Southern States - Karnataka   

Madigas facing social boycott in Mysore village

By R. Krishna Kumar

Mysore May 2. Dalits from Hardanahalli village in K.R. Nagar taluk are facing a social boycott imposed by members of an upper caste community. As a result of the ostracism, members of the Madiga community in Hardanahalli, which is about 30 km. from K.R. Nagar town, are left in the lurch. They lack support from society, and face the prospect of unemployment and starvation.

The social boycott of dalits in Hardanahalli comes to light close on the heels of reports of violence in Pandavpura village. Recently, a few dalit boys were threatened with dire consequences in a village in Mysore taluk when they entered the premises of a temple to retrieve a ball while playing cricket.

The genesis of the Hardanahalli incident can be traced to an incident on April 18 when a section of the villagers told the Madiga community members not to participate in an annual village ritual to ward off evil and illness, which is commonly observed in rural areas. The villagers, including members of various castes, used to observe the ritual together for centuries. But, a few local leaders of an upper caste community reportedly decided to prevent the Madigas from participating in the ceremony. They gave no reason. If a few activists are to be believed, the differences among the villagers was caused by a couple of elected representatives of upper caste groups.

According to sources, the Madigas are among the most backward communities in the State, and were reckoned to be vulnerable to exploitation. They performed the ceremony separately without protest, and endure the social boycott silently.

Their agony was compounded when they were subjected to a vicious attack by members of an upper caste community who ransacked their dwellings and set these on fire. As a result, many families are virtually on the streets and reduced to penury. Worse, they are being denied employment in agricultural fields, as a result of which starvation is imminent if the administration fails to wield the whip.

Caste-related violence may be a common occurrence in rural areas, but the Hardanahalli incident is unique because a section of the dalit community which is reckoned to be higher than the Madigas in the caste hierarchy, has joined the social boycott of the Madigas.

Although the Minister in charge of Mysore District and Minister for Cooperation, H. Vishwanath, visited the village and arranged for distribution of food to those affected, their lot continues to be miserable.

Meanwhile, the Akhila Karnataka Adi Jambava Sangha has demanded that action be initiated against those who perpetuated the heinous crime on the Madigas. It has sought Rs. 5 lakh as compensation for those who lost their property in the violence, and demanded an inquiry into the atrocities against the Madigas. The sangha has said that atrocities on dalits and caste-related violence are increasing in the region, as a result of which a marginalised section of society is feeling insecure. It has appealed to the authorities to take steps to thwart such incidents.

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