The effects of casteistic politics

The DK and the DMK never failed to bad mouth the Brahmins and accused them of being the originators of casteism in India. The fact is that caste is equated with varna and thus the Brahmins have been taken to task and marginalised in this state of Tamilnadu. The caste proliferation took place under the British colonialists and perpetuated by the secularist beneficiaries of colonialism who assumed power when the Brits left India.

Today the Brahmins are insignificant minority in Tamilnadu and are marginalized and powerless. The anti-caste Dravidian outfits have ruled the roost for almost six decades yet we have caste wars taking place in Tamilnadu with increasing frequency. Has anyone asked these stalwarts of casteless society as to how this could happen?

The fact of the matter is that instead of treating people equal before law, the constitution has, in the name of pro-activism, has perpetrated caste divisions and caste wars. The best way to deal with this situation is to do away with reservations and bring about equality of all citizens. If anyone is going to argue that the Brahmins have caused it for thousands of years and therefore that there should be no equality provisions for thousands of years then such people must be banned from politics.

Here is the news item that triggered my thoughts:

‘We had to be violent’

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=%E2%80%98We+had+to+be+violent%E2%80%99&artid=VfDpR5n|UJc=&SectionID=lifojHIWDUU=&MainSectionID=wIcBMLGbUJI=&SectionName=rSY|6QYp3kQ=&SEO=
Dhanya Matsa
First Published : 15 Nov 2008 06:56:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 15 Nov 2008 10:09:21 AM IST

CHENNAI": “We were just like any other student when we entered the portals of the law college. If students of New College or Loyola are not conscious of their caste and we are, you (media) should examine the reasons rather than point a finger against caste Hindus when it com es to a Dalit issue. Do you think our parents injected caste feelings into our blood?” It was a final year student, Ashwathaman, venting his feelings when asked why students of Dr Ambedkar Government Law College were divided on caste lines.

Candid about the fact that everyone was aware of everyone’s caste identity, students of a caste Hindu community said the first thing they were asked as soon as they entered the college on the first day was: “What is your caste?” Ragging was based on caste. “The ragging I endured in their hands cannot be put on print and homosexual assault was the least of our worries,’’ said Satish, a final year student.

Vehemently opposing being termed as a caste Hindu, Muthukoo dalingam, a final year student, said: “Yes, we are Thevars. There are also Vanniyars, Yadavas, Nadars and Naidus among others castes and a large number of Christians and even Muslims. We are all united against the violence they perpetrate on us. Just because the college is named after Dr Ambedkar does not mean that they run the college or can get away with several acts of violence.” Asked why they omitted ‘Dr Ambedkar’ from the name of the college in the posters, Muthukoodalingam said Dalit students beat him up last year, when he was an organiser of ‘Thevar Jeyanthi’ celebrations in the college, for printing the name. “This year, they created problems becase we left out the name.” Other students contradicted him. Even last year, ‘Dr Ambedkar’ was omitted but the clash that broke out was not publicised.

Caste Hindu students said the attack on non-SC students in the hostel last year landed 30 of them in hospital with injuries and forced students to seek transfer to other colleges. Now, the hostel was completely for Dalits.

“We had to be violent as the college authorities turned a blind eye to our problems. Nobody wanted to be branded as anti-Dalits. Proof of which is that no action has been taken by the college against erring students in the last many years. If the college principal had taken steps three years ago, then the violence would have not escalated to such levels,” says Ashwathaman.