Groundbreaking: Dalits enter TN temple for the first time in 100 years

Rage

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When darkness turns to light....


Dalits enter TN temple for the first time in 100 yrs

V Mayilvaganan, TNN 28 October 2009, 07:52am IST


NAGAPATTINAM: For the first time in a hundred years, dalits of Chettipulam village stepped inside the local Shiva temple on Tuesday, in a historic moment brought about by government and political intervention.

Escorted by revenue and police officers, nearly 70 dalits of the village situated near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district entered the century-old Kamatchi Amman Sametha Ekambareswarar Temple at around 11 am and offered prayers for 25 minutes. Dressed in their best, women had brought flowers and other offerings. A group of non-dalits, including panchayat president V Manimaran, also accompanied the dalits. District collector C Munianathan himself distributed prasadam' to the dalits after the prayers.

"It is a historic day for us. For decades, we were barred from entering the temple. All we could do for generations was to stand 10 feet away from the temple entrance and offer prayers," said Nandan alias N Natarajan, a dalit labourer. He and other dalits were greeted by non-dalits inside the temple.

The dalits here had earlier made three attempts to enter the temple. On September 30, they found it locked. The next day they were arrested when they tried to break the lock. On October 14, when Nagapattinam revenue divisional officer Rajendran led the dalits towards the temple, violence broke out as non-dalits started pelting stones. Police fired warning shots in the air and resorted to a lathicharge. The CPI(M), spearheading the agitation, had warned of another attempt on November 2 if the government failed to ensure entry of the dalits into the temple by October 30.

A tripartite meeting involving non-dalits, dalits and government officials was held on Monday. It was decided there that the dalits would be taken into the temple on Tuesday.

A large of posse of police personnel was deployed in the village. On Tuesday morning, a police vehicle picked up dalits from their doorsteps and took them to the temple. Once everybody gathered in front of the temple, the collector ushered them in. Thanjavur range DIG Abhay Kumar Singh and SPs of Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur were also present.

"The dalits need not worry about their safety in the village. They can enter the temple and offer prayers without fear. The district administration will ensure that they are not stopped from entering the temple," said Munianathan. Police would be stationed in the village for a few more days, he said.

Meanwhile in Chennai, the CPI(M) took out a rally to highlight the rights of dalits and tribals. Later, they met chief minister M Karunanidhi and handed over a 14-point charter of demands pertaining to the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes.


Dalits enter TN temple first time in 100 yrs - India - The Times of India
 

shiv

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i cant believe things like these are still prevalent in our country!!`
 

Flint

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^Even I can't believe it. Appears that modernity has not reached many remote villages yet!
 

ppgj

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it exists in many parts of the country. they go unreported. there was one in orissa too involving the puri temple. sad to see. we need to grow up.
 

prahladh

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put aside dalits, there were instances were temples were closed and cleaned because foreigners entered. Some instances weren foreigners were held for entering temple. So much for the divine omnipresence.
 

Flint

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What does "First time in 100 years" mean? Were they allowed to enter the place 100 years ago?
 

Singh

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^^ something perhaps to do with record keeping.
 

Flint

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Well...good going CPI(M). Doing something useful for a change.
 

Quickgun Murugan

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What does "First time in 100 years" mean? Were they allowed to enter the place 100 years ago?
it means that the temple is 100 year old.

Escorted by revenue and police officers, nearly 70 dalits of the village situated near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district entered the century-old Kamatchi Amman Sametha Ekambareswarar Temple at around 11 am and offered prayers for 25 minutes.
 

dineshchaturvedi

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I hope there is no such place temple in India where we allow people to enter based on their cast/religion etc. This is one of the evil which should have been removed by now, hope we can get this done now.
 

bengalraider

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India is predominantly still a rural nation with much of the population still living according to ancient tenets and societal rules laid down in ages past that are rooted deep in superstition ; even during the durga pujas in Bengal in parts in the interior(i'm talking purulia, bankura districts here) the dalits and other lower castes do not enter/ are barred form entering the Sanctum sanctorum till the navami day. it is believed that the goddess meets the dalits only after navami! Raja ram mohun roy started the process of societal improvement that continues to this day. i'm afraid India has no choice but to wait for all of it's people to let go of ridiculous casteism like this.
 

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