Those who dare to violate the ‘ban' face abuse, threats from caste Hindus
After several years of struggle and agitation, the Dalits of Perali village in Perambalur district say they continue to face discrimination at the hands of caste Hindus.
They still cannot ride a bicycle on streets where upper caste members reside. Those who dare to violate the ‘ban' face abuse and threats.
In 2002, the All India Democratic Women's Association organised an agitation in the village, forcing the district administration to intervene. A group of Dalit boys and girls cycled along the upper caste streets under the supervision of Revenue officials. The freedom was short-lived.
Dalits students of the Government Higher Secondary School in the village still cannot take the upper caste streets though it is a shorter, safe route.
They have get down from the bicycle and push it or go via the busy Perambalur-Ariyalur High Road , says 49-year-old N. Ayyakannu, a real estate broker. Even the postmaster, a Dalit, cannot ride his bicycle on the upper caste streets.
“After all the representations and agitations many of us are fed up and have come to the conclusion that things will not change,” he says.
Dalits constitute a minority in the village.
Many among them have to work as agricultural labourers for the affluent and dominant caste Hindus and can hardly afford to go against the wishes of their employers.
Dalits are not allowed to enter the temple on the upper caste street, says Mr. Ayyakannu.
‘The two-tumbler system' is prevalent in some of the tea shops, says Arumugam, a 70-year-old agricultural labourer. “The system is followed except in two shops. We cannot even sit as equals with caste Hindus on the benches at the tea shops.”
Though the village has a library, Dalit youth can only sit on the floor, says Suresh, a Dalit boy.
Charge denied
K. Padaikathu, president of the village panchayat, who belongs to the upper caste community, denied there was any ban on Dalits cycling through the upper caste streets.
When probed further, he conceded that there could be a few minor issues, but maintained there were no major problems in the village.
“Such problems were there some years back when I was young. But now, we co-exist peacefully.”
Asked about Dalits being denied admission to the temple, Mr.Padaikathu said there were separate temples in upper caste and Dalit streets and there was agreement that the two communities would worship separately.
Keywords: Perali village, Dalits, social issue
Such a crude behavior habituated by these caste hindu which is beyond of imagination for a simple untouchable man who difficult to survive his day today life. But hostile situation like this make them more mental and physical inferior than a human being. It is high time to destroy the caste and religion which assist such kind of activities and live it alive. Let us do campaign against these inhuman activities and punish them who make people the follow.
Sir it is true that the dalits face a lot of problems in the remote villages but the fact is that the dalits in the so called civilized society too face problems in other manner in universities people whose cut off marks is lower than the other students then he will be known to everybody as he is a dalit and then the treatment will be different even the proffessors do not voluentrily take dalit students for their phd or research works so the descriminations prevails every where but in their peculiear form whom to be blamed. If there is an option the dalit people really worship to the god that dont give the birth in the community what to do ...
I think to some extent even lower castes (Dalits) are also responsible for this situation. If they would have revolted and fought against, then situation would have been different. It is so disgraceful to read this news that I feel ashamed to be an Indian when foreigners ask about Castism. They say it is worst than slavery as the salves were given good food and clothes at least where as in India even the graveyards are according to higher or lower castes.
Why whole of India is focused on Anna Hazare's movement when it could not solve the basic problem of suppression and exploitation of lower castes?Backward and Scheduled castes comprise more than 70% of Indian population according to statistics. Just imagine if all lower castes revolt... These castists so called higher castes would have no place to hide. Remember Russian Revolution!I congratulate The Hindu newspaper to bring stories like this as Indian media has not played it's responsible role in eliminating this curse on India.
Why the west says India is one of the third world contries, here is one of the many authentic proofs. People in these countries can't even think what they do is wrong. Nothing to wonder, there are places where these kind of act happenning everyday in India, and the media never bring them to light. Thanks "The Hindu" for publishing the article.
Everyone reading this in English are the educated lot. Think for a moment, how you would feel if you are treated in the place where you live and asked to walk and not to ride a bicycle. Please raise your voice to give equal rights for these people...
What a shame! At this time and age, we are still struggling with fundamental human rights issues. This totally undermines the contribution of people like Thanthai Periyar. It is time that the Government steps in and put an end to all this discrimination. I feel sorry for the people who live there and today is one of those days I feel ashamed to call myself a Tamilian and an Indian. Unless the punishment is severe for discrimination in any name, these practices will go on. I hope and pray that this Evil will be eradicated from our great country.
What is the use of Politics without protection to dalit people? In the name of Dravidian many political parties are here, but they are not involving in this issue.
The President of village panchayat first denies there is any discrimination when asked about cycling issue -- but later contradicts himself on worship in temples. The so-called peaceful existence that he talks about is nothing but a directive to the dalits that they rather suffer silently than 'disturb' their peace and face the consequences.
How difficult must be the situation for dalits especially the school children who have to wake up daily to the reality that they are not equal in a nation which claims equality to all its citizens -- they cannot live with dignity be it in the library or while cycling in streets. And these people are helpless because of their dependence on the caste Hindus for daily wages.
Rabindranath Tagore's great work 'Where The Mind Is Without Fear' is still not a reality even after decades of Independence to this country. The Govt must first book cases against the village panchayat and then provide free land to the dalits.
We Indians should really start building an Indian Nation i.e. Bharat. Japan was destroyed in second world war. The samurai people gave up their privileges and worked together with Baraku to build a new Japan. White Americans gave up their privileges and honestly implemented Affirmative action and in true sense showed the world a spirit of Humanity.
We Indians must realize that since more than 3000yrs we are privileged,now we have to build up Indian Nation so we must give up all our privileges.
Dalits are not allowed to cycle, Dalits can't keep male dogs or male cats... the list is too long. When will Tamil Nadu emerge from the shadows of this? It is shameful that a state that prides itself in it's Dravidian heritage should come to this. How many more 'Dravidian' parties should the state give birth to before it purges itself of such apartheid? Punitive actions and state interventions are non negotiable for such blatant negation of the constitution.
When people speak about dalits they merely speak of 'reservation' but I think its time people woke up and realized the kind of discrimination that takes place even today! This is a community that has been supressed for over 1000 years by upper caste Hindus and its disgusting that the same continues even today. Such casteist people need to be thrown behind bars and taught a lesson so that they dont indulge in these practices any more. This kind of discrimination and seggregation of dalits and minorities will only break and divide the country even more. And people when you speak of dalits please realize there is more than just the issue of 'reservation' and that is the discrimination these people go through even today which is inhuman & downright 'unfair' !!!
Shame on such a castiest people that even in 21st century they are discriminating on the name of caste. Where are the people hiding themselves who were shouting so loudly against the corruption? Casteism is another form of corruption but Indians and media don't have time to speak against this? Why?
It is stigma for our society and a matter of concern that this type of phenomena still occur. It is need of an hour for us and our civil society to come up and protest for such inhuman misdemeanor. We are proudly saying we are living in post modern society but such incident takes us back to barbaric stereotypical society.
Govt should take action against them(upper caste people) who discriminate dalit people.
I am shocked and apalled that a human being can be treated this way in this age, even though I belong to a upper caste I think no human should be divided into different sects.
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