Dalits fear backlash in TN

By A.R. MEYYAMMAI

Uthapuram (Madurai), May 8: The opening of the Uthapuram caste wall has led to the consolidation of various caste Hindu groups in these highly sensitive villages of Usilamapatti block in Madurai and other southern districts of Tamil Nadu, causing bouts of fear psychosis in dalit colonies. The dalits here fear backlashes.

The issue of discrimination in Uthapuram exposed by the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Committee of CPM, has hit the headlines at a time when the government is struggling to grapple with violent situations in the aftermath of desecration of statues and portraits of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar, Dr Ambedkar and Mutharayars at various places in southern districts.

The self imposed exile of Uthapuram Pillaimars has provided a solid platform for these caste Hindu groups, including the predominant Piramalai Kallars (a sub-sect of Mukkulathors), to showcase their solidarity against the Tamil Nadu government, which they claim is "partisan" in its approach to the people.

Self-styled caste leaders and groups have, in fact, provided not only food and water to the people of Uthapuram who "migrated" to the nearby hills in protest against the calculated attempts of a few political groups to "paint them evil," but also the moral support in their battle for restoring their "frayed pride."

On Thursday, the members of the Usilampatti-based All-India Forward Bloc, All-India Moovendar Munnani Kazhagam (AIMMK), Moovendar Munnetra Kazhagam and even the local BJP leader Pon Karunanidhi visited the Thalaiyuthu hills to tell the Pillaimaars that they are with them.

"Even after the desecration of Thevar statue, we maintained calm. After their attempts to instigate clash between Thevars and dalits failed, the vested interests are now targeting for a clash between Mutharayars and dalits and Pillaimaars and dalits. We expressed our solidarity to those Pillaimaars in the hills," said AIMMK leader Dr N. Sethuraman.

But the dalits in these caste-sensitive villages are living in fear of retribution. They are also very apprehensive that the ghosts of 1996 caste violence would return to haunt them. "We cannot stand another round of caste clashes. We have already lost many lives and properties." says a dalit youth.

More than 400 persons were killed in caste clashes that engulfed southern districts from 1996 to 1999.

The underlying thorny issue here is that almost all dalit households in the village have started showing signs of affluence. Many are land holders and the literacy rate among them also has shown a healthy improvement.