The Hindu : Vadalur family ends `doomsday' isolation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 17, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Vadalur family ends `doomsday' isolation

By S. Dorairaj

CUDDALORE DEC. 16. A self-imposed isolation by a family of a contract worker for the past about two years, raising the anxiety among neighbours at Vadalur, in this district, ended four days ago, thanks to the intervention by officials.

Police sources yesterday said Jacob (40), who was employed in an NLC canteen at Neyveli, quit his job a couple of years ago. His wife, Maria (38), who was a teacher in a private school, also resigned. Their sons _ Theodar Christopher (16) and Gladis Xavio (14) _ were abruptly asked to leave school.

Driven by a belief that `doomsday' was round the corner, the family kept itself off from society. Jacob alone occasionally moved out of his house at R.C.Nagar, to sell household articles, one by one, to get money for food. The family gradually snapped its ties with others in the locality.

Though neighbours rebuked Jacob's family for living in seclusion without taking food, it cocooned itself against the world of criticism, particularly for the past one month. It kept doors and windows closed. Even the head of the family ventured out only thrice during this period, the sources said adding it pulled through, consuming tubers and water. At night, the family used candles instead of electric lamps.

As the news reached Jacob's mother, Christiana, at Neyveli, she rushed to Vadalur on Wednesday. She sought the help of the police and revenue officials. A police team, accompanied by revenue officials and Christiana, appealed to the family members to open the door. As they were reluctant to do so, the team forced its entry, by breaking open the rear door.

The officials handed over the boys to their grandmother, besides persuading Jacob and his wife to take food.

The Neyveli DSP, Murugiah, said efforts were on to arrange for counselling to make Jacob believe that he and his family members could lead a normal life without compromising on their beliefs. The officials made rice and grocery items available to them for ending their starvation. Attempts were also on to get the boys admitted to school in Pondicherry, he pointed out.

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