Uthapuram has been in the news for all wrong reasons ever since the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front made public in 2008 the existence of a ‘Wall of Untouchability’ in the village denying the Dalits access to a common pathway.
Subsequently, the then Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, ordered the demolition of the 150-metre-stretch of the long wall in May 2008. But the rights of the Dalits (over 400 families) over the worship at the Muthalamman Mariamman Temple, managed by the caste Hindus (400 families of two castes), has remained a bone of contention till date.
After several rounds of talks and legal struggle, the Dalits entered the temple for the first time after two decades in November 2011. Later, they took part in the temple consecration in 2012.
The Dalits have been demanding the right to worship the Pipal tree on the temple premises. This was raised even during a peace meeting organised by the district administration a few days ago.
The temple remained locked for 18 months due to internal squabble among the caste Hindus. But, when the caste Hindus realised that if they could not celebrate the festival for the second consecutive year, they faced the threat of losing the idol being given by the organisers in Elumalai. Though they agreed to allow the Dalits to offer worship in the temple on Wednesday, their objection to the Dalits worshiping the tree has triggered fresh conflict.
