ಮಡೆಸ್ನಾನ ನಿಷೇಧಕ್ಕೆ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರ ಒತ್ತಾಯ

ಗುರುವಾರ - ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್-15-2011

ದಲಿತರ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳ ಮಹಾಪೂರ
 ಮಂಗಳೂರು, ಡಿ.14: ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ ಸೇರಿ ದಂತೆ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುವ ಪಂಕ್ತಿ ಬೇಧದ ಭೋಜನ ಹಾಗೂ ಮಡೆಸ್ನಾನ ವನ್ನು ನಿಷೇಧಿಸುವಂತೆ ವಿವಿಧ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರು ಒಕ್ಕೊರಳಿನಿಂದ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿಯನ್ನು ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿದ ಘಟನೆ ಇಂದು ನಡೆಯಿತು.
ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಸಭಾಂಗಣದಲ್ಲಿ 1 ವರ್ಷದ ಬಳಿಕ ಇಂದು ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಡಾ.ಎನ್.ಎಸ್. ಚನ್ನಪ್ಪ ಗೌಡ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದ ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಪಂಗಡಗಳ ನಾಯಕರ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶೇಷವಾಗಿ ಮಡೆಸ್ನಾನ, ಧರ್ಮಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಡಿಸಿ ಮನ್ನಾ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಖಾಸಗಿಯವರಿಗೆ ಮಂಜೂರು ಮಾಡಿರುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ದಲಿತರಿಂದ ತೀವ್ರ ವಿರೋಧ ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಯಿತು.
ಮಡೆಸ್ನಾನ ವಿರೋಧಿಸಿ ಮಾತು ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದ ದಲಿತ ಹಕ್ಕುಗಳ ಹೋರಾಟ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ನಾಯಕ ಶೇಖರ್ ಬೆಳ್ತಂಗಡಿ, ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತರ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯಲ್ಲೂ ಇಂತಹ ಅನಿಷ್ಟ ಪದ್ಧತಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ನಾಚಿಕೆಗೇಡಿನ ವಿಷಯ. ಮಡೆಸ್ನಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಹೇರಲಾಗಿದ್ದ ನಿಷೇಧವನ್ನು ಹಿಂದೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಮೂಲಕ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರ ಮೇಲಿನ ಹಲ್ಲೆ ಘಟನೆಗೆ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿಯೇ ಹೊಣೆ ಎಂದು ದೂರಿದರು. ಈ ಸಂದರ್ಭ ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯಿಸಿದ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ, ಭಕ್ತರ ಭಾವನೆಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೆಲೆ ಕೊಟ್ಟು ನಿಷೇಧವನ್ನು ತೆರವುಗೊಳಿಸಬೇಕಾಯಿತು ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದಾಗ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದ ದಲಿತರು ಒಕ್ಕೊರಳಿ ನಿಂದ ತೀವ್ರವಾಗಿ ಆಕ್ಷೇಪ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದರು.
ಚಂದ್ರಗುತ್ತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಬೆತ್ತಲೆ ಸೇವೆ, ಸತಿಸಹಗ ಮನ ಪದ್ಧತಿ ನಿಷೇಧದ ವೇಳೆಯೂ ಈ ರೀತಿಯ ವಿರೋಧಗಳು ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಗಿದ್ದವು. ಹಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಷೇಧಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಮಡೆಸ್ನಾನ ಕೂಡಾ ನಿಷೇಧವಾಗಬೇಕು. ಇಲ್ಲವಾದರೆ ಬಿಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬ ಮಾತುಗಳು ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರಿಂದ ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಯಿತು.
ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ದಲಿತರಿಗೆ ಅನ್ನ ಬಡಿಸಲು ಅವಕಾಶವಿಲ್ಲವೇಕೆ?
ಕಟೀಲು, ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಸರಕಾರಿ ಸ್ವಾಮ್ಯದ ದೇವಾಲಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಎಲೆ ತೆಗೆಯುವ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುವ ದಲಿತರಿಗೆ ಅನ್ನ ಬಡಿಸುವ ಅವಕಾಶ ಏಕಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿದ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕ ಭಾನುಚಂದ್ರ, ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊಕ್ತೇಸರರಾಗಿ ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಜಾತಿ, ಪಂಗಡದ ಒಬ್ಬ ಸದಸ್ಯರ ನೇಮಕ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು. ಆದರೆ ಆ ಅವಕಾಶವನ್ನು ಮರಾಠಿ ನಾಯ್ಕ ಸಮುದಾಯಕ್ಕೆ ಮಾತ್ರವೇ ನೀಡಲಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಹೊರತು ಕೊರಗ ಜನಾಂಗ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಇತರ ದಲಿತ ಸಮುದಾಯದವ ರನ್ನು ಸೇರಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ದೂರಿದರು.
ಈ ನಡುವೆ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರೊಬ್ಬರು, ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನಗಳ ಮೂಲಕವೇ ದಲಿತರ ಶೋಷಣೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಾ ಬಂದಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಅಸಹನೆ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಪಡಿಸಿದರು. ಸರಕಾರಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳಾದ ವಾಲ್ಮೀಕಿ ಜಯಂತಿ, ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಜಯಂತಿ ಹೊರತು ಪಡಿಸಿ ಉಳಿದ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ ದಿನಾಚರಣೆ, ಗಣರಾಜ್ಯೋತ್ಸವ ಮೊದಲಾದ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ಹಬ್ಬಗಳ ಪೂರ್ವಭಾವಿ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ನೀಡದೆ ತಾರತಮ್ಯ ಎಸಗಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾನುಚಂದ್ರ ಆರೋಪಿಸಿದರು.
