Tirupur:
At a peace meeting held here on Thursday, Kangeyam tahsildar and deputy superintendent of police warned Krishnan (name changed) — the sole barber at Thayampalayam village near Kangeyam — of legal action, after dalit residents said that he was refusing to serve them.
Though Krishnan refuted the claims of discrimination and said that his shop is open for everyone, it was found locked on Friday.
More than 500 Arunthathiyar community people are residing in Anna Nagar and Kozhumanguzhi hamlets in Kozhumanguzhi panchayat, and also in Thayampalayam in Mudhalipalayam panchayat. As many as 200 people belonging to Nadar, Gounder and Chettiyar castes dominate the area, dalits said.
Krishnan hails from Ruthravathi near Kundadam and had settled at Thayampalayam two decades ago. He would visit the customers’ places and also open his shop two days a week. But he never rendered his service to any of the Arunthathiyars, a 56-year-old Thayampalayam resident said. “He offered his service only to periyaalunga (dominant communities). As a result, we had been forced to help out each other. Some of my relatives used to cut my grandson’s hair. Nowadays, youngsters from my community visit salons in the cities,” he told TOI.
However, the dalit residents are afraid to talk about the discrimination, due to fear over losing job opportunities and oppression, said C Nandhagopal, district secretary of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, who had filed a complaint against the barber with the district administration. “Though the dominant castes are minorities in Kozhumanguzhi and Mudhalipalayam, which are separated by a road, they dictate the terms here because they own lands here. Arunthathiyars here are not only denied haircut, but also the service of the washer man, who wash clothes of only dominant caste people,” he said.
A Nagaraj, a dalit from Thayampalayam who operates an autorickshaw, feared repercussions. “Some people and political parties are raising the issue unnecessarily. It will affect us directly. Livelihood of our community people will be affected if the landowners decide not to employ us.”
