In an India that is fractured along caste lines, a marriage is never the simple establishment of a relationship between two independent, adult individuals. Instead, it can involve not only the two families, but whole communities as well. An inter-caste marriage without parental approval is, therefore, a potential trigger for violence in rural India. The caste group that is relatively higher in the social hierarchy sees any such marriage as a social affront, especially if the other caste group is Dalit. Wednesday’s attack on three Dalit colonies in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, which ended in the burning down of 268 houses, is another shocking instance of how social stigmas engendered by caste identities can provoke large-scale violence. The arson was the immediate fallout of the suicide of a caste Hindu man whose daughter had married a Dalit living in one of the colonies. Apparently unable to accept his daughter’s decision to marry a Dalit, the man opted to end his life. For a bride’s family, especially if it is higher in the caste ladder, the socially-sanctioned stigma associated with an inter-caste marriage is greater. Women carry a far heavier responsibility of having to protect the “family honour”, which is a euphemism for the feudal notions of social status and acceptance held by the senior male members of the family. Indeed, the prevalence of such notions is an indicator of the secondary status accorded to women in these communities.
Worryingly, in rural Tamil Nadu where caste conflicts over marriages, religious rituals or access to public resources are common, the police were slow to sense the potential for trouble. A few days before the violence, the newly wedded couple had approached the police for protection fearing attacks by members of the bride’s community. Other than providing assurances and holding out promises, the police seem to have taken no preventive steps. A self-styled court in the village ordered the Dalit man to send his wife back to her parents, but the woman refused to leave her husband. This should have alerted the police to the possibility of trouble. Although the suicide, the immediate trigger for the attack, could not have been predicted or prevented, the police had adequate reason to apprehend the tensions and ample time to take precautionary steps. The only reason that none in the Dalit colonies suffered any bodily harm is that all the residents had left their homes and taken shelter in another village. Social stigmas and caste inequalities cannot be wiped out overnight, but surely the law enforcers can show greater anticipation and quicker reflexes in familiar situations that give rise to tensions between caste groups.
Keywords: Dharmapuri, inter-caste marriage, social tensions, Dharmapuri violence, Dalits, family honour
Religion is the basic cause for caste. Now religious feeling is in top. Temples / Churches / Mosques / etc are overflooding with people. We forget the ideals required for our society, developed by the rationalists. The caste is used more for politics, rather than social upliftment. Even if the god exists or comes before us, we will try to make money out of it. We are ready to flex with any calamity to take personal advantage out of it. Person involved in Religious Affairs are making best advantage of their position and amasing wealth. If at all god is there why so much downtrodden section should exist even after several thousands of years of civilisation. Religion is the key causing all such incidents. Let us get rid of it.
Why does The Hindu publish shallow, inflammatory editorials opening with the classic flame-bait of "In an India that is fractured along caste lines...", designed to extract Pavlovian responses from the predictable agenda-driven, or pseudo-secular-addled respondents?
A relevant point that should be kept in mind is that police personnel
are also a part of the same society and are not free from its biases.
In my opinion, one area of focus should be education of police
regarding the handling of socially tense situations in the regions
where such happenings are common. If adequate strictness is followed,
it shall lead to reduction in number of such instances and gradual
societal acceptance.
The incident is shocking and shameful. Though everyone knows that caste-ism has deep roots among us and is strongly prevalent. Years of propaganda against untouchability has made little progress. Every
religion has its own upper and lower sections and have been promoting
divisions. It is a fact that the man should change to bring about a
change in the society. But, that does not mean that Government
machinery should remain a mute spectator till the change in mindset
comes about. Proper education, serious campaign against honour
killings and atrocities committed in the name of family honour, stern
action against the perpetrators riots on communal lines and strict
imposition of law and order whenever trouble is around the corner are
the need of the hour. Unless our society, as a whole, does not wake
up to the reality, the future will see such inhuman and barbaric
incidents regularly.
All concerned Police Officials who did not take appropriate action have to be punished for not doing their duty properly and should be dismissed immediately. This is equivalent to many Indian Army men surrendered to Chinese without giving a fight. 250 Policemen were present when the mob ransacked the Villages. If these 250 men were true Policemen to their heart and by law of India and any International professional standard should have fought back against the Mob even if it is big. Even in the fight if these 250 Policemen were dead, we could have proudly saluted these Policemen.
