Casteist forces in Southern Tamil Nadu are bent upon crushing our caste leadership. Devendra Kula Velalars (DKVs), the erstwhile wetland cultivators (also called Mallars) and rulers of three Tamil dynasties – Chera, Chola and Pandiya – have organsied under the leadership Dr. K. Krishnasamy, the rising red star of Tamil country under the ‘banner of Puthiya Thamizhagam (New Tamil land).
On July 26, 2004, country bombs were thrown at his convoy at Palayamkottai (Thirunelveli dt) when he was attending a court case. He, however, escaped the murder attempt. Eight people were caught by our party cadres and handed over to the police. All of them belong to the Thevar caste. Such a caste terrorism is being let unleashed in Southern TN for which the DMK and AIADMK are mainly responsible. National parties and communist parties are silent on “caste terrorism” while criticising “religious terrorism”.
Thevar culprits Immanuvel Sekaran, a Congress worker and our caste leader in Ramnad dt., who incurred the wrath of the late Muthuramalingam (Thevar), was murdered in 1957. This was followed by the notorious Mudhukulathoor caste riots in 1957. Dr. K. Krishnasamy, a medical doctor, a product of Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy and Dr. Ambedkar, has become a popular leader of Southern TN but casteist forces are bent upon finishing him.
They are using Mukkulathors, a combination of three castes (Kallars/Ambalakarans/Nattars, Maravars and Agambadyars). This group is called Thevars. During the British rule they were considered a criminal group. The Thevar leaders (not people) consider Dr. Krishnasamy as their main enemy.
Meenakshipuram mass conversion: (1) In 1979, five DKVs were murdered for wanting to participate in the festival of Iyanar (Budha) temple of Unchanai, near Devakottai. (2) The 1981 Thevars attacks on the DKVs resulted in the Meenakshipuram mass conversion in Thenkasi, Thirunelveli dt. (3) Caste riots at Puliyankudi led to loss of lives and properties. (4) Murder of an old lady by Thevars led to caste riots in Cumbum in 1989. (5) In Kodiyankulam village, Thoothukudi dt. (1995), the police attacked the DKVs during the AIADMK regime. (6) The two-glass system in tea shops was removed in few villages of Coimbatore dt. by the action of Dr. K. Krishnasamy (1998) for which he incurred the displeasure of the DMK regime. This form of untouchability is very common in southern districts. (7) A DKV settlement was attacked to disturb our party (PT) conference at Ramanathapuram in 1998. (8) Plantation labour, mainly Dalits, was organised for the first time by Dr. K. Krishnasamy. (9) At Swarnamurthy Eswarar temple of Kandadevi, near Devakottai, participation of DKVs is blocked by Thevars. Dr. K. Krishnasamy filed a case in the High Court and got orders to celebrate the festival with the participation of all, irrespective caste and creed.
No democracy in South TN: The Thevars want to rule the whole of South TN and control water, fish, temples and common land. They run the courts and “settle” various disputes. There is no rule of law in South TN.
Dr. K. Krishnasamy has been trying to democratize the socio-political sphere of South TN. But casteist forces are using the innocent but unthinking Thevars to fight the poor, oppressed DKVs.
The Thevars are also equally poor and oppressed but they are being instigated against the equally oppressed DKVs whom they consider to be Untouchables.
Progressive forces within the Thevars influenced by the thoughts of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy should ponder over this issue. Brother Veeramani, Dravidar Kazhagam leader who is organising all the BCs and SCs, can facilitate such a dialogue between the Thevars and DKVs.
Meanwhile, the Govt. of India should provide the Z security for Dr. K. Krishnasamy and deploy army to avoid caste riots and bloodshed in South TN.
