NEW DELHI: Defying centuries-old caste oppression, 60 Dalits in Tamil Nadu’s Rajavur village of Tiruppur district, wore slippers on the streets for the first time at a dominant caste locality.
As reported by The New Indian Express, the marginalised community wore slippers along the ‘Kambala Naicken Street’ on Sunday, defying a rule which banned them from sporting footwear.
Walking along the 300 metre long street belonging to the Naicker community in the village predominantly occupied by dominant castes like Gounders and the former. Rajavur comprises nearly 900 households.
A villager, A Muruganandam (51), shared, “Arunthathiyar community members were barred from walking with slippers on the street. SC members were given death threats and were also assaulted.” The issue was brought to the attention of Dalit outfits, leading to a collective decision to challenge the discriminatory practice.
A member of the oppressed community, explained, “When untouchability was banned after Independence, members of the dominant caste conjured up a story to perpetuate the practice.”
The story had viciously claimed that a voodoo doll was buried under the street, threatening death to Dalits if they wore footwear on the streets.
CK Kanagaraj, the secretary of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (Tiruppur), recounted the efforts made to address the issue. “Last week, we went to the village, and several Dalit women said they cannot even enter that particular street. We decided to launch a protest, but the police refused permission.”
Despite the setback, members of various groups walked through the street, entering the Rajakaliamman temple, which did not allow the marginalised inside.
Kanagaraj emphasised that the entire event was monitored by local police authorities. He added that although some Dalits in the area still live in fear, “our walk will boost their confidence”.