 ಡಿಸಿ ಮನ್ನಾ ಭೂಮಿ ಖಾಸಗಿಯವರಿಗೆ ಮಂಜೂರು!
ಇದೇ ವೇಳೆ ಕಳೆದ ವರ್ಷ ನಡೆದ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಗರಿಕ ಸೇವಾ ಟ್ರಸ್ಟ್‌ನ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳ ಬೇಡಿಕೆಯಂತೆ ಬೆಳ್ತಂಗಡಿ ತಾಲೂಕಿನ ಉಜಿರೆ ಗ್ರಾಮದ ಧರ್ಮಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗೆ ಡಿಸಿ ಮನ್ನಾ ಜಮೀನು ಸ.ನಂಬ್ರ 507, 508/1, 509, 521/1 ಹೀಗೆ ಒಟ್ಟು 12 ಸರ್ವೆ ನಂಬ್ರದ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಮಂಜೂರು ಮಾಡಿರುವುದರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ದಲಿತರು ಒಕ್ಕೊರಳಿ ನಿಂದ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿರೋಧಿಸಿದರು. ಸರಕಾರಿ ಆದೇಶದ ಪ್ರಕಾರ 43.90 ಎಕರೆ ಜಮೀನು ಖಾಸಗಿಯವರಿಗೆ ಮಂಜೂರು ಆಗಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಹೇಳಿದಾಗ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದಲಿತರಿಂದ ತೀವ್ರ ಆಕ್ಷೇಪ ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾಯಿತು.
ಇಂದಿನ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ದಲಿತರ ಸಾಕಷ್ಟು ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳು ಡಿಸಿ ಮನ್ನಾ ಭೂಮಿಯ ಅತಿಕ್ರಮಣದ ತೆರವಿನ ಕುರಿತಂತೆಯೇ ಆಗಿದೆ. ದಲಿತರು ಒಂದು ಸೆಂಟ್ಸ್ ಭೂಮಿಗಾಗಿ ಪರದಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವಾಗ ಡಿಸಿ ಮನ್ನಾ ಭೂಮಿ ಯನ್ನು ಖಾಸಗಿಯವರಿಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಕೊಟ್ಟಿರುವುದು ಖಂಡನೀಯ. ದಲಿತರು ಆರ್‌ಟಿಸಿಗಾಗಿ ಹತ್ತಾರು ವರ್ಷ ಕಚೇರಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಅಲೆಯಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಡಿಸಿ ಮನ್ನಾ ಭೂಮಿಯನ್ನು ಖಾಸಗಿಯವರಿಗೆ ತೀರಾ ಸಲೀಸಾಗಿ ಮಂಜೂರು ಮಾಡಲಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದು ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರಾದ ಕೃಷ್ಣಾನಂದ, ಸೇಸಪ್ಪ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರು ಆಕ್ಷೇಪಿಸಿದರು. ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಖಂಡನಾ ನಿರ್ಣಯ ಕೈಗೊಂಡು ಸರಕಾರದ ಮಂಜೂರಾತಿ ಯನ್ನು ರದ್ದುಪಡಿಸುವಂತೆ ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸಲಾಯಿತು.
ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಜಿಪಂ ಸದಸ್ಯೆ ಚಂದ್ರಕಲಾ ಮೇಲಿನ ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯ ಪ್ರಕರಣ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ, ದಲಿತರ ಮಕ್ಕಳಿಗೆ ಐಎಎಸ್, ಐಪಿಎಸ್ ಶಿಕ್ಷಣಕ್ಕೆ ಪೂರಕ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ, ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಭವನ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣ, ಶ್ಮ್ಮಶಾನದ ಕೊರತೆ, ಸಮುದಾಯ ಆರೋಗ್ಯ ಕೇಂದ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವೈದ್ಯಾಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಕೊರತೆ, ಎಪ್ರಿಲ್ 14ರಂದು ಶಾಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಜಯಂತಿ ಆಚರಣೆಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಹಲವಾರು ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರು ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಎದುರು ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾಪಿಸಿದರು.
ದಲಿತರಿಗೆ ನಿವೇಶನ ನೀಡುವ ಕುರಿತಂತೆ ಈಗಾಗಲೆ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಟ್ಟು 92 ಎಕರೆ ಖಾಲಿ ಇರುವ ಜಾಗವನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸಲಾಗಿದ್ದು, ಅದನ್ನು ಅರ್ಹರಿಗೆ ಹಂಚಲು ಆದ್ಯತೆ ನೀಡಲಾಗುವುದು. ಗುರುತಿಸಲಾಗಿರುವ ಭೂಮಿಯ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ದಲಿತ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಗಳು ಪರಿಶೀಲನೆ ನಡೆಸಿ ನಿವೇಶನ ರಹಿತರ ಪಟ್ಟಿ ನೀಡುವಂತೆ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಚನ್ನಪ್ಪ ಗೌಡ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸೂಚಿಸಿದರು.
ಮೂರು ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ಸಭೆಯ ಭರವಸೆ
ತಾಲೂಕು ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ತಹಶೀಲ್ದಾರ್ ಪ್ರತಿ ಎರಡು ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೊಮ್ಮೆ, ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂರು ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರ ಸಭೆ ನಡೆಸುವುದಾಗಿ ಭರವಸೆ ನೀಡಿದ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ, ದಲಿತರು ತಮ್ಮ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ಸಭೆಗಳಿಗಾಗಿಯೇ ಕಾಯದೆ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಬಂದು ಚರ್ಚಿಸಿದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಪರಿಹಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳುವುದಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿದರು.
ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಗರಿಕ ಹಕ್ಕು ನಿರ್ದೇಶನಾಲ ಯದ ಎಸ್ಪಿ ಸರ್ವೋತ್ತಮ ಪೈ, ಪುತ್ತೂರು ಸಹಾಯಕ ಆಯುಕ್ತ ಸುಂದರ ಭಟ್, ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಸಹಾಯಕ ಆಯುಕ್ತ ವೆಂಕಟೇಶ್, ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಮನಪಾ ಆಯುಕ್ತ ಡಾ. ಹರೀಶ್ ಕುಮಾರ್, ಪುತ್ತೂರು ಎಎಸ್ಪಿ ಪ್ರಭಾಕರ್, ಮಂಗಳೂರು ಎಸಿಪಿ ಸುಬ್ರಹ್ಮಣ್ಯ ಮೊದಲಾದ ವರು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.

