PT leader Krishnasamy endorsing community’s demand that it be removed from SC list triggers debate

In response to Puthiya Tamilagam leader K. Krishnasamy supporting the idea of bringing seven sub castes (Pallar, Kudumbar, Pannadi, Kaalaadi, Kadayar, Devendrakulatar, and Vadhiriyaar) under the category ‘Devendrakula Vellalars’, VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan recenlty said that ‘Dalit outfits’ coming together as a particular ‘caste’ will only perpetuate and strengthen Hindutva forces.

In 2015, BJP national president Amit Shah endorsed a similar resolution passed at an event organised by Devendra Charitable Trust in Madurai. “It cannot be right because a Dalit outfit is asking for it,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said at the presentation of Ambedkar Awards in Chennai recently.

Though this has been a long-standing demand of the community, what caught everyone’s attention was Dr. Krishnasamy endorsing the community’s demand that it be removed from the Scheduled Caste list.

“Why must the government give reservation to the community only ‘SC’s? There is a general feeling amongst community that it comes with a stigma,” he said in a television interview recently.

The demand seems to have risen out of the hope, say leaders of the community, that a change of name and removal from the SC list would erase the stigma of being labelled ‘Scheduled Caste’.

VCK general secretary D. Ravikumar said the demand was in complete contrast to that of traditional upper caste Jats and Patels, who have recently demanded that they be given reservation in the ‘Other Backward Caste’ category.

“The anger is genuine, but their understanding that they are facing discrimination because they are in the SC list is erroneous. The SC list was created by B.R. Ambedkar in independent India, but didn’t discrimination of the Devendra Kula Vellalars exist for hundreds of years,” he asked, adding, “But, we all have to honestly ask the question ‘Why is there so much anger?”

‘Let community decide’

Dalit intellectual and writer Stalin Rajangam supported Dr Krishnasamy’s demand, albeit with a few reservations. “If a caste community wants to get out of SC list, I will support it. Whether it is possible and under what circumstances, we have to debate that,” he said.

Dismissing the idea that the BJP was behind the mobilisation, he said it shouldn’t be the job of just the Scheduled Castes alone to annihilate caste, while others use caste connections and shore up the interests of their community. “Caste is not just an economic or political issue; it is also a psychological one. Having decided that the inferiority mindset needs to change, the community wants to rename itself and is willing to come out of SC list. Why must they alone be blamed? The demand has been there for 30 years now,” he said, adding, “But, without a doubt, it is an attempt to position themselves as one of the dominant castes.”M. Thangaraj, convener, Devendra Charitable Trust, rubbished the criticism levelled by other political leaders, saying that they don’t want the community to get rid of the stigma attached to them and wanted to keep themselves within the contours of ‘Dalit and reservation politics’. “When a community is deciding on its own about how it wants to be perceived and project itself, who are these people to comment and criticise?”