Fighting for a Final Rest: Dalits Build a Wall of Resistance Against Caste Walls

In Tamil Nadu, Dalit communities continue to face severe discrimination through the erection of walls that block their access to essential public spaces. These walls are primarily built around cremation grounds, forcing Dalits to take longer routes for cremation, everyday tasks, or in emergency situations. The community’s ongoing struggles have led to widespread protests and demonstrations as they demand basic human rights and equal access to public spaces.

One such protest took place in Shivakasi, where Dalits voiced their anger against a real estate company that had constructed a caste wall along the road to the cremation ground. This 8-meter-high wall, built in the village of Vishwanatham, Virudhunagar district, was a significant physical and symbolic barrier, preventing Dalit families from accessing the cremation ground in their village. In response, Dalits attempted to demolish the wall, but their efforts were met with severe backlash. False cases were filed against them, and many were beaten up by both the police and ‘upper-caste’ groups. The situation escalated until the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M) took over the protest, helping to channel the anger into a sustained movement.

Several militant protests erupted outside the police station and at the Shivakasi taluk headquarters. After a series of prolonged demonstrations, the real estate company finally backed down. On October 1, 2024, a bulldozer was brought in, and the wall was demolished, granting over a hundred Dalit families access to their cremation ground. The demolition was a significant victory for the Dalit community, but it also highlighted the continued systemic discrimination they face in Tamil Nadu.

The building of caste walls has become a worrying trend across Tamil Nadu. In the village of Mathoor, in Kallakkurichi district, a 20-foot-high wall was built to block the Dalits’ path. This wall prevented students from attending school and patients from accessing medical care. The Dalit community, led by the Ayithocchadana Munnani (Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front led by CPI(M)), organized protests to demand the wall’s demolition. Despite facing resistance from upper-caste groups who tried to stop the demolition-even with weapons-the efforts were successful. The tahsildar and local police had to step up to support, following the massive protests and in October 2023, the revenue divisional officer ordered the complete removal of the wall, restoring access to the Dalit community.

In Ramalingapuram village, also in Virudhunagar, the struggle for a walkway to the cremation ground had been ongoing for years. After a prolonged protest in front of the district headquarters, a discussion with the tahsildar took place on October 5, 2023, but no concrete solution was reached. Officials blocked the creation of a new walkway to the cremation ground, and Dalit representatives were humiliated when they went to present their demands. This led to the escalation of the protest to the second phase, with a sit-in organized outside the tahsildar’s office. The extended protests eventually forced officials to address their concerns, and Dalits were granted the justice they had long fought for.

The Ayithocchadana Munnani has been instrumental in leading similar protests across the state, including in Tittacheri in Nagapattinam district, where a hunger strike was organized to demand a pathway to the cremation ground. Entire villages, united in their demand for basic rights, participated in the hunger strike, sending a strong message to the authorities.

Similar struggles have unfolded in Venmani (Chengalpattu district) and Jayamkondan (Cuddalore district), where Dalit communities have faced obstacles in accessing cremation grounds. Despite the setbacks and the oppression they face, Dalits in Tamil Nadu are determined to fight. The struggle for equal access to public spaces-particularly cremation grounds-continues to be a flashpoint for caste-based discrimination.

Courtesy: Desh Abhimani

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