By Anand Holla

Voicing support for the call on prohibition of alcohol in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, around 100 people from the Tamil community in Qatar gathered on Friday in an event helmed by a Tamil leader.
Thangam Thennarasu, a former minister of Tamil Nadu and a sitting member of the legislative assembly, updated members of the community about the movement that he says is gathering steam back home.
“The president of our party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) recently made an announcement for a total prohibition in our state and it has triggered a lot of discussion there. It is a much-awaited and much-welcomed cause,” Thennarasu told Community.
In Qatar, the community organisation, Qatar Indian Tamizhar Munnetra Sangam (QITMS), who regard themselves only as the friends of the DMK, without necessarily subscribing to the party’s policies, is actively backing the movement. “With the help of other friends, they organised this small function in Doha,” said Thennarasu.
Arandhai Raju Murugan and Abiappa alias Tholkappian, of QITMS, said, “We are providing insurance assistance to about 200 people from a village in our state, who are being rehabilitated from drinking habits. The village panchayat president has taken a lead role in making this happen.”
Thennarasu insists that he hasn’t come to Doha over any political reason. Thennarasu said, “This is an opportunity to connect with like-minded people from our community. We are pushing for prohibition because the entire community is being ruined by alcoholism. According to the nodal agency which runs liquor shops across the state, there are about 6,823 shops across the state. But this number has only increased of late. If we don’t bring in prohibition, the future of the younger generation will be at stake.”
Born in Mallankinaru, Tamil Nadu, Thennarasu has a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and has been thrice elected to the Tamil Nadu assembly. From 2006 to 2011, Thennarasu was the Minister for School Education of Tamil Nadu. Thennarasu was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as a DMK candidate from Aruppukottai constituency in 1997/98 by-election, and 2006 election. Currently, he is a member of the legislative assembly.
The education ministry of Tamil Nadu was split into School Education ministry and Higher Education ministry, when the DMK party won the 2006 general elections and formed government. Thennarasu was then handed over with the portfolio of School Education department, and his ministry contained archaeological department and Library department.
Some of the significant milestones that Thennarasu helped the School Education department achieve during his tenure are: introduction of Uniform System of School Education, introduction of activity-based learning, smart class facility installed in the village of Mallankinaru, implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan to improve the quality of education, upgrading of secondary schools into higher secondary schools.
Thennarasu is the first minister in Tamil Nadu to have organised a job fair for the educated youth. He was instrumental in building Anna Centenary Library – the largest library in South Asia – at Kotturpuram in Chennai, and had played a key role in organising World Classical Tamil Conference 2010.
Thennarasu pointed out that the desire to impose prohibition has been simmering among many in the state ever since it was lifted in the early 1980s. “Recently though, people from various walks of life are supporting it, and we need total prohibition, especially to save our children from the evil clutches of drinking habits.”
When asked about what he expects from the Tamil community in Qatar, Thennarasu said, “The Tamil community here should appreciate this initiative that cuts across political lines. In Qatar, they are already in an environment where prohibition is in force, and hence, they must be enjoying the fruits of it. The community should, therefore, support our cause.”
The ball, though, has just been set in motion. Thennarasu said, “This message has to be taken to other local friends here, and it must slowly gain momentum. Then, this message must go back to our state in India, so that they know that members of their community in Qatar are backing this.”