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Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 11, 2019

Ragavan (2009) has recalled his own experiences in respect of the caste barriers in
Tamil society. “I remember entering a barber saloon (barbers belonged to the

oppressed castes) when I was small and asking the barber if he will allow Dalits

(untouchables) into his saloon. There was a big muscular farmer standing next to me
and he slapped me, because he was angry that I should even ask such a question.

Eventually, the barber saloon was closed, as the barber was scared of the upper
castes. After the saloon was closed, the barber started visiting people’s houses and

performed his work. Thus, particularly in the villages the caste system was very

strong. With the service castes of that time, there was no question of workers’ rights;
whether you were paid or not, you were expected to work.” Therefore, caste

injustice was one of the visible realities of life in the Tamil society.

Many elderly people from the depressed castes were interviewed by the researcher
and they confirmed that they had to suffer numerous deprivations as a result of the

caste injustices they had faced over the years, even as children. An elderly Tamil
citizen from VVT described an injustice inflicted on him at that time as a result of

the caste system that prevailed in Tamil society.

“We are toddy tappers of the Nalavar caste. We did not have an opportunity to live

on an equal footing with the Vellalah people in the 1960s and 1970s. When I was
eight years old, I suddenly got fever and went to get medicine for it with my mother.
As I was not feeling well, I sat down near a Vellalah caste person in the medical

center. He became very angry and scolded me and my mother. My mother and I
came outside immediately” Key Informant 1 (12.11.2018).

The experience related above is sufficient to illustrate how the rights of deprived

lower caste Tamil people were violated by the high caste groups even as late as in
the 1970s. Depressed castes could not wear trousers, shorts, and shoes even when

attending school in the 1970s. Also, they had to keep some distance from Vellalah

caste students in the schools, including inside the classroom (Drawn from focus
group discussions held with lower caste Tamil citizens on 12.11.2018 in Meesalai).

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