Country: India, Tamil Nadu

Group: Arunthathiyar

Date Finalized: 11/08/2023

Team: Esha Kubavat (lead), Gordon Kok, Emily Allan, Esha Kubavat, Hannah Lux, Kelly Hashiro

Content Warning: Ethnocide

Approximate Time Period: 1980-present

The Arunthathiyar are an ethnic minority group in Tamil Nadu India. The government classifies them as a “scheduled caste”, a caste that has historically faced oppression and marginalization. Arunthathiyar is also considered an umbrella term for multiple castes including Chakkiliyar, Madari, Madiga, Pagadai, Thoti, and Adi Andhra. The community numbers at around 2 million. In the caste system, they are considered low caste because of their historical association with cobblers and leatherworkers (Wikipedia, 2023). Presently, the caste Hindus are not allowing the Arunthathiyar people to perform their burial ceremonies, because they do not want Arunthathiyar to bring their deceased through their lands. Hindu temples such as the Kaliamman temple and the Mariamman temple are also blocking the Arunthathiyar from entering (Ramanujam, 2023). The Arunthathiyar living in the Aviyur village state that police officials and authorities from dominant caste groups do not give them permission for sprout pot procession in their temple (Neelambaran, 2023). The TNUEF carried out a survey on prevailing forms of untouchability in 1849 villages of 22 districts of Tamil Nadu, which revealed various forms of untouchability and discriminatory practices prevail. The government prevents Dalit from wearing chappals, wearing dhotis, wearing towels on shoulders, and wearing cloth headgear. (Sampath, 2010). Data Quality was rated a ⅔ due to a lack of reliable peer-reviewed sources.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia contributors. (2023). Arunthathiyar. Wikipedia. Retrieved on November 01, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunthathiyar
  2. Ramanujam, J. (2023). Official apathy, discrimination continue to fail Arunthathiyar families in TN. The Indian Express. Retrieved on November 01, 2023 from, https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2023/apr/11/official-apathy-discrimination-continue-to-fail-arunthathiyar-families-in-tn-2564613.html
  3. Neelambaran, A. (2023). TN: Dalits Denied Participation in Village Temple, Refused Permission for Ritual. News Click. Retrieved on November 01, 2023 from https://www.newsclick.in/tn-dalits-denied-participation-village-temple-refused-permission-ritual
  4. Sampath, P. (2010). Experiences of Struggles Against Untouchability in Tamilnadu. The Marxist, XXVI (1). https://www.cpim.org/marxist/201001-Untouchability-TN-Sampath.pdf