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Session 2 - Universalising Caste: Spatio-temporal variations
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Vibha B Madhava
3:06
Hello and welcome to Session 2 of the panel discussion on 'Universalising Caste: Spatio-temporal variations.'
3:07
Prof Akash Poyam, the moderator, introduces Semmalar Selvi, professor at Loyola College, Chennai. She begins her talk about 'Caste in Tamil Nadu'.
3:08
Coming from a marginalised community, she talks about the gap in the understanding of freedom within the caste dynamics.
3:11
Ms Selvi touches upon Dravidian politics, non-Brahmin movements and its influence on caste-relations in Tamil Nadu. However, she says that it was particularly "anti-caste."
3:13
Ms Selvi: "Tamil Nadu is a progressive state and we always talk about it. But, did that impact annihilating caste? I don't think we have been successful as a state in that sense."
3:14
She further raises questions about social justice in the state, especially in the lives of Dalits. "DMK was able to polarise and unify Tamils against the nationalistic views, however, there's more to it," she says.
3:16
The speaker adds that in Tamil Nadu, religious politics will not be successful directly. This leaves space for right-wing Hindutva politics to come for the caste outfits while aligning their agendas.
3:18
The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 was enacted by the Parliament of India to prevent atrocities and hate crimes against the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
3:19
Ms Selvi raises the issue of the deep friction between Other Backward Castes also known as OBC's (Shudras) and the Dalits resulting in mass violence.
3:20
"The need is to focus on who is attacking whom?" She adds that through the late 90s, atrocities were on the rise. Till today, there are 'honour' killings when people marry out of their caste. "So where is the progressive thought?" Selvi questions.
3:22
She expresses her personal opinions about DMK and AIADMK, the political parties in Tamil Nadu. "I don't expect too much from AIADMK either. They have now joined with right-wing BJP, and we have to be open about it," she opines.
3:23
Further, she addresses the criticism of DMK who label themselves as a 'social justice party'. Selvi: "Have they really done anything about it?"
3:24
She poses a critical question - "Inter-caste marriages in Tamil Nadu are also below five per cent. Can this be considered progressive politics?"
3:27
Ms Selvi further argues that in the context of increasing caste-based atrocities against Dalits, it is important to see how the present-day chief minister of Tamil Nadu wants to appease all backward classes rather than implementing necessary preventative measures.
3:28
She further cites the inhuman act of mixing human excreta with drinking water in the overhead water tank that was used by the Dalits in Pudukottai.
3:30
Ms Selvi expresses her strong viewpoint on the current status of politics in the state. She talks about the "open politics" of the right-wing BJP across India. "If Tamil Nadu continues like this under the shadows, it is concerning. I feel BJP is already in," she says.
3:31
Mr Selvi concludes by highlighting the "hopeless situation" and the need for change in  terms of caste relations in Tamil Nadu.
3:34
3:35
"Non-Brahmin movement should reshape and go along the anti-caste movement for it to be relevant," Ms Selvi answers an audience question about the reasons for Dalit oppression in Tamil Nadu.
3:39
Answering a question about the similarities between BJP and Tamil Nadu parties, she says that caste is a Hindutva agenda which people understand easily. She adds: "However, social justice is a nuanced concept which the political parties (DMK and AIADMK) should have threaded carefully by now."
3:40
Could the current ruling party in Tamil Nadu have handled the issue of caste atrocities better?
Yes (50% | 1 vote)
 
No (50% | 1 vote)
 
Total Votes: 2
3:41
3:57
The second segment of Session 2 on 'Universalising Caste: Spatio-temporal variations' commences now.
4:06
Akash Poyam, faculty member at ACJ introduces the speaker - Dr C Lakshmanan, associate professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS).
4:10
Dr Lakshmanan says that he is glad to be addressing the "young and elite students" of the Asian College of Journalism. He delves into the topic of 'caste today - the content, quality and salient features'.
4:15
He mentions three sources where the understanding of Indian caste has been reposited - Vedas, religious scripts; Colonial records, Census, anthropological studies; Films, documentaries and art.
4:18
Dr Lakshmanan: "Before Mandal commission the caste understanding was confided to reservations and atrocities were not deeply discussed in the public sphere."
4:19
He states five landmarks which are integral to understanding the caste dynamics today - The demolition of Babri masjid, the 73rd and 74th amendments, anti-caste politics, the de-regulation of the Indian economy and finally the Ambedkar centenary.
4:21
Further, he speaks about the impact of Dr Ambedkar's centenary in the 90s which made space for Dalits to celebrate their identity in public. "They came out openly saying "Dalit is dignified." It was a positive and aspirational hope in Dalit politics.
4:23
Dr Lakshmanan goes on to counter and criticize Tamil intellectual Raj Gautaman who said, "negate the existence caste."
4:24
He goes on to share a personal experience of interacting with Prof Bipin Chandra who said that "caste and untouchability are myths." He replied by saying, "JNU is not in India, come to my village I will tell you what caste is about."
4:25
Prof Lakshmanan highlights that caste needs to be addressed as objectively as possible by putting dignity of the human at the centre.
4:26
Going back to the fifth landmark of deregulation of Indian economy, he emphasises the thinly-debated interconnection of economy and caste.
4:27
Dr Lakshmanan: "In pre-colonial times, caste was not a uniform institution in India. But the colonial power took it and gave it a new lease of life to what we understand as caste today."
4:29
The speaker says that not all Dalits are facing the same type and level of social-political irregularities today. However, the Census (the third one in particular) classified caste into convenient classifications.
4:30
"Caste is local and regional specific. Caste is not reservation alone," Dr Lakshmanan opined.
4:31
Further, he brings the issue of the EWS quota to the forefront. "The biggest fraud without any rationale is the EWS quota. If frauds are ruling only these types of laws can come out." - he opined.
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