Tamil Nadu: 30 dalit families ostracized over ancestors’ ‘crimes’

TRICHY: A section of residents of Aruvakudi village in Manikandam union on Monday petitioned the district collector alleging that they have been ostracized by their village heads for the last 30 years. The villagers appealed to the district administration to help reunite the two groups ahead of the three-day annual temple festival beginning July 7 from which they are barred.
The villagers numbering about 60, including women and children, submitted a petition to the district collector during the grievance day meeting here. T Palaniswami, 59, who led the team, said that the then village heads ostracized a total of 30 families out of the 120 dalit families residing at Aruvakudi selectively. Their crime was that they had involved in some inauspicious act while performing rituals for the deity, Mariamman. The present village heads and trustees of the temple, S Sakthivel and S Thavasi, too have been sticking to the ban imposed by their forefathers, he said.
“Our family members are not called for any meeting to discuss any common issue. No tax is collected from us to conduct festival, sports events etc, for the last 30 years. They had never allowed us to participate in the rituals performed during the annual festival of Mariamman temple, though we are not barred from entering the temple”, he said. Another villager, M Latha, 30, said that during normal days the members of the 90 other families displayed no discrimination while mingling with them. “However, if the temple festival or Pongal festival is approaching, they just stop talking with us,” she added.
“Every year the houses of all the 90 families are filled with relatives at the time of the temple festival and there is lot of celebration. However, we cannot invite our relatives to the festival as we have been barred by our neighbours. This is deeply humiliating”, Latha lamented. R Sudharsana, a class VII student of the village, complained that they are not invited to the sports event conducted in connection with the temple and Pongal festivals. “Every year I am excited to participate in the running race and musical chair. However, despite my appeal, they never include me”, the girl added.
When contacted, one of the village heads, S Sakthivel, 54, said that the 30 families had parted ways with the village 30 years ago. “Till last year they were least bothered about that. However, they have started to create some disturbance now. I also wish they join us, but when we sought a sign from our goddess in this regard, she did not grant permission. So, till her consent comes, they have to wait”, Sakthivel