Veerappan will rub shoulders with Ravana

NEW DELHI: Call it coincidence, but it was during the auspicious period of navratras that dreaded sandalwood smuggler Veerappan was killed in an encounter with the Special Task Force (STF) in the forests of Tamil Nadu. For many people across the country, the incident iterates the message of navratras — the triumph of good over evil.
In keeping with this sentiment, the Shri Ramlila Committee at Indraprastha Extension has hit upon a unique way of celebrating Dussehra.Apart from the usual three effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakaran, there will be a fourth one this time — that of Veerappan.
Dushyant Chopra of the Shri Ramlila Committee said: "Over the years, Veerappan had become synonymous with evil. Our security forces were able to get him during navratras. If this does not signify victory of good over evil, what does?"
Touted as a symbol of solidarity towards the people who suffered at the hands of the slain gangster as well as for the security forces who captured him, the idea has apparently found many a taker. "When we floated this concept, the response was positive. People seemed eager to see such a thing happen," said Chopra.
Sandeepta Mukhopadhyaya, a resident of IP Extension, said: "Till now we have only seen people showing personalities like Saddam Hussain and Osama bin Laden in Durga puja pandals. But I think it would be the first time that Ramlila would be deviating from the traditional. I think it is quite interesting."
Agreed Savitri Jain of Narwana Apartments: "It is a good attempt at blending the traditional with the contemporary. Crowds were kind of thinning at Ramlila over the past few years. This would give it a fillip." What has impressed people even more is that Veerappan''s effigy would be burnt by a Ramlila artiste in STF chief Vijaykumar''s outfit.
"The (Veerappan) idea struck us immediately after the encounter took place. So even though we were hard-pressed for time, our workers toiled round the clock to have the effigy ready," revealed Chopra.
However, not everyone approves of the concept. "Let''s not deviate from what we have been doing all these years. Veerappan''s death is a welcome relief, but there could be other ways of celebrating it." pointed out local resident Apoorva Gupta.