ಹರಕೆಯ ಬಯಲಾಟ!   ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷತೆಯಲ್ಲಿ 3 ತಿಂಗಳಿಗೊಮ್ಮೆ ನಡೆಯಬೇಕಿರುವ ಜಿಲ್ಲಾ ಮಟ್ಟದ ದಲಿತರ ಕುಂದು ಕೊರತೆಗಳ ಸಭೆಯು ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷದ ಬಳಿಕ ಇಂದು ನಡೆದ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆ ಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸುಳ್ಯ, ಪುತ್ತೂರು, ಬಂಟ್ವಾಳ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ತಾಲೂಕುಗಳ ದಲಿತ ನಾಯಕರು ಹಾಗೂ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರು ತಮ್ಮ ನೂರಾರು ಸಮಸ್ಯೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಭೆಗೆ ಹಾಜರಾ ಗಿದ್ದರು. ಜಿಲ್ಲಾಧಿಕಾರಿಯ ಮಿನಿ ಕೋರ್ಟ್ ಹಾಲ್‌ನಲ್ಲಿ ಆಸನಗಳ ಕೊರತೆ, ಇಕ್ಕಟ್ಟಿನಿಂದಾಗಿ ದಲಿತರ ನೇಕರು ನಿಂತುಕೊಂಡೇ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸಬೇಕಾಯಿತು. ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತೀವ್ರ ಆಕ್ಷೇಪ ವ್ಯಕ್ತವಾ ಯಿತು. ಇದೇ ವೇಳೆ, ‘ಇದು ಕಾಟಾಚಾರದ ಸಭೆ. ಹರಕೆಯ ಬಯಲಾಟ. ನಮಗೆ ಕುಳಿತು ಕೊಳ್ಳಲೇ ಅವಕಾಶವಿಲ್ಲ. ಇನ್ನು ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಪರಿಹಾರವಾಗುವುದೆಂತು’ ಎಂಬ ಅಸಹನೆಯ ಮಾತು ಕೂಡಾ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದ ದಲಿತರಿಂದ ಕೇಳಿಬಂತು.

