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(ESTD 1982)

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GUEST PAPER*

 

A SC Dalit Community in TN

 

Dalits in K Velayuthapuram have opened this tea shop to beat the economic blockade imposed by caste Hindus.  They have named it "Samathuvam", which means equality.


ARUNTHATHIYARS constitute, one of the three major social groups amongst the Dalits in Tamil Nadu, the other two being `Parayars' and `Pallars'.  Although the Arunthathiyars are present in almost all Districts, their concentration is relatively high in the Western Districts of Coimbatore, Erode and Namakkal.  Brought into the State, five Centuries ago, mainly as Warriors by the Nayaks from the Vijayanagar Empire, a substantial number of Arunthathiyars, who speak either Telugu or Kannada, work today sadly as menial servants, or as sanitary workers employed by the local bodies.  Most others in the Community, are Agricultural Workers.


Just like the other sections of Dalits, they are segregated and required to do odd jobs, such as burying the dead cattle and digging graves.  Worse, the Arunthathiyars, particularly their women, have been compelled for Centuries, to do the humiliating jobs of removing human excreta and cleaning dry latrines, which still exist in large numbers despite an official ban.  Like many other Laws relating to the Dalits, the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993, remain only on Paper.  In fact ask people, and even many authorities!  These Laws, for them and as far as they are concerned, don’t even exist on Paper.  They will refuse that any such Laws exist!  For, they are so ignorant that they don’t even know them or their existence.  If they by chance Knew, they will refuse to accept that they do exist!  What they don’t know, and what they refuse to Accept, doesn’t exist at all for them.  Arunthathiyars often complain of ill-treatment by not only caste Hindus, but also other sections of Dalits.  Arunthathiyars are thus, apparently, are the worst victims of Untouchability.


Even in areas where they are said to be better off, such as in Western Tamil Nadu, the Arunthathiyars silently suffer Untouchability in its myriad forms – for instance, denial of access to common water sources, public roads and temples, shops and schools.  Seldom do they protest their humiliation.  Even the Dalit assertion in the 1990s, due to the Celebrations of the Birth Centenary of Dr BR Ambedkar, apparently made little impact on their situation.  Bezwada Wilson of Andhra Pradesh, who led a spirited campaign for a Central Government Ban on manual scavenging, said: "The pity is also that, we Safai Karamcharis, manual Scavengers did not accept Baba Saheb Ambedkar as our Leader, when he thundered that this occupation should not be glorified as Gandhi did, but banned with immediate effect.  Divided within ourselves, we did not use the Momentum of the rest of the Dalit Movements to further our cause."


Many Pallars in Southern Tamil Nadu, and the Parayars in the Northern Districts have become aware of their Rights and Privileges, thanks to their Access to Education.  However, Arunthathiyars remain backward, in every respect.  Only in recent times, have there been attempts by the Dalit Activists, as they wake up and themselves get liberated, to organise the Arunthathiyars.


The first major Protest by Arunthathiyars, was their boycott of elections to the Lok Sabha in 2002 at Kalapatti Village in the Coimbatore District, in protest against the Government's Failure, to concede their long-pending demands, including permission to enter the temple.  Neither the caste hindu elders, nor the leaders of the political parties, including those of the Sangh Parivar who had often used Arunthathiyars as cannon fodder, supported them in their struggle.


In fact Violence, was let loose on the protesting Arunthathiyars, by a 200-strong mob.  More than 100 of their houses were ransacked and their belongings damaged.  Many huts were burnt down.  Nearly 15 persons were seriously injured in the attack.  The Assailants also destroyed University Certificates of many Arunthathiyar Youth.  Police Assistance, as usual came very late, though a Police Station was less than 7 kms away from the trouble spot .

 

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Note :

 

*  An Article from the Magazine Frontline, dtd 20th July 2004.

 

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