Published Issue: September 2020
H.Raja has carved a unique identity in Tamil Nadu politics as a distinctive politician. He expresses what is on his mind openly, without worrying about the consequences. His speeches, though harsh, contain deep insights and thorough understanding, which makes it hard for his opponents to counter his arguments.
While some admire this trait, many within his own party oppose his abrasive speech. Nevertheless, even those who criticize his manner of speaking do not challenge his viewpoints.
H.Raja, despite having completed lucrative qualifications like a Chartered Accountant and a Law degree, chose not to pursue related professions for financial gain. Instead, he devoted himself to public service and has established himself as a full-time politician. Starting his journey with the RSS and then joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, he has steadily risen through the ranks, ultimately becoming the National Secretary of the party.
H.Raja has served as the legislative assembly member for the Karaikudi constituency and is known for his straightforward and often controversial approach in politics. However, there is another side to him that is not widely known—H.Raja, the simple farmer.
When he steps into his home, he transforms from a prominent politician to an ordinary farmer. He now cares for over thirty cows on his farm, although he initially started with more than a hundred. Intrigued by this side of him, we decided to feature H.Raja’s farming experiences in our section dedicated to farming by VIPs.
Upon learning this, we visited him. He invited us to his farm in Kandanur near Karaikudi. We arrived early in the morning and, guided by the locals, found his farm nestled behind fields of Jatropha trees.
As we walked towards his farm, a car driven by H.Raja himself passed by, reflecting his simplicity. Upon reaching the farm, the security guard informed us that H.Raja had gone to Karaikudi to buy vegetables and would return soon.
H.Raja’s Simplicity
When we inquired about H.Raja driving himself, the guard explained that he hires a driver only for out-of-town trips. For local trips to Karaikudi or nearby shops, he drives himself, accompanied by security guards. Both H.Raja and his family handle their chores independently.
His farm was lush with teak trees, guava trees, mango trees, coconut trees, and vegetable plants. A large cowshed housed many cows, calves, and bulls, with one cow about to give birth.
A farm worker told us that Raja visits the cowshed first thing in the morning to tend to the cows and calves before attending to other tasks. He even assists in milking the cows if no one else is available.
Beginning of a Farmer
As H.Raja returned with vegetables, he greeted us warmly and began showing us around his farm. He shared his background, saying, “I was born in Melattur near Thanjavur. Our family has always been involved in agriculture. We moved to Karaikudi when I was 45 days old. We had irrigated and rain-fed lands in Mathur near Karaikudi, where we cultivated paddy, ragi, vegetables, and greens.”
First Dairy Farm
“When I was in seventh grade, we started a dairy farm with 25 cows. There was no electricity then, so we used bullocks to draw water for irrigation. We sold milk directly to households, as direct sales benefited farmers and ensured quality for consumers. I would deliver milk to homes as a child.”
Professional Journey
After completing his schooling and becoming a Chartered Accountant, H.Raja worked for Coal India Limited in Madhya Pradesh for about four years before returning to Karaikudi. In 1997, he bought his current six-acre farm and started a dairy farm with 100 hybrid cows, producing 300-350 liters of milk daily.
Modern-Day Farming
“Now, we have about thirty native cows, including breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, Kangayam, and Pulikulam. We also have bulls for breeding. We cultivate grass, vegetables, and various trees, including around a thousand neem trees.”
Veterinary Care
As we spoke, a farm worker informed him about a cow with a hoof injury. H.Raja promptly called a veterinarian and gave instructions to prevent the cow from putting weight on the injured hoof to avoid worsening the wound.
Agricultural Laws
When asked about the controversial agricultural laws, H.Raja explained, “The new laws allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country, giving them more freedom and potentially better prices. Additionally, the minimum support price (MSP) recommended by the M.S. Swaminathan Commission has been increased by the Modi government to 1.95 times the cost of production.”
Advice for Farmers
H.Raja advised small farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers for better profits and quality assurance. He emphasized that his suggestion is based on personal experience and can benefit both farmers and consumers.
We thanked H.Raja for his time and insights and left, inspired by his simplicity and dedication to farming.
M. Umapathi – Photos: S. Saktivel, Devakottai
