November 7 is a black day for us, said the residents of Natham Colony while recalling the 2012 violence that had torn their area apart.
Violence broke out in Natham colony, Anna Nagar and Kondampatti in Dharmapuri district following the inter-caste marriage between a Dalit youth Ilavarasan and a caste Hindu girl N Divya.
“Last year’s incidents at Natham demonstrated the extent to which casteism was deep-rooted in the Indian social system,” said Chinna Thambi, a resident of Natham Colony.
Though a year has passed, the differences between Dalits and Caste Hindus in Dharmapuri, especially in Natham Colony, persists.
Soon after the violence, residents of Chellankottai, the native place of Divya, reportedly snapped all ties and were not even on talking terms with Natham Colony people. The death of Ilavarasan worsened the situation and complicated the whole issue.
However, some caste Hindu youths of Chellankottai continued to maintain their relationship with Dalits of Natham colony.
A caste Hindu, who spoke to Express, said, “Caste-based politics is the culprit. If politicians of caste-based parties had not entered the scene, the problem could have been solved long back in a smooth manner.”
Nearly sixty houses were burnt and hundreds of houses were razed down by a mob during the violence last year. The reconstruction work started by the district administration is still going on.
However, Natham colony residents said, “The district administration’s renovation work is moving at a snail’s pace and most of the victims are yet to receive relief. When Sivanna, Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste, visited the area on June 7, this year, he charged that the district administration had failed to initiate proper rehabilitation measures.”
“After the 2012 incident, the harmony that existed between Dalits and Caste Hindus had completely vanished. Once we (Dalits) and the Vanniyars used to live peacefully. Had the government taken a census on inter-caste marriages in Dharmapuri, certainly, our region would have topped the chart. Now, everything has been lost,” Durai, a Natham Colony resident said.
On the other hand, even after an year prohibitory orders are still in force in the area. “The ban orders are affecting the normal life,” complain residents, adding “Even for conducting funeral processions, we are forced to seek police permission because of the enforcement of the 144 CrPc.”
Besides, when Natham Colony residents sought permission to observe a fast on November 7, this year, to mark the last year’s violent incidents, the district administration rejected their request. However, residents planned to go ahead with their fast plan.
When contacted Collector K Vivekanandan said that the rehabilitation works were progressing at a good pace. Out of 131 houses, the district administration had completed the construction of 101 units so far.