Joshua Isaac Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. An organized mob of around 300 Vanniyar men attacked a Dalit Cheri, Vadakumangudi, in Chidambaram Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu, in the late hours of the evening today, April 24, 2014. According to eye witnesses, Vadakumangudi Cheri was attacked this evening at 7 pm by a Vanniyar mob …
Another ‘Dharmapuri’ in Theni district: Dalit colony attacked for inter-caste marriage
தமிழ்வாணன், VCK – Theni District Secretary April 9th. Melmangalam village, near Periyakulam, Theni district. A Dalit youth Suresh (30) eloped with a caste hindu girl Muthulatchumi (25) on 30th March, 2014. Fearing for their life, it is said they fled to Kerala. No complaint was pressed by the girl’s family, instead the caste hindu …
Dalit Christian Pastors protest state of Salvation Army in Tamil Nadu
[Received the following communication from the Affected Retchanya Senai Retired Officers (i.e. Retired Tamil Dalit Christian Pastors in Tamil Nadu)] ~ For the kind attention of Soldiers, Local Officers, Divisional & THQ Officers and Leaders of The Salvation Army, South Eastern Territory, India: Are you aware that the present administration of the Salvation Army …
Dalit houses burnt & ransacked by Vanniyars
Joshua Isaac Dalits of Nadupatti colony have been facing atrocities committed by Vanniyars of Kariyampatti for some time. During October 2013, the Nadupatti colony Dalits left their houses and took shelter in a nearby hillock fearing attacks from Vanniyars following a temple festival dispute, where Dalit youth were attacked for wearing T-shirts with Ondiveeran’s …
From Khairlanji to Haryana: Do Dalits have human rights?
Karthik Navayan (This is a slightly revised version of an article written in 2006) The publicity that was given to the incidents of burning of five railway bogies and vandalizing of a hundred bus windows was not extended to the massacre of four members of a single family. The upper caste media widely, and …
Remembering Martyr Neelaventhan
Ravi Chandran and James Michael (For Dalit Camera: Through Un-Touchable Eyes) “Dont call me a victim, I am an immortal…if you have guts bury my body in the middle of the city” – Kalekuri Prasad. The self-immolation of Arunthathiyar leader Neelaventhan and the brooding silence over it cannot be reduced to an issue of …
‘No Alphabet in Sight’: Understanding Caste Formulations After 1990s
Understanding caste formulations after 1990s: Review of ‘No Alphabet in Sight: New Dalit Writing from South India’ (This review is a part of the theory course taught by Dr Bhangya Bhukya, Department of Social Exclusion Studies, English and Foreign Languages University) Karthik Navayan Caste is interpreted in different schools of thought in different ways; …
Interview with Gowthama Sannah, Propaganda Secretary of the VCK (Part 3)
This is the third and final part of the interview with Gowthama Sannah, Propaganda Secretary of the VCK – Chennai, 26th September 2012 (Please read the second part here and the first part here) [This interview was first published in Vol 2, No 1 (2013) issue of ‘The South Asianist’] Hugo Gorringe: Where was …
Dalit Youth Federation calls for discussion
On Sunday, 21st July 2013 at 5.30 pm Venue: Navbharat Mat. School, Solaiyappan St., Periyar road, T.Nagar, Chennai, (Kodambakkam – Valluvar Kottam route). ‘Dalit Youth Federation’ calls for discussion on the following: *Violence on Dalits – Lessons & Mistakes *Revisiting the Need for Dr. Ambedkar *Unity Among Dalits *Future Course of Dalit Politics Special …