Decoding the making of route thalas

Three years ago, when he joined college, all he wanted to do was complete his degree and find a good job to meet the needs of his family, while working part-time for some extra money for himself.

He never wanted to be protected by a route thala and would choose a different bus route to reach Pachaiyappa’s College every day. But soon, students from other colleges began to bully him and robbed him of his phone and whatever money he was carrying. Mahesh did not want to go to the police fearing repercussions. However, after being robbed for the fifth time in a matter of a few months, he said he felt like there was no other option, but to approach the route thala in his locality who is also his college senior.

“He made a few calls and a few minutes later, I got back my mobile phone and money within hours. That’s when I decided to be with the route thala gang,” says Mahesh. Since he is in the third year now, he is also considered route thala by his juniors. According to him, the route thala culture started because students were scared of being attacked by those from other colleges. “There are times when an ego clash would erupt between two different bus route students and I still can’t understand why we Pachaiyappa’s College students and Presidency College students have this enmity when it comes to bus routes,” says Mahesh.

According to him, thalas of particular routes are responsible to protect first-year and second-year students who use the same bus route. “The idea is to make the journey to college and back home enjoyable and safe. We sing songs, make fun of each and other and simultaneously ensure others do not meddle with our gang,” said Mahesh. But, he was quick to add that route thala’s influence is not just limited to bus routes but extends inside the college campus as well. “If students want to stage a protest and take up a particular matter with the administration, all the communications happen through different route thalas in the college. If you go stand there in a group, authorities won’t even give you the time,” he said.

“Students from first-year are not supposed to get involved with the procedure at all. Second-year students will have to deal with the actual route thala, a final-year student, and would back them if needed. Whoever shows prowess in their approach will be elected as route thala in the final year. If two candidates are finalised, the first and second-year students would elect one of them and the outgoing route thala would make it official to all the students. Once elected, he would remain the route thala for the entire year and students would approach him in case of a trouble,” said Mahesh.

He added that route thalas are also involved in a lot of good work which does not get any attention. “There have been incidents when after students hurt themselves in a bus accident, other students pitch in to help those injured financially,” Mahesh said. “The route thala also visits parents of students if they fall sick and other students again donate to help with treatment.”

“We supported MTC crew when they staged protests citing salary issues and protested against Tasmac shops, but one or two incidents of students wielding machetes get so much attention. We have instructed students not to carry weapons and discourage the practice, but students come from different background and claim to carry weapons for safety,” said Mahesh. But with the recent clamp down by the police, route thalas of different bus routes have decided to stay away from fights. This may eventually lead to the practice’s death, said Mahesh.

“Being a route thala does not bring any benefit apart from respect from juniors, which lasts even after one graduates from college. It is like any other junior-senior relationship where we help each other,” he added.

Reuban, a resident of Tirumullaivoyal, dropped out of a private college near his house as his family could not afford to pay the fee and joined Pachaiyappa’s College only this year and is in his first year.

He, however, stopped going to the college after he was booked under Section 107 of the IPC in connection with the violent clash with weapons between the students of Pachaiyappa’s College on different bus routes to reach the institution. According to him, the only mistake on his part was that he was present at the spot during the clash. “After the police action, my mother asked me to give up studies. I am now looking for a job,” said Reuban. He, however, is aware of the problems related to route thala and what led to the clash between students last month.

“Of the bus routes connecting suburbs with Pachaiyappa’s College, three routes — 40A, 41D and 53 — are the major ones. The route number 53 is considered bigger route as more students use it. So, it is natural for some friction among students using these three routes as to who is more ‘gethu’ (powerful) and it was one such confrontation that led to the clash,” said Reuban.

He added that usually final-year students are first trained by their seniors and then they are chosen or elected as the route thala. “The current route thala will pick and choose juniors right from first year and ‘groom’ them to become next route thala,” said Reuban. But they usually do not disturb the studious college goers, he added. “They select students who are not keen in studies and keep them by their side. They keep instructing them how they should become next route thala. In the second year, those who fight others and become victorious will be the route thala in the final year,” said Reuban.

According to him, the route thala usually travels on the steps of the bus, while juniors are supposed to stay inside it.

While Students Federation of India (SFI) is opposed to students wielding machetes, it partly blames the college administrations of Pachaiyappa’s College, Presidency College and Nandanam Arts College for lack of intra-college activities to keep the students engaged. “The grounds of Pachaiyappa’s College are not accessible to students while it is rented out to outsiders. The college library shuts down at 1 pm adnd there are no cultural events or students’ union election organised by the college administration. With no direct representative, students form their own groups and the route thala becomes their go-to person if they are in trouble or need protection,” said Chandru of SFI. “Route thala problems were usually solved inside the campus, but since they are not allowed space, there are no means for communication among groups and it leads to violence on the roads. Now, whether a student should enter Pachaiyappa’s College or not decided by the the police at the entrance, not the college administration,” said Chandru.