The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : A shame

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Friday, Apr 18, 2008
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A shame

Barely days after the celebration of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary comes the shocking report of a wall in the Uthapuram village of Madurai, erected by caste Hindus to prevent Dalits from entering the areas occupied by them. That such barbaric practices continue even 58 years after we abolished untouchability under Article 17 of the Constitution is shocking. Although political parties and organisations that espouse the Dalit cause have multiplied, the lot of Dalits has not improved much in India.

Only certain cases of atrocities against them come to light, and a majority suffers grave social injustice in silence. We hope the Tamil Nadu government will act swiftly to punish the culprits under the law and bring down the wall. The Hindu deserves praise for exposing the atrocity.

M.J. Ruben,

Chennai

* * *

It is a matter of shame that a 600-metre-long wall dividing a village has been in existence since 1990 and electricity was passed for the past 10 days through it using iron rods to keep Dalits away [The government has since cut off the electricity].

We have heard of the apartheid wall built by Israel to isolate Palestinians. It is shocking that a similar wall exists right here in our country.

It points to the insensitivity of the district administration to such a serious development. To deny a section of the people access to public utilities is a violation of their rights. The wall should be brought down immediately.

P. Venkatesh,

Salem

* * *

The wall of separation and the electrified wires that were running through it point to the extent of untouchability prevalent in villages. It is time the administration ensured the immediate demolition of the wall that symbolises social oppression.

C. Chandrasekaran,

Madurai

* * *

To describe the wall as shocking would be an understatement. While the wall by itself is humiliating, the fact that it was electrified to prevent Dalits from entering the caste Hindu areas at night is terrifying. We have heard of walls separating nations and of electrified fences put up for preventing wild animals from entering human habitats. But a wall to prevent people belonging to a caste from entering other parts of the village they live in is the most shameful occurrence in a country that calls itself a democracy. It is time the State machinery, political parties, the media and all organisations and individuals who believe in equality rose to fight the social evil.

E.M. Joseph,

Madurai

* * *

The report on the Uthapuram wall reveals more about the bitter fact of untouchability brought out in a recent survey conducted by our organisation — the Madurai unit of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TUEF). The wall is one of the serious forms of untouchability mentioned in our report. Of course, one could discover many more forms if one goes further deep into the issue, enlarging the scope and extent of the survey.

Our survey, which we cannot claim was very comprehensive, could ferret out as many as 47 forms of untouchability practised in the villages surveyed. Apart from the common forms such as denial of access to wells and ponds, passage for funeral processions of Dalits through the streets of caste Hindus, and entry into temples, there were reports of even postmen refusing to deliver letters to Dalit households. It may be surprising to know that even in observing the ‘two-tumbler’ system, there are seven ‘innovative’ forms. All these have been brought to the knowledge of the Madurai district administration.

Though the Uthapuram wall does find a place in our survey report, its electrification (during nights for the past 10 days) comes as a shock. Strict action should be taken before the situation acquires uglier dimensions.

K. Swaminathan,

Madurai

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