Just look at the matrimonial ads appearing in all the media. Caste-
based classification is there. It is not that a particular community
look with contempt on the other. I believe from the parents'
perspective, it is a protective instinct that comes in the way of
their decision making. It's a kind of mind-set and it may take some
more generations to settle down. Compared to previous decades, say in
1940s or 1950s, inter-caste marriages have become common, even in
South Indian States. Contrary to popular belief, there is no
"agraharam" per se or a Dalit Colony for that matter in most of the TN
villages. It is true that like-minded people who identify a common
platform in their social, cultural and religious part of their life
wish to live in groups even in metropolitan cities. Be happy, "Caste"
is disappearing slowly.
When you talk about a "caste Hindu " why do you not mention which caste
that is ? Many people jump to the conclusion that Brahmins are involved
- re the "agraharam mentality " - if you can say Dalits were one of the
two parties, please be honest and name the other caste too.
That said, it is time people allow marriage to be a private and personal
matter, and let couples be , whether it is in Tamil Nadu or Haryana.
If you go deep into the issue, it is not all caste Hindus who take
laws in their own hands.
Analyse all the issues case by case basis.
There will be a pattern to it.
People who have no concern for Ahimsa and Dharma act in such a brutal
manner.
The Political ruin we are witnessing post Independence and Caste based
politics which are more pronounced in Tamil Nadu, add to the woes.
The very edifice with which Dravidian movement has sprung could not
eradicate this malice, on the contrary it has helped in fanning issues
by dividing and sub-dividing the castes and thereby distancing and
discriminating people on caste basis.
Light at the end of the Tunnel is too far ahead.
Mass illiteracy and lack of employment opportunity and exploitation by
the Political people to their advantage has to be eradicated to
address these issues.
Corruption which has been deeply routed in the system and society
plays another important role in the rot of the society.
Money can stoop to any level without moral.
Though the agraharam might have been vanished but its evil creation the
caste system still exists. It is true that it may take many centuries to
eradicate this sickness which has deeply anchored in our DNA.
The north and the south stand united in this respect of discrimination
with exemplary commitment. It is high time we get rid of this garbage of
casteism, imposed upon us by a historic systemic blunder!
I viewed this matter as a problem with religion.
A religion which doesnt treat all of its followers in an equal manner.
A religion which doesnt give all opportunities to all of its followers.
If these two things are there in any religion, there is no way for such kind of brutality.
Otherwise these kinds of issues will continue and we have to write this kind of editorials often in future.
Are not EVR and Annadurai supposed to have abolished the caste system in TN by means
of "rationalism" ?
Dear Mr.Editor,
'...Apparently unable to accept his daughter’s decision to marry a Dalit, the man
opted to end his life...'
Your news item gave the impression that much time had elapsed after the marriage
and that the Kangaroo court's command had led to his suicide. Your news item also
mentioned the bride's father committing suicide.
Otherwise, your editorial is commendable.
May I raise a basic question?
What makes this outrageous prejudice stick, among the post-Independence
generations?
Flawed Schooling?
A well analyzed editorial. Does the police in Tamilnadu know the pulse of the social set up in every region?
During the Thiraavida movements& their rule of 60 years " agraharam is vanished" but the fact is colony in each village has not merged with the caste hindus area,two tumbler system is very much in vogue in villages,no admission of colony people into the village temples/common wells,denial of colony people to participate in temple festivals is widely prevalent.Practically caste hindus are very abhorrent& hatred towards SC/STS ie.colony people.caste hindus want &accept inter-caste marriages between them&brahmins but not at all willing between them&colony people,a naked reality.This shows they are caste fanatics.
Viewed strictly from a law and order perspective your editorial makes perfect sense. But isn't
the larger issue one of caste based divisions allowed to linger in the first place? In what way
does the caste system embellish our religion? I would love to see the day when the main
seers and religious leaders take this issue on.
Inter-caste marriages between a dalit man and a woman belonging to any
other community -usually regarded a "step higher" in social hierarchy-
cause consternation to close relatives of the bride side. They are so
much enraged they go to the extent of killing the bride. Surprisingly
union between a dalit woman and a man belonging to any other caste
does not create a ripple. Married persons belonging to the so called
"higher castes" have sexual liaisons with dalit women without anyone
from their own community condemning it. Education is the only thing
that will bring slow mental changes. Politicians play some role in
creating ill will among the community members for their own games.
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