A section of Dalits of Pazhag Kallimedu has reiterated its decision to convert to Islam if the State government failed to get them the right to host mandagapadi of Sri Badrakaliamman Temple, even as talks initiated by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment (HR&CE) and Revenue officials to end the stalemate remained inconclusive on Friday.
At an urgent meeting held on Thursday night, a section of Dalits of the village near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district decided to stick to their stand.
N. Pakkirisamy, village head of the Dalit hamlet, a part of Kallimedu revenue panchayat, presided over the meeting.
The meet was held a few hours after the officials held talks with caste Hindus and Dalits at Sri Badrakaliamman Temple. The talks did not make any headway.
While stating that their struggle had reached an important stage, K. Tamil Selvam, a representative of the Dalits, told The Hindu that the caste Hindus were unwilling to give Dalits the privilege to host mandagapadi (sponsoring a day’s event) even for a day during the five-day festival.
“When they (caste Hindus) have the right to host mandagapadi for three days, why can’t they allow Dalits to host the event for one day? Officials are not offering any concrete solution,” he alleged. The villagers (Dalits) were not in a mood to give up the struggle against the discrimination.
The Joint Commissioner of HR&CE Department, Kumaradurai, held a meeting with a group of representatives of Dalits to find a solution in Thanjavur on Friday.
It was said a few suggestions were floated by the officials to end the stalemate. On their side, the Dalits presented a formal petition to the HR&CE Department officials, seeking the right for mandagapadi .
Senthil Kumar, union secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, said the residents of Pazhag Kallimedu were not in a mood to agree to half-a-day mandagapadi.
Nagapattinam Collector S. Palanisamy told The Hindu that the Dalits demanded that the processional deity should be taken to their hamlet and it was agreed by all stakeholders.
However, this year, they had staked claim to the right for mandagapadi and consultations were on.
Meanwhile, official sources indicated that the Minister for Handlooms and Textiles O.S. Manian was likely to hold talks with the people of the village on Saturday.