Sullia: Subrahmanya Bandh on Made Snana a Huge Success

Sullia: Subrahmanya Bandh on Made Snana a Huge Success Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP) Sullia, Dec 6: The call for Subrahmanya bandh, given by devotees of Lord Subrahmanyeshwara Temple in protest against what they call as outside interferences in the affairs of the temple, efforts to meddle with sanctity and customs of the temple etc on Monday December 5 evoked total response. Thousands of devotees, local people and students, who participated in the protest meeting organized on the occasion, placed a rightful demand for the continuance of the Made Made Snana ritual, which people perform in conformity with their religious vow as a gesture of gratitude to the Lord for favours granted, particularly curing skin-related diseases. Veteran astrologer, Vidwan Kabyady Jayaram Acharya, delivering the main address at the meeting, criticized the leftists and so called intellectuals for poking their noses into unnecessary affairs, and termed them as remnants of the British administration era.  “A well-planned conspiracy to create a rift among the Hindu community has been hatched. People belonging to Malekudiya community, who enjoy a special status in the history and functioning of the temple, have always been staunch devotees of the Lord. They are backed by pure devotion towards the temple deity, and no one should try to incense them on this issue. Made Made Snana has not given rise to any problem to anyone. We at Subrahmanya have not found any adversity in this custom. How could people living far away have noticed them? Thousands of people have joined here to support the sanctity of the temple voluntarily. Made Made Snana is performed by devotees at their will and free of cost. Let the concerned conduct scientific tests and prove that it is harmful, before banning it. No one should test the tolerance levels of Hindus. This malicious propaganda appears to be aimed to stopping the exodus of devotees which the temple has been witnessing since the last many years,” he said. Acharya called upon Hindus to work as a united force to protest against wrongs their religious centres may be compelled to endure. He said he had been brought to Subrahmanya  by his grandmother when he was 16, to seek the Lord’s blessings to cure the red blisters that had appeared on his body. He said he performed Made Made Snana and his ailment was cured, never to appear again till now. Lakshmissha Gabladka also asked the people not to allow their faiths and beliefs to get dented by efforts being made by unconnected people. He advised the officials coming to the temple to study the history, belief systems, and faith of the people, before meddling with its affairs. Sullia Block Congress president, Venkappa Gowda, expressed the opinion that orders which interfere with longstanding religious faiths of the devotees should never be issued. A number of people including leaders from Dalit and Malekudiya communities participated, and supported the continuance of Made Made Snana ritual in the temple. Rajesh N S welcomed. Harish Injady proposed vote of thanks. Satish Koojugodu presented the programme. http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=123922

Made Snana kukke Subrahmanya temple

To fulfil vows, they rolled over on plantain leaves containing scraps of food

Devotees do 'Made Snana' at Kukke

Subrahmanya (DK dist), December 10, DHNS:

The controversial 'Urulu Seve' or the 'Made Snana' was observed by the devotees, amid protests at the Kukke Subrahmanya temple here on Friday.

Taking part in the much-criticised ritual at the temple were members of the educated middle class including retired judges, doctors, engineers who had arrived from different corners of the State. An amusing sight was that of policemen were deployed in and around the temple in view of protests held by some organisations, taking part in ritual. The ritual, which believers say cures ailments has been practiced in the temple for the last several years. “Inhuman” Members of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Awareness Forum and Dalit-Backward-Minorities Co-ordination Forum gathered in front of the temple to protest against the practice which they described as “inhuman”. K Shivaram of the Backward Classes Forum said it was “unfortunate” that the ritual was being observed in a temple which was administered by the Muzrai Department. He urged the government to take take immediate measures to stop the “unhealthy” ritual. Such blind beliefs will endanger the devotees’ health, he stressed. The protesters met temple Executive Officer Ningaiah and presented him with a memorandum. The protest received lukewarm response from the public. Some of the devotees expressed their ire over the protest.

‘Made snana' held on Krishna Math premises

The Hindu Devotees performing "Made Snana" in front of the Subrahmanya shrine in the Sri Krishna Math/Temple premises in Udupi on Wednesday.

Writer demands ban on the ritual in all temples

Over 20 people participated in ‘made snana' ritual held near the Subrahmanya shrine on the Sri Krishna Math/Temple premises here on Wednesday.

‘Made snana' is a ritual in which people roll on plantain leaves having leftovers of meal served to Brahmins.

Nearly 100 people had their meal near the Subrahmanya shrine in the afternoon. After receiving flowers, ‘tirtha' and ‘prasada' from Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami of Shiroor Math, over 20 devotees participated in ‘made snana'.

Dewan of the Shiroor Math P. Latavya Acharya said devotees roll over the leaves as part of a ‘harake' (offering) in return for fulfilment of a wish.

“The practice has been going on here since the last 500 years. Those who cannot go to Kukke Subrahmanya come here (to perform the ritual),” he said.

