CHENNAI, AUG 20: Why does Veerappan, the man with 130 scalps to his name, want to surrender? Is he mentally drained? Or physically exhausted? Or both?Dr M Thirunavukkarasu, psychiatrist at the Madras Medical College and the Government General Hospital believes, ``The man is exhausted''.

``He may have the courage but physically, he is a spent force. He might have perhaps begun to hate his isolation from the social process.'' Agrees Dr K V Kaliappan, Professor and Head of the Department of Psychology, Madras University. ``It seems, he cannot withstand the pressure of the law anymore. Age may be a factor, as also the fact that the first ring of security around him (read those close to him), has been relentlessly broken down.''

Dr S Karunanidhi, Reader in the Madras Varsity's Psychology Department believes that the decision of the man who defied the police force of two States for two decades and unleashed nameless terror in the Western Ghats, is only a case of `learned helplessness'.

``This is a technical term we use to say that he has been deprived of all his resources and psychological support from people around him.''

Dr Karunanidhi admits that it could also be a case of `fear of failure' syndrome, due to his advanced age, and the consequent physical disability.Dr Karunanidhi, however, does not doubt Veerappan's mental abilities.``One thing is for sure, the man's intellectual capacity is far above average. It is obvious that he regularly reads newspapers and listens to the radio. And, to have had a large and loyal following, he must be both intelligent and charismatic,'' he says.

Dr Karunanidhi who too comes from Salem, close to the jungle terrain which Veerappan rules, says he knows a few of Veerappan's class mates. ``They are well-placed in life now. One of them is now a Government statistical officer. From what I have gleaned during casual conversations with them, Veerappan has had no history of anti-social behaviour during his youth.''

The psychologists are also impressed by Veerappan's concern for his family and followers, and will not like to call him a psychopath. Says Dr Kaliappan, ``The very core features of a psychopath is selfishness, total indifference to people, no emotional attachment and no guilt feelings. In the case of Veerappan, it is obvious that the man has emotional attachments.''

They explain the streak of ruthlessness in Veerappan thus: ``The police were ruthless to his followers, so he appears to have returned the compliment.''

Dr Kalippan says that Veerappan -- by not killing his hostages -- was only trying to add credibility to his image of a do-gooder and a modern-day Robin Hood. Also, ``he could not afford to kill them and destroy whatever public sympathy he may have gained.''

Psychologists feel that the role played by R R Gopal, Government emissary and editor of Nakkeeran, must have had a positive impact on Veerappan's mindset. ``Gopal must have counselled him and opened to him, other powerful avenues. By meeting him so often, he could have softened the hardened criminal. Most important, Gopal must have shown him that things can be achieved even by being good.''

``What can Veerappan achieve by being a dead hero like the legendary Mamootiyan? By surrendering, there is a very good chance that he can beat the very politicians who might have been responsible for creating him and achieve what Phoolan Devi did,'' says Dr Thirunavukkarasu.

(A bandit like Veerappan, Mamootiyan also roamed the Western Ghat forests, spelling terror in the 1940s. But finally, Mamootiyan was shot dead by his concubine's brother, who was taught to shoot by the police, with a specific intent to trap the villain.)

Most of all, there is that common belief that even the most-hardened criminals want to reform. Says Dr Kliappan, ``Similarly, there are some criminals who can never be reformed. We can only hazard a guess as to which category Veerappan belongs to. What is certain is that the man is intelligent and capable. What fate has in store for him, only time and politicians can say.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.