Social boycott of Rajakas in W.Godavari

By Our Staff Reporter

ELURU, JULY 3. About 40 families of `Rajaka' community are facing a social boycott at Telikacharla village of Nallajarla mandal in West Godavari district.

People from upper castes are alleged to have slapped a boycott call on Rajakas at a meeting of caste elders three days ago following a dispute over the local `Pedda Cheruvu' between the Rajakas and upper caste people.

According to a group of washermen who came here to meet the district Collector, Ms. Poonam Malakondaiah, on the issue, the boycott was enforced by the elders of the upper castes through tom-tom. The tom-tom also sounded a warning of imposing a penalty ranging between Rs.500 and 1000 against those who defied the boycott call.

As a result, the Rajakas have been denied work, provisions, milk and even medicines. ``We have been out of reach of everything, except water, for the last three days,'' Mr. J. Venkata Rao said.

According to him, two children have complained of motions and a man has been suffering from fever during the last three days. But the proprietor of the medical shop in the village refused to sell drugs, fearing the wrath of upper caste people.

The boycott call came as an offshoot of a decision taken by Rajakas not to attend to any work assigned by the village farmers. This was in protest against the alleged attempts by the upper castes to deprive the former of enjoyment over Pedacheruvu.

Consequently, the summons by the upper castes to the Rajakas to take part in the performance of the last rites for two villagers, who died this time around, proved to be of no avail. The village ritual has it that rajakas shall play messenger and carry the news of death to relatives of the dead in and around the village. The age-old customs also demand that Rajakas carry a pot containing water, escorting the near and the dear of the dead around the pyre, and break the pot before the pyre was lit.

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Section  : Southern States
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