Reclaiming porombokke: Who gets to shape the commons?
An upcoming event in Chennai, 'Porombokkiyal 2026', aims to redefine the concept of 'poromboke' or common land, shifting the focus from rural wastelands to urban shared spaces. The program explores how marginalized communities can reclaim and care for public resources like roads and parks.
Why it matters
The discussion challenges traditional perceptions of public land and highlights the importance of community-led urban development and social equity.
Eleven years ago, the land that now houses Dr Ambedkar Pagutharivu Padasalai, run by Vyasai Thozhargal in North Chennai’s Vyasarpadi, was a sewage-filled stretch of abandoned Government land. Through collective effort, it was transformed into a tuition centre providing free classes to mostly Dalit students in the neighbourhood.
For Sarath Kumar, founder, Vyasai Thozhargal, this story reflects the potential of poromboke — the common space.
“We are running a tuition centre on poromboke land, which is an abandoned Government land. There are many such lands in the neighbourhood. Using such spaces, especially in underprivileged areas, is essential for marginalised communities,” he says.
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