The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Dalits' plight

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Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Dalits' plight

This refers to the editorial, `Quitters don't win, but winners do quit' (April 30), on the panchayat elections in Keeripatti. Last year, four of us from the Asian College of Journalism visited Pappapatti, Keeripatti and Nattarmangalam as part of the "Covering Deprivation" course. We focussed on Dalit issues. It was unbelievable the way the Dalits quivered in fear at the very mention of the word Thevar. The situation in all the three constituencies was similar. A Dalit got wild when asked about his experience in filing an application to contest the panchayat elections. His relatives shooed us away saying, "he's not well, leave him alone." He was beaten up by "upper castes", others told us later. From wages to access to basic requirements such as water and education, if there is one thing the Dalits are familiar with, it is denial. They hate the camera, the hate the media for they think we are capable of nothing but asking questions that will only fetch them more trouble. May be, they are right!

Meera Srinivasan,
Chennai

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