Chennai: Governor Banwarilal Purohit is clearly the man of the moment.
In the last two days, he had made extensive tour of Cyclone Gaja-hit districts, met people affected by the natural calamity and did an in-depth study of the damage – something which has not apparently been done even by elected representatives.
And his simple ways have won the hearts of the general public as people poured out their emotions when he met them Wednesday and Thursday, with immense hope that something would be done to wipe their tears, literally.
Velankanni, Poovaithedi, Kameswaram, Vilunthavadai, Pudupalli, Vettaikaraniruppu, Dadhan Thiruvasal, Kovilpathu, Vanan Mahadevi, Kallimedu, Thamaraipulam, Semmedai Vadakku and Kothakudi Therku are some of the villages he personally visited by road. And the list goes on .
He met victims at relief centres, gave a patient listening to their grievances, assured them that their needs would be meet, distributed relief materials, inspected houses and groves ravaged by the cyclone, interacted with officials, and instructed them to carry out relief works on a war-footing.
But this is not the first time Purohit had jumped into action. Right from the day he assumed charge, he has been trying to prove a point – that the Governor need not be confined to the sprawling Raj Bhavan alone.
Though his visits to districts attracted widespread criticism from the Opposition parties, nothing could stop him and he continued his official trips with even more enthusiasm by facing the black flag protests with a smile.
Wild allegations were made against him, and he rubbished everything with not just words, but in his action marked by maturity.
Transparency has been brought in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors to the universities of Tamilandu, expenses of Raj Bhavan have been cut by a massive 80 per cent (Purohit travels by road, train or economy class while flying) and the first citizen of the State is easily approachable by everyone.
His critics have now been silenced, as they hardly find anything wrong to say against him. In other words, Purohit has taken the wind out of the sails of the opposition and is continuing his voyage.