A group of independent activists has suggested demolition of the ‘discriminatory’ wall to solve the tussle between Paraiyars and Arunthathiyars, two Scheduled Caste communities, at Santhaiyur here.
Avoiding demolition can aggravate the issue further, it said while presenting a report to the media here on Friday based on a study done in the village.
The present situation did not justify the terming of the wall as an ‘untouchable wall,’ as claimed by the Arunthathiyar community, the group acknowledged that the wall was erected by the Paraiyar community in order to encroach the poramboke land around the Raja Kaliamman Temple.
V. Murugan, coordinator, Navabothi Cultural Centre, who is a part of the group, said the dominant attitude of the Paraiyar community was a result of caste hierarchy and better development of the community achieved over the years on educational and economic front compared to Arunthathiyars.
Pointing out that there were around 30 Paraiyar families and around 70 Arunthathiyar families in the village, he said that a majority of Paraiyar families either owned agricultural land or had job in private or government sectors.
On the contrary, there were only a handful of graduates among Arunthathiyars and a majority of them went for menial jobs.
Stating that the relationship between the two communities became strained ever since the Paraiyar community erected a fence before construction of the wall, the report stressed that non-demolition of the wall, combined with the dominant attitude of one community, would sharpen caste differences further and the wall would become a sort of untouchabile wall.
Both face same fate
The report also highlighted the discrimination faced by Paraiyars as well as Arunthathiyars from other caste Hindu communities that were dominant in the village.
P. Manoharan, an advocate practising in Madurai Bench of Madras High Court and a member of the group, said that both the communities were not allowed inside the Muthalaman Temple, which was under the control of caste Hindus.
“Similarly, tea is served to the people of these two communities in plastic cups in tea shops. They face discrimination in hotels,” he alleged.
Urging the district administration to address the issue, he highlighted the non-availability of proper cremation and burial grounds for the Scheduled Caste communities in the village.
