants selling ‘fish food’: rice, fish curry and one or two slices of fried fish. We’re sitting for dinner in one of them.
The curry is delicious: Although it is abundant bone of river fish, what separates them is the descriptive worldly smell of fresh waters and a sweet taste profile of the sea fish. When you develop a liking to catch fresh water, the locals say they will not return to sea fish.
The river is leading a relatively risk -free life compared to his colleagues in the seas. Vijayalingam says, “But we are encountering risks,” he says. “The broken glass in the river bed was cut into my feet and once there was a sudden fluctuation in the dam,” he adds. Fortunately, they made it safe for the team.
There are some rituals that Fisherfolk follows for generations. In Coimbatore, when the fish matures and is time for harvest, men do not enter the water without visiting the Temple of Ayyasamy from the hills in Thethipalayam. “We sprinkle Tertham [holy water] Enter the lake before fishing from the temple, Raj says Rajkumar.
In the Mindiipatti, Fisherfolk worship Vaigai on Ayudha Puja Day every year, the knee stops in high water, presents a coconut on inflated rice, bananas, temple leaves and a plate. “Vaigai like our mother, V says Vijayalingam. “We live by banks and offers us a source of livelihood. He’s our everything.”
akila.k@thehindu.co.in
