The_Showstopper
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2011
- Messages
- 6,708
- Reaction score
- -3
- Country
- Location
Religious symbol war between two villages touches a new high
Last Updated: 19th March 2017 05:26 AM | A+A A- |
CHENNAI: Turf war over which religious symbol should adorn a hillock along Chengalpattu highway has fuelled a communal clash between caste Hindus and Dalit Christians of two neighbouring villages in Chengalpet 50 km from the city.
The hillock bordering these villages is now a sight in itself with over a hundred ‘namams’ (tilak) painted on it. A closer look reveals that these symbols were painted over the ‘holy cross’ which were painted earlier.
This overtly symbolised hillock bordering the two villages - Alagusamudram and Sogandi - in Chengalpet became the bone of contention after caste Hindus demanded removal of the statue of ‘Piatha’ (Mother Mary With Jesus Christ’s lifeless body in her lap) from the top. This led to a clash between Dalit Christians and caste Hindus, according to the locals.
Rocks on the hillock where religious symbols (Namam and Holy Cross) were painted over the other at Alagusamudram village, Chengalpattu | Express
Revenue authorities demolished the statue after caste Hindus from Alagusamudram protested, contesting that the hillock lies in their jurisdiction. Adding fuel to the fire, a Dalit youth was allegedly stripped, beaten up by the upper caste people recently. A strong sense of animosity is palpable at Sogandi with black flags hoisted in front of all houses and a strong police presence.
In this backdrop, Chengalpattu Sub-Collector V P Jayaseelan has convened a peace committee meeting for the second time in a week to pacify the situation.
Speaking to Express, Dalit villagers recalled a familiar situation five decades ago in Sogandi village when a violent clash with the caste Hindus led to bloodshed following which the Dalits resettled in the periphery of the village and got converted to Christianity en masse.
Incidentally, the caste Hindus from neighbouring Alagusamudram village with whom the Dalit Christians have locked horns were now more accommodative compared to people in their own Sogandi village then, villagers recalled.
However, relationships begin to get strained in 2006 when the Dalit Christians erected a bigger statue of ‘Piatha’ on the hillock. A section of caste Hindus from Alagusamudram opposed this, fearing and suspecting conversion attempts.
Last year, during the Christmas eve, grand arrangements were made on behalf of the Dalit Christians to celebrate Christmas. Smaller statues and holy crosses were set up along the path to the Piatha statue and the hillock was illuminated with artificial lights.
Irked by this, on the day of Christmas in 2016, Alagusamudram villagers organised a protest along the Chengalpattu highway demanding removal of all statues from the hillock in ‘their’ limit.
Sub-Collector Jayaseelan held talks with the protestors and crowd dispersed after tahsildar V M Seetha gave in writing that ‘encroachments’ would be cleared at hillock.
However, the district administration’s failure to act on their promise led to severe protests on December 31 as Dalit Christians were gearing for New Year celebrations. Amidst heavy police presence, the controversial ‘Piatha’ statue and the holy crosses were brought down by the revenue authorities.
For a settlement of just about 100 families, Sogandi hosted about 1000 policemen, riot vehicles, ambulances and fire engines, terrifying the villagers.
Police force was deployed for the next four weeks to avoid untoward incidents. However, tension resumed once the protection was withdrawn. A minor clash over a verbal duel was followed by caste Hindus painting symbols of ‘namam’ over holy crosses which were earlier painted on the rocks in the hillock on February 19.
Things took an ugly turn on March 3, when Kumaresan, a 26-year-old daily wage labourer en route to Pulleri village via Alagusamudram late evening in an inebriated state was allegedly thrashed up by caste Hindus. A holy procession was being taken out in Alagusamudram village then. Caste Hindu people claimed that two men were injured because of Kumaresan’s reckless driving. Dalit Christians denied it.
According to police, Kumaresan was stripped and beaten up when he tried to escape from the hold of the caste Hindus. “It took three hours for us to convince the police and even get first aid for him (Kumaresan)”, said T Dhakshanamoorthy, Sogandi village headman. A case filed by Kancheepuram police based on Kumaresan’s complaint was under investigation.
“Remove all the remaining ‘encroachments’ in the hillock and continue prayers in your patta land,” read the posters distributed during BJP’s protest regarding it at Tambaram, Chennai last week.