Asked about the controversy over ‘made snana' at the Kukke Subrahmanya temple, Lakshmivara Tirtha told presspersons that people had belief in the ritual since a long time. “If we don't allow the conduct of the ritual, it will amount to betrayal of the trust of the devotees,” he said.

Gururaj Bhat of Pernankila village in Udupi district, who participated in the ritual, said he had been participating in it for the last eight years.

“Good things have happened to me due to ‘made snana',” Mr. Bhat claimed.

The ritual is held in Subrahmanya and Vasuki temples in the region on Subrahmanya Shashti day.

Ban sought

Writer and social critic G. Rajashekhar said the Government should ban the ritual in all temples of the State.

“The Government has set a precedent by banning social evils such as ‘bettale seve' (worship in the nude) at Chandragutti, ‘ajalu paddhati' in the coastal districts and animal sacrifice in temples. There is no weight in the argument that ‘made snana' involves the belief of people and hence is sacrosanct. There is humiliation of the lower castes involved in the ritual,” he said.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article2675445.ece

Vedike to protest against ‘made snana' today

Karnataka Komu Souharda Vedike on Friday urged the Government to issue an Ordinance banning “made snana” in some temples in the State.

Vedike convener K. L. Ashok told presspersons here that the ritual was in vogue in temples at Kukke Subrahmanya, Udupi, Perdoor, and Belman in the coastal belt. He said it was a superstitious belief that ‘made snana' cured skin ailments. Among those who practised the ritual, Brahmins were in less number and a majority of them were Dalit and “Shudra” . The ritual was a conspiracy by “Purohitashahi” sections of society to ensure that lower sections of society remained slaves to them. Mr. Ashok said its practise, was against the principles of the Constitution. Mr. Ashok said the vedike would stage a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here on Saturday at 4 p.m. .

Dalit groups demand ban on the ritual

Staff Correspondent

The Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (B. Krishnappa), the Samata Sainik Dal (SSD), and the Bahujan Samaj Party staged a dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here demanding a ban on made snana at Kukke Subrahmanya temple and other temples in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts.

Samata Sainik Dal district unit president Vishwanath Petri said that it was a travesty that after 65 years of Independence people belonging to Dalit, Backward Classes and Minorities were still suffering at the hands of the Government and the priestly class.

Nothing illustrated this better than made snana where people belonging to weaker sections rolled on plantain leaves in which Brahmins had finished their meals.

What was even worse was that the practice was prevailing in the native districts of Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and Higher Education Minister V.S. Acharya. In a memorandum submitted at the Deputy Commissioner's office following Saturday's dharna, DSS district unit president Ramesh Kotian said “made snana” was inhuman and unscientific and hence it should be abolished by the State Government.

The Kukke Subrahmanya Math swamiji, who had reportedly said that “made snana” was a question of faith or belief and should not be opposed, should be arrested under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Higher Education Minister V.S. Acharya, who was supporting “made snana”, should be dropped from the State Cabinet. Deputy Superintendent of Police Nagaraj who mistreated Mr. Shivaramu at the Kukke Subrahmanya police station should be dismissed from service and legal action initiated against him.

Made Snana is an inhuman practice

 BANGALORE: Criticizing Higher Education Minister VS Acharya’s statement that ‘Made Snana’ is one’s own wish, writer K Marula Siddappa said, “Let him practise the inhuman ritual� himself.” Speaking after the inauguration of International Human Rights day and distribution of Manavatha awards organised by Nidumamidi Mutt and Manava Dharma Peeta, he said that the state has to take strong decisions against blind beliefs . Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamiji of Nidumamidi Mata said, “We should stop ‘Made Snana’, carrying night soil and other inhuman practices in the state.

Speaking on the occasion High Court Justice L Narayanaswamy said that employing dalits in such instances is a violation of human rights.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/made-snana-is-an-inhuman-practice/210775-60-119.html

Man killed for having food with Dalits in Uttar Pradesh

Sanjay Pandey, Lucknow, May 20, DHNS:
In a shocking incident, an old man was strangled to death allegedly by the members of his community for having food at a feast organised by a Dalit family at a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district, about 225 km from here. Ironically the victim also belonged to ''kurmi'' (a backward community).
According to police sources here, 65-year-old Paras Nath Patel and his members of his family were invited by the dalit family to attend the wedding ceremony of a girl at Kuruthuwa village in the district on Wednesday last. The “kurmi” community to which Paras Nath belonged had decided not to attend the ceremony and have food with the dalits as they considered them “untouchables”. Paras Nath, however, defied his community and his entire family had food with the dalits at the feast, which enraged the “kurmi” community of his village, sources said. Irked over Paras Nath’s defiance, the “kurmi” community held a “panchayat” at the village on Thursday to deliberate on the matter and take action against Paras. The members of the panchayat wanted to expel Paras Nath from the community for defying the diktat. The son of Paras, who was also present at the panchayat, alleged that the community members used expletives against Paras following which he had heated exchange of words with them. Some members of the panchayat allegedly strangled Paras with a towel killing him on the spot. A case of murder has been registered against seven people, sources said. The culprits had been absconding. Barely a few days ago, members of the “brahmin” community had refused to have food with dalits at a religious feast at a village in UP’s Maharajganj district. MORE AT http://www.deccanherald.com/content/163005/man-killed-having-food-dalits.html
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A village where dalits can't wear footwear or ride bikes

MADURAI: Villur, set in a typical agrarian backdrop with about 1,200 households was once a peaceful village that was until the dalits challenged the diktats of the upper caste' Thevars. 

