Our heads must hang in shame over the shocking spurt in crimes against Dalits in Tamilnadu which finds its genesis in an archaic patriarchal structure. Mere words cannot adequately convey the outrage over the medieval act of vengeance carried out in the heart of Tamilnadu where the three Dalit villages were set on fire by a mob of upper-caste men merely because an upper-caste boy eloped with a relatively upper caste girl. The grossly disproportionate reaction was evidently inspired by caste considerations and wounded pride. While the armed mob went on the rampage and set the thatched tenements on fire, most people managed to escape but their certificates, property documents and valuables were destroyed. In yet another incident that occurred in Marakkanam village of Villupuram dalits were targeted by the dominant caste groups who were on their way to Mammallapuram. In all these cases of endemic violence, the sharp reaction against the political ascendancy of dalits is visible. These shameful incidents show up the weaknesses of both the administration and civil society. The administration clearly had no clue about the simmering tension in these villages or about the immediate provocation. The Pattali Makkal Katchi and the civil society too cannot be absolved of their responsibility. The absence of any restraining influence and lack of sane advice reflect poorly on the dominant community mobs as they torch the state owned buses and government properties. Growing assertiveness of the dalits following their political and economic empowerment, and the corresponding loss of clout of the upper-castes, seem to be at the root of the conflict. In all acts of mob violence, it is certainly difficult to judge the specific role played by individuals and apportion responsibility. Most perpetrators take advantage of this lacuna to claim innocence and get off lightly. Justice, however, demands exemplary and swift punishment to the entire group because any delay or prevarication would continue to encourage unruly mobs to take the law into their own hands.
Caste-based atrocities in Tamilnadu are in a sharp contrast to both its anti-Brahmanical Dravidian politics and its rapid pace of modernisation and urbanisation. It is a fact that the increasing empowerment of Dalits has not been liked and approved of by the dominant castes in the villages. In the recent years, attacks on Dalits have increased manifold. Dalits are not given their due share after centuries of oppression and that has led to growing resentment. The growing impatience of dominant caste groups to corner maximum benefits further sharpened the contestation of power. The feudal tendency with a patriarchal mind- set has seen resurrection of traditional Khap panchayats. The young boys and girls going for the marriage of their own choice have invited the ire of the traditional custodians of caste pride. Both communities are asserting their cultural identities and space. A major reason for the unabated atrocities on Dalits is that the ruling and major Opposition parties in Tamilnadu are dominated by the landowning upper castes who have kept mum on the atrocious diktats of the kangaroo courts. In addition to the apathetic approach of the political parties, the strong caste divide among the Scheduled Castes has weakened their resistance to fight the age-old repression by the dominating caste forces. The vote bank politics does not allow the state to take strong measures against the violence unleashed by the dominant castes. The soft pedaling of issues and constant desire to appease different sections allow the people to regroup along the caste lines. These issues have further eroded a situation of caste and communal harmony in Tamilnadu. Despite the fact that India has some substantial laws to check crime against Dalits, the unchanging feudal mindset of people and the lack of political will to implement the laws have not yet been able to liberate dalits from caste based atrocities. Instead of treating the Dalits as mere vote banks, the political parties should try to inculcate traits of neutrality, accountability, responsibility and humanity in its infrastructure. Also, the Dalits should be merged with the mainstream. The inflammatory statements of Dr. Ramadoss and his party men are tantamount to sedition. Dr. Ramadoss should be tried in a court of law and the election commission should ban his party. If no immediate preventive steps are taken, the downtrodden section of society would continue to suffer. How long will Dalits put up with humiliation and injustice?
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