Tamil Nadu: Dalits enter Mariamman temple in Tiruvannamalai nearly after 100 years

Nearly a century after a large number of Dalits have darshan at Mariamman temple in Chellankuppam village in Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu is yet another incidence of how the oppressed castes are still being denied temple entry and evidence of social caste discrimination.

In Tamil Nadu, prior to bharat attaining freedom from the colonial ruler who successfully divided the masses based on false narratives and part of remnants of the civilisation process, Dalits were treated as untouchables, denied entry into temples, disallowed to wear upper vastra, including women (barred from wearing blouses) not allowed to wear slippers while entering upper caste Hindu residential areas. They could not sit with them to partake in meals on equal pedestals, and even today prevalence of twin number or glass practice in tea and hotels in the southern part of Tamil Nadu. Temple entry in some temples is still a dream for them.

Freedom fighter and eminent lawyer A Vaidyanatha Iyer, on the advice of Rajaji, led four Dalits into Meenakshi Amman temple at Madurai on July 7, 1939, paving the way for an Act in the Madras Presidency assembly ending the centuries-old practice of barring people from lower castes from entering temples. Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar and others. When the country celebrates Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, many temples continue to be out of bounds for Dalits. Dalit leaders say, “There may be no restrictions in big temples maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment of the State Government. But, entry for Dalits is not a cakewalk in several temples controlled by dominant castes in some villages”. Periyar had no role in Madurai Meenakshi temple entry and sided with the dominant caste intact.

However, the Dravidian parties still claim he was instrumental in social reform and Dalit upliftment. But in Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) rule, Dalit panchayat women and men presidents were denied hoisting flags during Independence and Republic Day celebrations. They are still not allowed to sit equally among themselves and are often offered plastic chairs and forced to sit on the floors if we go by the past incidents reported in the media.

Last June, a team of officials led by Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) S Ravichandran sealed the Dharma raja Droupathi Amman temple in Melpaathi village of Villupuram district under Section 145 (1) of the CrPC to avoid potential law and order issues… it is under the administration of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department. Adi Dravidars, who are Dalits, said they were not allowed entry into the temple by people from other castes. Few people belonging to the other dominant castes reportedly tried to immolate themselves to oppose the entry of the Adi Dravidars.

In January this year, Dalits of Then Mudiyanur village in Tiruvannamalai entered the 200-year-old temple village temple dedicated to Goddess Muthalamman (under HR and CE control) for the first time in 70 years after the temple was built. The 60 Dalit devotees belonging to the Nammandi Colony entered the Thulukanathamman temple in Tiruvannamalai, accompanied by revenue officials, after being denied entry for several years by Vanniyars living in Hariharapakkam in 2016. These are only examples from the vast list.

In his background, Dalits in Chellankuppam village in Kilpennathur block of Tiruvannamalai district entered the Amman temple in the village on August 2, for the first time in the 40 years since it was built. Amid police protection, the Scheduled Caste (SC) community members, including women and children from the village, carrying garlands and fruits, entered the temple under the administration of the HR and CE Department.

Other community people, according to police, said they had not opposed their entry into the temple and had no protests so far.

In July, an incident resulted in a fist cuff between Dalits and Vanniyars when a Dalit youth tried to enter the temple.

After racking up the temple entry issue on social media, the Dalits petitioned the revenue authorities, urging them to ensure their entry into the temple. Following this, a series of peace meetings with both sides of the village were held, and it was explained to all that no one had the right to prevent anyone from worshipping at the temple. Dalits were then given the slot on August 2 to conduct their rituals at the temple. The women cooked sweet pongal in earthen pots on the temple premises to be offered to the Goddess.

The temple follows a tradition. The temple will be opened only on Tuesdays and Fridays when members of the caste Hindus worship. On other days, only tourists from other States and countries were allowed to visit the temple after prior permission from the local panchayat officials. Dalits will be allowed only the days allotted to them. Caste Hindus said the temple was built with their funds, and no Dalit had contributed. Officials said such discriminatory practices were against the law as the temple falls under the HR and CE Department.

Locals believe that newlywed couples offering prayers and cooking Pongal in the temple will be granted all they wish for. But Dalits had no such privilege. The elated Dalits said today that the district officials helped them to enter the temple, offer prayers, cook Pongal and fulfil their vows”.

While on the side, we are trying to form a cashless society to further their political ambitions, some want to census on castes which they know will open up issues in unexpected dimensions. The court, too, granted the green signal.