For dalits of Villur, about 50km from Madurai and the scene of violence on Saturday night, buying a motorcycle was a sign of extreme luxury just few years back. But only after they managed to buy one they realized that the bigger challenge was riding it down the neatly laid Kaliamman street in the village that leads to their colony. 

When G Thangapandian (27), a dalit youth, decided to challenge the caste diktat that dalits should not ride motorcycles on Kaliamman street, it ended in a brutal attack on his house by a mob of over 500 persons, including women armed with broomsticks. 

"If I am alive now it is because of this grill gate," pointed out G Murugan, Thangapandian's brother. The gate was damaged in several places. "The mob tried to break open the gate with boulders, but left later on Saturday night," said Murugan, fear still evident on his face. 

The dalits, overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and economic status of the more influentialThevars, obeyed the diktats they did not wear footwear and they did not ride bicycles or motorcycles on Kaliamman street. "We are served tea in different tumblers and we are not entertained in the barber shops in the village," said Murugan's father Guru. 

The village has been a witness to the worst forms of caste discrimination, as even schools have become a platform for such practices. "My non-dalit classmates would demand that I address them as Ayya.' If I call them by their names they would abuse me with filthy words and threaten me," said M Palani, who just completed his Plus-Two in the higher secondary school in the village. 

It all started about ten years back when the family of Thangapandian, who owns a seven-acre land beside a poclain vehicle, questioned the restrictions imposed on dalits. "His family was immediately ostracized," said Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front secretary K Samuel Raj. 

In fact, the ferocity of the attack by the non-dalits, when they surrounded the Villur police station when the Madurai rural superintendent of police Asra Garg was inside on Saturday night, shocked even police personnel. "I have not seen such violent mob behaviour. We managed to escape their attack only because we had fire arms," said a police official. Despite Garg opening fire in the air to disperse the mob, 12 of the total 14 people injured during the violence were police personnel. The SP's vehicle was also damaged. "We have arrested 50 persons so far and are in the lookout for 150 more," said Asra Garg. Police officials say that the caste discrimination has social, economical and political facets and needs to be dealt sensitively. "To start with we will begin with strict law enforcement," said a senior police official. 

"Police see caste discrimination as a law and order problem. But it goes beyond that. A detailed study should be done on caste discrimination and untouchability in Tamil Nadu. The government should launch a campaign to spread the message that untouchability is not only an offence, but also a sin,'' said A Kathir, executive director of Evidence, a NGO.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/A-village-where-dalits-cant-wear-footwear-or-ride-bikes/articleshow/8147427.cms

Asra Garg IPS addresses long-time caste issue after playing his role during elections

06 May 2011

Posted 06-May-2011 Vol 2 Issue 18 When a 400-strong mob came rushing towards the Villur Police Station armed with lethal weapons, and burning tyres, there were few options for Madurai (Rural) Superintendent of Police, Asra Garg. He had to protect himself and the lives of the three constables with him. Grabbing a .303 rifle in his hand, he fired a few rounds in the air, warning the mob to disperse. The sound of gunshots knocked the senses back into the hysteric crowd and it retreated under the cover of darkness 31-year-old Asra, a 2004 batch IPS officer, got nearly killed on the night of May 1 because he dared to challenge the status-quo in a village near Madurai, about 450 km from Chennai. Impeccable Police Service: Asra Garg has demonstrated time and again what effective policing means  At Villur, the upper caste Thevars don’t allow the Dalits to ride on motorbikes in their streets. A Dalit youth who had broken the rule was assaulted and his house attacked. Asra, who has been in the news for some of his bold actions against corrupt politicians and criminals, ordered action against the dominant community for the attack against the Dalit youth and five persons were arrested under various sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. He told the Thevars clearly that untouchability was an offence and it won’t be tolerated. However, after the police left the village, the Thevars attacked the homes of Dalits. Hearing about the attack, Asra, who had just left the village returned, only to face the mob’s fury. Later, police arrested about 54 persons in connection with the violence. Asra, who was one of the officers appointed by the Election Commission during the run-up to the April 13 State Assembly elections to ensure conduct of ‘free and fair’ polls, had taken strict action against ruling party functionaries who tried to distribute money to voters. For this, he had earned the wrath of DMK strongman and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s elder son, M K Alagiri, who is based in Madurai. However, it was not the first time he had rubbed a powerful politician on the wrong side. During a by-poll to the Tiruchendur Assembly seat in 2009, he slapped a case against the ruling party’s candidate Anita Radhakrishnan for soliciting votes beyond the deadline for campaigning. He had also seized a car belonging to the candidate’s son for transporting huge stock of liquor bottles without proper license. Activists have welcomed Asra’s crackdown against the obnoxious practice of untouchability, which is rampant in southern districts, but rarely confronted in the manner that Asra did. “It is good the SP has admitted the existence of untouchability and has sternly warned those who practise it,” says A Kathir of Evidence, a Madurai based human rights outfit that has documented the different forms of discrimination the Dalits are subjected to in Tamil Nadu. “Untouchability cannot be tolerated,” Asra reiterated, and promised to take proactive measures to end the practice. That an IPS officer is willing to implement the law in letter and spirit is truly encouraging. http://www.theweekendleader.com/Heroism/474/Friend-of-Dalits.html

