Chandrika burst into tears when journalists who flanked her mentioned Madhu's name. With a sense of unfamiliarity, Chandrika and her mother Mallika looked around and spoke reluctantly.
Kerala has not forgotten Madhu, the Adivasi youth who was beaten to death by an irate mob in Attappady, Palakkad. Madhu’s sister Chandrika was recruited to the Kerala Police along with 73 others from the Scheduled Tribes on Monday, 2 July.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with state police chief Loknath Behera were present on the occasion.
“Our family has been slowly recovering from the shock of ettan's (elder brother) death. But whenever we see his photograph,” Chandrika breaks down.
Though Chandrika, a 12th standard pass had written the test earlier, the interview had been slated for 23 February, a day after Madhu was beaten to death by a mob who suspected him of stealing groceries.
Chandrika says she did not want to go for the interview, her grief too overwhelming, but her family members forced her to. She somehow managed to reach the interview centre at AHADS (Attappady Hills Area Development Society) in Attappady.
“I was called as the first person to be interviewed when they came to know that I was Madhu’s sister. I entered the room and started crying,..” she again breaks down.
“I am dedicating this to my Ettan,” Chandrika said in between sobs.
The 29-year-old was the centre of attraction at a grand function held at Tagore theatre in Thiruvananthapuram.
From a young age, Chandrika had dreamt about becoming a police officer. “But I didn’t really expect this,” she says.
Madhu was the eldest of the four children. Chandrika says Madhu was very close to his sisters and mother. Their father had died when Chandrika was two years old. Her mother, Mallika, used to work as an anganwadi worker.
For Chandrika, her mother is her role model. “I will also work for the upliftment of our society. I will share whatever knowledge I gain with my society,” Chandrika says.
Chandrika’s four-year-old daughter Anushka and husband Murugan also accompanied her to Thiruvananthapuram. Murugan works at the Taluk office in Manarcaud. She hopes that her placement will be in Attappady itself.
The Kerala government says its initiative to recruit 74 people from Scheduled Tribes spread across Palakkad, Malappuram and Wayanad districts is unique in nature.
The recruitments from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups is aimed at improving their representation in government jobs. Chief Minister Vijayan said that the government will continue the drive in future too.
(Published in an arrangement with The News Minute.)
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