The Hindu Business Line : Unique `Mahamai' practice

The desire to progress and the unity of purpose in action without jealousy get best exemplified in the conduct of traders of Virudhunagar, the majority of whom belong to the Nadar community.

As traders during the British regime they felt the need to learn English for their business purpose and started a primary school in the town in 1889 and the expenditure was met through the collection of a handful of rice from every house.

The growth of the school and the increased expenditure were met through the financial contributions from the community. This gave rise to the evolution of a practice called `Mahamai' since 1900, by which, the community traders were required to set apart daily a stipulated amount as per the trade practised. This was collected daily and utilized for the public good of the community. The practice is still in vogue effectively and successfully, according to Mr.R.Chokkar, ex.MLA and former Municipal Chairman of the town.

The traders take pride in informing that all the schools, temples, marriage halls etc. built in the town belong to the community as a whole and to no single individual. They claim that trade and mahamai are the two eyes of Virudhunagar.

There is an anecdote: When C.Rajagopalachari, as Chief Minister visited the town during the British regime to inaugurate the municipality's water supply scheme, he learnt about the `scheme of handful rice for public cause' giving an impetus to education in the town. He is said to have wondered as to how good it would be for all the traders in the state to contribute for the public good.

This resulted in the introduction of `sales tax' in 1937 to make good the revenue loss in lieu of the introduction of prohibition in the state then, the traders say.

Virudhunagar has been exemplary in community self-help, in that, it paved the way for rainwater harvesting long before, it is claimed.

The tank in the town has been so modelled to collect the rainwater during the season and it has never dried up over the years, they point out.

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