R.K.Laxman has his Common Man and I have my Olduchapusami (affectionately called Old Chap). He represents the man about the streets in Tamilnadu. His attire, consisting of a veshti tucked up above the knees (revealing the striped drawers beneath) and shirt and uppercloth in garish colours, has become more of a fancy-dress costume. In his age, wearing dark goggles was a status symbol and men in all walks of life flaunted them -- music directors, politicians, etc. Old habits die hard: he still wears his dark glasses and  removes them only at nightfall, for it gives him protection from the merciless sun -- a protection he badly requires since he is always on the move.

 

Unlike the Common Man whose brooding over life reflects in his gloomy countenance, Old Chap is still chirpy as ever and is always ready with his "Vanakkams," flashing that cheshire-cat grin. But it is surprising his teeth look pearly white for he is addicted to chewing pan and loves to spit at the corners of government buildings. The ejected mass follows a neat parabolic trajectory which he has perfected with considerable effort so that it makes the biggest possible stain on the walls.