The criminal tribe. The kind of crimes committed., that's not much important. What matters is, the temperament of people those days, and the remnants of it that we see in this contemporary society. At least, that's what I understood very well after completing the book.
Veyanna, the clan leader arrives to Komboodhi, a village which continues to haunt people around because of the nature of its people's occupation. Robbing wealth from the rich, killing anyone who opposes or comes in their way, living a life only to rob and have food and not hoarding up the riches shows the innocence and ignorance go hand in hand pitifully. The caste discrimination against the working clan by the business clan, and the way they deceive to set a trap, misusing the trust to make something happen and going to a disgusting extent just to prevent Veyanna and his clan from disowning robbery as their occupation, brought indignation to me, as exactly planned by the Author.
The book revolves around three villages mainly, and the British police. The way of describing the villages, the animals and birds, the river and its shore, the huts and their thatches, the weapons, toddy and meat, their clan deity and the relation to their clan occupation helps us to picturize the old Madras presidency back in 20th century. The kallars or the thief clan stays etched in mind even after putting down the book and letting some tears to escape. The weapons and equipment to steal, the use of a lapwing bird(aalkaati kuruvi) to identify the presence of men, and the valor of the men to avenge an injustice guarantee goosebumps. The women those days, the way they smack a police upside down, surprised me and even gave me temporary crushes on them.
Overall, a good read. Worth the time spent and a saddening tour back a century.