Beef controversy a result of socio-political change in Eflu

Nikhila Henry, May 5, 2011, 05.03am IST

HYDERABAD: Is the beef war raging in English and Foreign Languages University (Eflu) campus rooted in the changing caste composition of the varsity? While the controversy at the face of it seems to be about inclusion of beef in the mess menu, sociologists and political analysts say that the real problem is a growing resentment among certain caste groups against the increase in the number of dalit and BC students on the campus.

According to faculty members of university, with the implementation of OBC reservation (22.5 per cent) and an increase in the number of dalit students taking admission even in the general category seats (about 6 per cent), other caste groups on campus seem to be nursing a grudge against the changing caste composition of the university. "The beef controversy only brought the fight out in the open," they say.

"Eflu till four years ago was just an institute (Centre for English and Foreign Languages) which did not have an integrated variety of students. And an elite, caste group used to be the face of this institute. But the change of the caste composition that happened soon after its conversion into a central university (2008) created a strong resentment among certain faculty and student members. This resentment, however, is not usually spoken about," explained a faculty member of the university. However, with the beef controversy the divide is visible, he added. Currently, out of the 2,500 seats in the university over 56 per cent are from dalit and BC students.

While some cited the emergence of a strong dalit group on campus for the reason for the beef controversy, political scientists said that the fight is not just about a resentment against reservation. In fact, a larger cultural battle is brewing in the background, analysts pointed out. "The university is going through a transitory period where certain traditional cultural forms including that of food culture are getting challenged and uprooted. Eating beef in public becomes a part of the assertion of dalit identity which is considered unholy by other castes," said Prof G Haragopal, political scientist and faculty University of Hyderabad.

Political scientists said that a discourse on food in the country, especially when centred around beef has larger implications. "Certain food items in the state are associated with certain caste groups. Beef is identified with SC/ST and some section of OBC castes," explained Prof Kancha Iliah, political scientist, Osmania University.

Sociologists said that Eflu's beef feud could actually be a milestone in the dalit movement, where a food culture, less celebrated in society is trying to breach its way through established social norms in educational institutions.

However, this is not the first time that such a challenge is being taken up by students. In 2005, in a similar incident, Dalit Students Association (DSU) of University of Hyderabad had established a beef stall on their campus during a cultural fest, Sukoon, a practice that has been repeated till date.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-05/hyderabad/29512501_1_beef-controversy-beef-war-eflu

HC orders notice to govt on boycott of dalits

TNN, Apr 27, 2011, 06.48am IST

MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Tuesday ordered issue of notices to the home secretary, secretary of the Adi Dravida Welfare, Dindigul collector and superintendent of police in a petition alleging that the double-tumbler system and other caste discriminations were rampant in Velayudhamputhur village in Dindigul district.

In his petition, K Kaliyappan of Velayuthamputhur pleaded that there was a social boycott of the members of the scheduled caste people living in Therkutheru, Velayudhamputhur in Palani taluk. The teashops in the village, run by S Chelladurai and N Kamaraj, supplied tea to some dalits in disposable cups while the non-dalits were given glass tumblers. He said out of the 1400 families in the village, 300 belonged to the SC community. They are also not allowed to sit on benches in the shop on par with the non-dalits.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-27/india/29478204_1_hc-orders-notice-dalits-social-boycott

Dalit officer retires, 3 held for ‘purifying’ his office

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Thiruvananthapuram, April 21, 2011
The Kerala police on Wednesday arrested three officials of the state registration department for cleansing the office of the inspector general of registrar with cow dung and water. Former inspector-general of registration AK Ramakrishnan had complained last week that a section of officials had clean

sed his office and official car after his retirement from the service on March 31.

Hailing from a scheduled caste community, he had complained that the ritual was held to ‘purify’ the office premises after his exit.

