25 years on, the embers of social inequalities remain in Tamil Nadu

Installation of a Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar statue at Kandamanur in Theni, and the government’s decision to name a transport corporation after Veeran Sundaralingam, an early rebel against the British Raj, sparked the violence

Twenty-five years have elapsed since the DMK government, of M. Karunanidhi, decided to rename districts and transport corporations to make them sound caste-neutral. The decision was taken when parts of southern districts, especially those falling under the present limits of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Theni and Virudhunagar districts, were rocked by caste clashes. Among the reasons for the violence were the installation of a statue of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar at Kandamanur in Theni, and the government’s decision to name a transport corporation after Veeran Sundaralingam, an early rebel against the British Raj.

A look at the events, especially social dynamics over the years, reveals some bright spots. However, much remains to be done if the recent incident of refusal to sell snacks to children belonging to the Scheduled Castes at Panjankulam in Tenkasi district is any indication.

In one of the September 1997 issues of Economic and Political Weekly, K.A. Manikumar, former professor of history, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, highlighted the discrimination of the Scheduled Castes by an intermediary caste (Maravar, a constituent of the broader Mukklathor community). He had mentioned that in many villages, the Scheduled Castes had no access to “Maravar streets”. They were not permitted to use the cement benches at bus stops, apart from having no approach road to their cremation grounds.

The historian concedes that the situation, as portrayed by him 25 years ago, does not exist now. “But I won’t call it an improvement, as the Maravars have reconciled themselves to the reality of co-existence.”

Arul Rajesh, president of the Muthukkapatti village panchayat in Namakkal district, is in his early 40s. He has vivid memories of how people of his community conducted themselves a quarter century ago. “The men were into illicit brewing until 2000. Thanks to the government’s strong measures against our traditional practice, they gave it up. However, the problem of addiction to drinking remains in my community,” says Mr. Rajesh, who belongs to Devendra Kula Vellalar, a Scheduled Caste.

For him, the government has to pay more attention to changing the social profile of students of the government schools. “In many of these schools in rural areas, a major chunk of the students belongs to the Scheduled Castes. To certain extent, children of the MBCs are there. Upper castes do not send their children to these schools. This has to change. At least, the government can direct its officials to admit their children to these schools.”

G. Balasubramanian, Tiruvarur district panchayat chairperson, who belongs to the Mukkulathor community (Kallar), believes rural local bodies can play a crucial role in tackling the problem of discrimination and ensuring social cohesion. “Village panchayat presidents need to be imaginative and enterprising. Such persons can make a qualitative difference at the grass-roots.”