Author: Sunil Raman
Publication: BBC News
Date: June 12, 2009
URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8090009.stm
Centuries ago, as their forefathers faced
social and economic deprivation, many low-caste Hindus embraced Christianity.
But in one corner of southern India, their
hopes for equality remain unfulfilled hundreds of years on. Called "pariahs",
hundreds of Dalit Christians continue to face discrimination - not from Hindus
but fellow Christians.
More than 200km (124 miles) from Chennai,
the capital of the southern state of Tamil Nadu, is the village of Eraiyur.
Home to about 3,000 Dalit Christians, mostly
farm labourers and migrant workers, the area witnessed violence last year
when Dalits demanded equal treatment.
The village is dominated by Vanniyar Christians
numbering 15,000, who own most of the land and businesses.
They imposed restrictions on Dalits even though
they had also converted to Christianity.
Restricted life
A 17th Century church building, Lady of the
Rosary Parish, stands tall above the Eraiyur settlement. The village came
up around the parish church, with Vanniyar houses closest to it. The Dalits
were forced to build their small huts on the fringe of the village.
It did not take long for the divisions within
the Hindu social system to be reflected among the new Christians.
The dominant Vanniyars created rules which
restricted the movement of the Dalits.
When they visited the parish church they were
not allowed to walk on the main street leading to the building. Instead they
had to use a side street that led to the church gate.
When Dalits died they were not allowed to
be buried in the cemetery. Their burial ground is beyond the village and can
only be accessed through a broken path.
In addition, the funeral cart parked inside
the church building can be used only by Vanniyars.
"We were told not to touch any upper
caste person, not to get too close to them, not to talk to them," says
Mrs Peraiyamaka, 60, a farm labourer who has been visiting the parish church
since childhood.
"It is no different now."
Mr Thomas, a 60-year-old labourer says there
is also a fear of violence as young Dalits refuse to be submitted to such
humiliation.
He says this fear prompted the Dalits to build
an alternative church.
A single-room, white-washed brick structure
with an iron grill for the entrance is set in a small open ground.
Called Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Dalit
church has a coloured icon of Virgin Mary with Baby Jesus in her arms. She
is flanked by plastic flowers and incense sticks burn on the sides.
The Dalits' demands of recognition for their
church were rejected by local Catholic priests on the ground that a village
can have only one parish church.
Mr Mathew is a Dalit activist who graduated
from Madras University.
Having faced prejudice as a schoolboy, he
has now decided to fight for the rights of Dalits.
His efforts to seek justice have created tension
in his village, forcing him to move to elsewhere.
He is angry that although the constitution
has banned "untouchability" it continues to be practised in different
ways.
"My family may get some minimum help
or guidance from Christianity. That's all. There is no big change after we
came to Christianity," says Mr Mathew.
Vanniyars disgruntled
As we walked out of the Dalit quarters towards
the well laid-out area where Vanniyar Christians live under the shadow of
the whitewashed parish church, we were greeted by a few angry women.
They did not want us to take pictures and
asked us to leave.
A few angry residents of Vanniyar quarters
gathered around us. They agreed to answer our questions. Emily, 25, was eager
to give their version of the story.
"We have allowed them to use the road.
They are creating trouble," she says.
We asked her how in a free country one group
could dictate to others on the use of a public road.
"I don't know. It's been like this…
but we have now allowed them," Emily replied.
Similar responses came from other Vanniyars
we spoke to.
Mr Arukadas, a retired government teacher
lives next to the parish church and he shared his unhappiness with the Dalit
Christians.
Asked about using a common funeral van and
a graveyard where all Christians irrespective of their past Hindu caste identity
can be buried, he retorted: "It will take a long time for a common graveyard."