Blaming the department officials, he said they bore a personal grudge against him as he refused to bend on several occasions. Since he was a Dalit, the ritual was held to insult his dignity, he added.

The Kerala state human rights commission has sought a detailed report from the state registrar general. The national scheduled caste commission has also sought a report from the state.

“On the day of my retirement, some officials burst crackers and distributed sweets in the office. The next day office furniture and car were cleansed with dung and water,” he said. For Hindus cow dung is sacred and they believe that it has got some purifying properties.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/thiruvananthapuram/Dalit-officer-retires-3-held-for-purifying-his-office/Article1-688133.aspx

Three held for ''cleansing'' retired dalit officer''s room

PTI | 02:04 PM,Apr 21,2011

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 21 (PTI) Three government employees were arrested in connection with an alleged 'cleansing act' in which cowdung water was sprinkled in the room and on the furniture used by a senior official belonging to a scheduled caste community. The alleged cleansing was carried out at the Registration office following the retirement of Inspector General of Registration, A K Ramakrishnan on March 31. Ramakrishnan has approached the Human Rights Commission seeking a probe into the matter. A Junior Superintendent at sub-registrar office, an Upper Division clerk at the Registration IG's office and a class four staff have been arrested in this connection, police said today. The three employees were not in good terms with Ramakrishnan and their action was due to personal enmity, they added. Ramakrishnan in his petition had stated that the 'cleansing' was performed as he belonged to an SC community and it amounted to violation of his human rights and civil liberties. Meanwhile,the government has decided to appoint V K Balakrishnan as Registration IG in place of the person who was holding charge of the post now.

Dying Young

A 27-year-old Dalit student commits suicide in a prestigious research institute while itsadministration calls it a death because of a love affair, the students allege that the administration has failed in its duties  

Vidhi Choudhary, Delhi 

To the horror of his friends, Linesh Mohan Gawle, a second year PhD student from the NationalInstitute of Immunology (NII), Delhi, was found frothing from his mouth in his hostel roomon Saturday morning, perhaps because he consumed a chemical from the laboratory. He wasdeclared 'brought dead' by Fortis hospital soon after.

 

"We cannot believe our friend is not with us anymore," said a fellow student, on condition ofanonymity. "It is a sin to openly dissent at NII, unlike in JNU, where students can at least speak their hearts out without fearing butchery of their degree and career. There is just no protocol to check teachers' behaviour with students so we cannot afford to come out openly against anyone who terrorises us on campus, like JNU students can," he lamented. NII is affiliated with the School of Life Sciences, JNU. 

"Suicide is an ultimate step a person takes when all other support systems have failed. For every one suicide like this, we can assume ten others who might just cross the line," said Kamalini Mukherjee, a JNU student researching on the subject of suicide. Even though the science research institute claims of 'excellent counselling services' on campus, the students allege that they are not satisfactory since students are increasingly resorting to death, as a way out of stress.

"If we say we want to work from home, we're forced to stay in hostel, and made to over-work inlabs, including on weekends, without any upper limit on hours we spend there. The 'best student'is made out to be the one who makes excellent presentations on weekends. The rest of us aretargeted and shamed publicly, week after week, if we're falling short of Sunday-standards thatseem to endlessly increase," confessed another student.

"We're living like slaves here, unable to satisfy our masters, and some of us, like Linesh, just snap when we're unable to tolerate more," alleged a student.

On the administration's stance that it was a 'love affair' or a 'personal problem' that stressedhim and led to suicide, there seems to be no one on campus who has heard of Gawle's partner, while most seem to connect with his depressed state of mind, revealing the urgent needof a positive, structural change in the way NII staff treats students.

"We want an impartial enquiry into the incident as Linesh was a bright, promising student, whoeven scored 98 percent marks in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) test, nota small task," said Sandeep, president of All India Students' Association (AISA), JNU. "This is a case of dalit oppression by upper caste elites, who dominate everywhere, including ineducational institutions," alleged Shephalika Shekhar, also from JNU.

http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2011/04/3933

'Cleansing ritual' after Dalit officer retires

Thiruvanthapuram: Kerala is a state that is known for its high literacy rate and social awareness and so when a senior Dalit government officer found cow-dung sprinkled over his furniture and even inside his car, reportedly as a part of 'cleansing ritual' on retirement, it was shocking for many.

55-year-old A V Ramakrishnan has petitioned the Kerala Human Rights Commission.

In his complaint, he said the 'cleansing' was done as he was a Dalit and demanded strict action against the perpetrators.

The officer said a section of the employees were behind the incident as they bore a grudge against him for his uncompromising stand.
"This is not only an offence against an individual like me but also the community which I belong, I will not leave things half way, I will pursue it to the end," Ramakrishnan said.

The human rights commission has now asked the Secretary of Taxes to submit a detailed report on the incident by May 7.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/dalit-officer-s-car-cleansed-with-cow-dung-on-retirement-97333?cp