A CASE STUDY ON ARUNTHATHIYARS IN TAMIL NADU

History – Development

Arunthathiyar (Chakkiliar) is one of the three main subcategories of Dalits or scheduled

caste in Tamilnadu, India. The other two subcategories are Paraiyar and Pallar. In the ancient
days Arunthathiyar are also called as Pagadai. The term Pagadai refers to the persons those who
would stand in front during the war and the main duty is to fight with their enemies and win over
the war. Latter these pagadai were known as Chakkiliar. Some of the terms used for this
community are; Chakkiliya meaning beef eaters, Pagadai meaning they are dice in the caste
game, Mathari meaning useless. Most of the Scholars feel that this scheduled caste originated in
Andhra Pradesh as the day went by people of this caste migrated to Tamil Nadu in 17 th Century.
There is also another history which says that these people are originally Tamil kings who ruled
the area around Tagadur (Dharmapuri) later they were taken as captives in war to Andhra and
Karnataka. When they returned to their natives in the 16 th century they were divided into two
groups: Kannada-speaking as Madiyars and Tamil – speaking as Chakkiliyars. From then on they
called themselves as Adi Tamizhar
Occupation
Arunthathiyar Dalits are most oppressed people among the Dalits. They live in
depressed conditions in the society. Though they never touched the dead cattle still they worked
with leather materials. The traditional profession of this community is working as bonded
laborer, manual scavengers, cobblers, agricultural laborers, construction workers. They do beat
drums during the funeral of the upper caste families for which they are paid either paddy or rice.
They have to do the digging the grave yard and other formalities at the death of the other case
people. They are not allowed by the upper caste people to enter into the village temple for
worship. Thus they were given a low social status in the society. They are treated as
untouchables not only by the upper caste but also by the other dalit subcategories. Hence they
are called Dalit among Dalits.

Socio Economic Situation

Arunthathiyar community is forced to live in isolated place called as cherry in rural
areas and slums in urban areas. They are not permitted to draw water for their use from the
common well or pipes. Even in hostels and tea shops they are discriminated, mistreated, given
separate tumblers and plates. These untouchable practices make them to feel that they are
inferior to them. As a result their children are insulted and humiliated when they have a higher
aim in their life. As per SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989, these sorts of practices are
offense against the human persons. Though there is a separate Act to prevent the people of
Arunthathiyar community still the upper caste people dominate them and continue the
untouchable practices. Whenever they stand and fight for their rights the upper caste people
threaten them and these people are physically abused, degraded with sexual remarks.
 Arunthathiyar Dalit families are in below poverty line. As per the data we have
only 10% of the people of this community have small piece of land. Due to which they receive
loans for high interest from the upper caste people. As the day goes by they struggle to pay back
the loan because of the low wages. At the end the whole family goes into the bonded labor and
start working for low wage in order to pay back their debts. Regarding the women working in
agricultural farms, brick factories and blue stone quarry, they endure sexual harassment and
abuse from the upper caste owners. They work in constant fear of sexual violence. They do not
have safety.

Addiction to Alcoholism

The biggest evil which ruins the life of men and women is that alcoholism. Almost
90% of the adults are addicted to alcohol. Around 60% of their daily wages are spent only for
this. Because of which they have deterioration of health, negligence of child care and
continuation of poverty.

Early Marriage and Desertion of Wife

Most of the Arunthathiyar women are illiterate and unskilled. So to escape from
the sexual abuse these young girls are forced to marry at the very young age of 13 – 18. After
marrying the girls soon get pregnant. Because of the repeated pregnancy at very closer intervals
their health is spoiled. The desertion of wife is the common practice among the Arunthathiyar
community. So if the man decides to abandon his wife, he can marry another girl. But the woman
has to live alone. Because of which there are broken families and single parenthood is found in
this community.

Education

As per the findings only 1.75 % people of Arunthathiyar community are literates while
98.16% are illiterates. Because of the poverty only 0.16% of the people have just completed
their 10th STD in school and the rest of the children in the rural areas work as bonded laborers in
the agricultural farms of the upper caste. Children in the urban areas work as temporary workers
in restaurants, hostels and garages so on. If they tried to complete 12th they are unable to
continue further studies due to poor economic stability.

Total Population – Current Status

Arndhathiyars are the vast majority of the community in Tamil Nadu. The total
population is 18.27 lakhs in Tamil Nadu. They are spread to other states like Kerala (40507),
Andrapradesh (13109) and Karnadka (2959). 62% of communities live in rural areas and their
literacy rate is 60%.

Conclusion
 Government offers 18% of reservation to the minority out of which there is only 3% is
given to the Arunthathiya community. But the sad thing is that this benefit of the Government is
not reached to the people. The Government has to ensure that Arunthathiyar’s children get
education and help them to come up in their life.