When victims of caste violence came face to face

Resilient Gowsalya Shankar meets Divya, who is yet to emerge from the trauma of her husband’s death

Bonding together: Divya and Gowsalya of Tamil Nadu, who lost their husbands to casteist elements.

Both are victims of casteism. Both paid a heavy price for marrying Dalits. While Divya, whose husband Ilavarasan allegedly committed suicide in July 2013, remains a taciturn victim, Gowsalya, whose husband Shankar was murdered in front of her, has emerged an icon for those who resist casteism.

On April 14, she went to Dharmapuri and met Divya, whom she called ‘comrade.’

“Even though she has the courage to fight against the horrid incident, she is not able to speak,” Ms. Gowsalya posted on Facebook.

“A few days ago, I went to Dharmapuri in connection with an event against honour killing. I took the opportunity to meet her,” said Ms. Gowsalya, working temporarily for a Central government organisation and participating in events to campaign against casteism and honour killings. Ms. Gowsalya, who addresses her friends as comrade, said Ms. Divya was attending college. Her mother was with her, she said.

“She is not going anywhere. Her neighbours are watching every movement of hers.

“If she sports a tilak (vermilion), they ridicule her saying she has forgotten everything. But she is going through agonising moments,” said Ms. Gowsalya.

An example to emulate

She has already fulfilled her husband Shankar’s dream — constructing a house in his native Kumaralingam and providing education to his two younger siblings.

“Her case became an example for those who fight against injustice. Normally in a case registered under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, a woman gets ₹5,000 as pension. In Gowsalya’s case, we were able to get ₹ 11,600. All the accused continue to remain in jail. Moreover, the government constituted a team of advocates to run the case,” said Kathir, executive director of Evidence, the organisation that adopted her.

Ms. Gowsalya said Ms. Divya was not aware of the happenings outside.

“I asked her how she could remain normal. She told me she could not forget the memories of a person whom she loved. Some people had deliberately hidden her from society,” Ms. Gowsalya has recorded.