http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=626320
November 12, 2011 12:59 PM
South Indian Temple Opens Doors For Lower Castes
MADURAI, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- A local village temple in south Indian
state Tamil Nadu, where weaker sections like dalits were barred from
entering, has opened its gates for all regardless of their caste after
years of clashes.
On Thursday, a large number of dalits entered and offered worship at
Sri Muthalamman temple in Uthapuram near Madurai after an amicable
settlement of their long-standing dispute with upper caste Hindus.
Both the sides were at loggerheads for the past 20 years over offering
worship in the temple, according to Press Trust of India (PTI).
The issue was resolved last month following efforts by Tamil Nadu
Untouchability Eradication Front, District Collector U Sagayam and
Superintendent of Police Asra Garg.
The enmity between the two groups was so much that the upper caste
Hindus had built a wall to prevent dalits from using common road
running through their area in 1989.
A portion of the wall was demolished in 2008, after the intervention
of a left wing party and human rights organisations.
There were also frequent clashes between the two communities over
offering worship in the temple and several cases were pending against
people belonging to both communities in court.
Leaders of the upper caste Hindu community today welcomed the dalits
to the temple. They also participated in the special puja at the
temple.
Dalit leaders said they were "very happy" after offering worship at the temple.
People belonging to upper caste said they would remain united with
local dalits and in future.
Uthapuram village witnessed three major caste clashes in 1948, 1964
and 1989 over the issue. There were several casualties on all the
three occasions.
-- BERNAMA
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/
PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com
TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/
Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
No comments:
Post a Comment