The Studies that are conducted by S.Viswanatha (Author of the book Dalits in Dravidian Land) and Hugo Gorringe (Author of Untouchable Citizens Dalit Movements and Democratisation in Tamil Nadu) is significant and noteworthy as far as Dalit politics in Tamil Nadu is concern. These studies brought out the Dalit situation in one of more modernized and progressive states in the country, Tamil Nadu. S.Viswanatha has chronicled the dimensions of the Dalit situation in the state and found that Dalits still are facing deprivations and discriminations in social and political arena.
The discriminations are not only in social life but also in political sphere. Often their right to vote is taken through violent means. For instance, during the 13th and 14th Lok Sabha elections in Cuddalore district, a strong vanniar strong hold, witnessed violence in which many places the Dalits were prevented from exercising their franchise or already their votes were polled by other caste Hindus. It is significant to note that the Election Commission has identified Cuddalore and Chidambaram Parliamentary constituencies has ‘highly sensitive’ constituencies and sent addition police force to conduct elections in 1999, 2004 and 2009 Parliament elections.
Reservation of posts in the three-tier Panchayat structure for women and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes is one of the major features of the Panchayati raj institutions that were put in place in 1996 under the Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act, 1994. Sections of caste Hindus, particularly in southern districts, known for frequent incidents of caste-related violence, have resented reservations for Dalits from the very beginning. In the four villages, where Dalits are in a minority and depend on caste Hindu landholders for their livelihood, various methods have adopted to stall the elections. First they prevented Dalits from filing nominations. Later, fearing the wrath of the administration, “community leaders” fielded Dalits of their choice as candidates, helped win, and then made them resign soon after assuming charge. This has been the case in Pappapatti. The caste Hindu standpoint was that a Dalit could not be accepted as the panchayat president. “If they become presidents, we may have to show respect to them in village festivals and public functions. This we cannot do” is the common refrain. No nominations were received in Pappatti, Keeripatti, Nattarmangalam and Kottakatchiyendal Panchayats from the President’s post in the 1996 elections. In the past, both districts have witnessed caste-related violence involving Dalits and Mukkulathor, the predominant caste Hindu community. The caste Hindu majority of the villages were intolerant of a Dalit heading their Panchayat and they warned Dalits heading their panchayat and they warned Dalits of serious consequences if they dared enter the fray. Apart from this, the murder of the Dalit president of the Melavalavu village panchayat in Madurai district within months of his election in 1996 also deterred Dalits in the four villages from taking part in the democratic process.
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Dr.P.SAKTHIVEL -
About the Author:
Associate Professor of Political Science Annamalai University Annamalai Nagar – 608 002 Tamil Nadu India