In this backdrop, the Sub-Collector again convened a peace meeting on March 15.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cit...o-villages-touches-a-new-high-1583034--1.html
Last Updated: 19th March 2017 05:26 AM | A+A A- |
CHENNAI: Turf war over which religious symbol should adorn a hillock along Chengalpattu highway has fuelled a communal clash between caste Hindus and Dalit Christians of two neighbouring villages in Chengalpet 50 km from the city.
The hillock bordering these villages is now a sight in itself with over a hundred ‘namams’ (tilak) painted on it. A closer look reveals that these symbols were painted over the ‘holy cross’ which were painted earlier.
This overtly symbolised hillock bordering the two villages - Alagusamudram and Sogandi - in Chengalpet became the bone of contention after caste Hindus demanded removal of the statue of ‘Piatha’ (Mother Mary With Jesus Christ’s lifeless body in her lap) from the top. This led to a clash between Dalit Christians and caste Hindus, according to the locals.
Rocks on the hillock where religious symbols (Namam and Holy Cross) were painted over the other at Alagusamudram village, Chengalpattu | Express
Revenue authorities demolished the statue after caste Hindus from Alagusamudram protested, contesting that the hillock lies in their jurisdiction. Adding fuel to the fire, a Dalit youth was allegedly stripped, beaten up by the upper caste people recently. A strong sense of animosity is palpable at Sogandi with black flags hoisted in front of all houses and a strong police presence.
In this backdrop, Chengalpattu Sub-Collector V P Jayaseelan has convened a peace committee meeting for the second time in a week to pacify the situation.
Speaking to Express, Dalit villagers recalled a familiar situation five decades ago in Sogandi village when a violent clash with the caste Hindus led to bloodshed following which the Dalits resettled in the periphery of the village and got converted to Christianity en masse.
Incidentally, the caste Hindus from neighbouring Alagusamudram village with whom the Dalit Christians have locked horns were now more accommodative compared to people in their own Sogandi village then, villagers recalled.
However, relationships begin to get strained in 2006 when the Dalit Christians erected a bigger statue of ‘Piatha’ on the hillock. A section of caste Hindus from Alagusamudram opposed this, fearing and suspecting conversion attempts.
Last year, during the Christmas eve, grand arrangements were made on behalf of the Dalit Christians to celebrate Christmas. Smaller statues and holy crosses were set up along the path to the Piatha statue and the hillock was illuminated with artificial lights.
Irked by this, on the day of Christmas in 2016, Alagusamudram villagers organised a protest along the Chengalpattu highway demanding removal of all statues from the hillock in ‘their’ limit.
Sub-Collector Jayaseelan held talks with the protestors and crowd dispersed after tahsildar V M Seetha gave in writing that ‘encroachments’ would be cleared at hillock.
However, the district administration’s failure to act on their promise led to severe protests on December 31 as Dalit Christians were gearing for New Year celebrations. Amidst heavy police presence, the controversial ‘Piatha’ statue and the holy crosses were brought down by the revenue authorities.
For a settlement of just about 100 families, Sogandi hosted about 1000 policemen, riot vehicles, ambulances and fire engines, terrifying the villagers.
Police force was deployed for the next four weeks to avoid untoward incidents. However, tension resumed once the protection was withdrawn. A minor clash over a verbal duel was followed by caste Hindus painting symbols of ‘namam’ over holy crosses which were earlier painted on the rocks in the hillock on February 19.
Things took an ugly turn on March 3, when Kumaresan, a 26-year-old daily wage labourer en route to Pulleri village via Alagusamudram late evening in an inebriated state was allegedly thrashed up by caste Hindus. A holy procession was being taken out in Alagusamudram village then. Caste Hindu people claimed that two men were injured because of Kumaresan’s reckless driving. Dalit Christians denied it.
According to police, Kumaresan was stripped and beaten up when he tried to escape from the hold of the caste Hindus. “It took three hours for us to convince the police and even get first aid for him (Kumaresan)”, said T Dhakshanamoorthy, Sogandi village headman. A case filed by Kancheepuram police based on Kumaresan’s complaint was under investigation.
“Remove all the remaining ‘encroachments’ in the hillock and continue prayers in your patta land,” read the posters distributed during BJP’s protest regarding it at Tambaram, Chennai last week.
In this backdrop, the Sub-Collector again convened a peace meeting on March 15.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cit...o-villages-touches-a-new-high-1583034--1.html
after hundreds of years you still consider it foreign culture. At least you can reform your political mindset if not the common one
