Shrine in Tamil Nadu village opened to dalits for 1st time

PUDUKKOTTAI: It was their first entry into the Ayyanar temple after being confined to its entrance for generations. Three days after fecal matter found in the overhead water tank of a dalit colony at Iraiyur hamlet in Muthukadu panchayat turned the focus on caste discrimination prevalent there, dalit residents of adjoining Vengavayal hamlet entered the Ayyanar temple on Thursday for the first time.

Escorted by environment minister Siva V Meyyanathan, Pudukottai collector Kavitha Ramu and officials, a group of dalits entered the temple. People belonging to the dominant agamudaiyar and mutharaiyar communities too joined the dalits as a special puja was conducted to mark a new beginning in the lives of people of the oppressed community. "Our right to worship at the temple has been upheld after three generations ," said M Sindhuja, a young woman aspiring for a government job.

K Kannadasan recalled how he had smeared his head with sand taken from the entrance of the Ayyanar temple during his marriage in 2019. "I was ashamed in front of my in-laws about the discrimination in our village," he said, while expressing satisfaction over worshipping the deity.

However, members of other communities claim there was no tangible discrimination. "Dalit people were not discriminated against. They also had the right for mandagapadi during the festival. They presumed that they should not enter the temple," said M Muthaiah, husband of panchayat president M Padma. Minister Meyyanathan called the event historic in the Dravidian model rule that ensured everything for everyone.

Pudukottai collector and SP visited Iraiyur hamlet and got complaints of two-tumbler system in practice at a tea shop. A couple who ran the tea shop were booked under SC/ST Act, and husband arrested. A woman was also arrested and another man booked for allegedly abusing Adi Dravidar community people denoting their caste when the officials tried to open the temple for dalits. Meyyanathan said that a new overhead tank will be built in place of the old one in the next 20 days. He also said that Pudukottai police were on the lookout for the accused. During the event, a group of women raised their voice against the arrests made for allegedly following two-tumbler system in the tea shop. The minister made it clear that none of the cases booked in this connection will be withdrawn.


Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Republic Day Wishes, Messages and speech!