The
present generation of Dalits take for granted a number of rights and
freedom. It would be interesting and instructive for them to be told the
experience of 'small people' went through in the days of their grand
parents and parents.
Long long ago, the 'small people' were considered sub-human. They shared pulling of plough with bullocks. They were thought of as two legged draught animals. They were not allowed any kind of freedom. All the human rights were denied them. The 'high' people used the 'low' people as slave labour. Yet they considered the very sight of a 'low' as evil or bad omen.
There was a fixed distance, 'theenda-ppadu', to be kept between the 'low' and 'high'. Theeya/Ezhava and Pulaya kept 16 feet and 64 feet respectively from a Nair. Any 'low' who went "...closer than the prescribed one 'theenda-ppadu' towards a Nair will be chopped down" was the old Caturvarnya rule. The King 'finished' a Nair who disregarded this rule.
The 'low' were recognised by the black colour of their skin; light complexioned among them being identified by their uncovered upper body. Now cloth was permitted to be used after being blackened with coal dust or ash. Slippers (wooden), umbrella (of palm leaf), clean cloth, expensive jewellery was not permitted for the 'low's. Only a Namboodiri(Kerala Brahmin) used umbrella in rain- definitely unusual for a place where it rains six months in a year.
The 'upper' said 'hoy' as he walked along paths and lanes. The oncoming 'low' replied 'njaavo' to give the former warning and for the latter time to hide behind bushes or thickets.
It was the women who suffered most. They were not allowed to cover their breasts. One of the stories popular in Kerala at that time was about a poor woman who covered her breasts and appeared before the queen only to have them cut off. Even the castes who were eligible for the upper cloth removed it on meeting a person of higher caste.
Taxation had reached such ridiculous 'sophistication' that a breast tax was charged from women, exposing the limitations of South Kerala's economic development; This inspite of brilliant economists of Kerala like John Mathai et al having contributed to laying of India's economic foundation in the First Five Year Plan.
Due to the uncleanliness of the 'low' peoples' attire, their women's virginity was a plaything in the hands of the upper castes. Not that the upper castes were way far ahead in cleanliness.
Even language spoken by the 'low' was perverted to meet the needs of oppression. The use of the word 'Me' or 'I' was never allowed to be used. They spoke to the 'upper' with palms covering the mouth. Denigration reached a particular high by refering to child birth in the family as 'dropping of a monkey'
The 'low' were not allowed anywhere near the temples. Similarly, Post office, court, hospital, public well and other public establishments banned their entry. Even markets were out of bounds for them.
On the judicial front, the 'low' people were given cruel punishments even for petty crimes.
As to feeding of the workers in the aftrnoon, they were fed in banan leaf spread near a garbage pile when the pet dog was fed in a plate in the courtyard.
Long long ago, the 'small people' were considered sub-human. They shared pulling of plough with bullocks. They were thought of as two legged draught animals. They were not allowed any kind of freedom. All the human rights were denied them. The 'high' people used the 'low' people as slave labour. Yet they considered the very sight of a 'low' as evil or bad omen.
There was a fixed distance, 'theenda-ppadu', to be kept between the 'low' and 'high'. Theeya/Ezhava and Pulaya kept 16 feet and 64 feet respectively from a Nair. Any 'low' who went "...closer than the prescribed one 'theenda-ppadu' towards a Nair will be chopped down" was the old Caturvarnya rule. The King 'finished' a Nair who disregarded this rule.
The 'low' were recognised by the black colour of their skin; light complexioned among them being identified by their uncovered upper body. Now cloth was permitted to be used after being blackened with coal dust or ash. Slippers (wooden), umbrella (of palm leaf), clean cloth, expensive jewellery was not permitted for the 'low's. Only a Namboodiri(Kerala Brahmin) used umbrella in rain- definitely unusual for a place where it rains six months in a year.
The 'upper' said 'hoy' as he walked along paths and lanes. The oncoming 'low' replied 'njaavo' to give the former warning and for the latter time to hide behind bushes or thickets.
It was the women who suffered most. They were not allowed to cover their breasts. One of the stories popular in Kerala at that time was about a poor woman who covered her breasts and appeared before the queen only to have them cut off. Even the castes who were eligible for the upper cloth removed it on meeting a person of higher caste.
Taxation had reached such ridiculous 'sophistication' that a breast tax was charged from women, exposing the limitations of South Kerala's economic development; This inspite of brilliant economists of Kerala like John Mathai et al having contributed to laying of India's economic foundation in the First Five Year Plan.
Due to the uncleanliness of the 'low' peoples' attire, their women's virginity was a plaything in the hands of the upper castes. Not that the upper castes were way far ahead in cleanliness.
Even language spoken by the 'low' was perverted to meet the needs of oppression. The use of the word 'Me' or 'I' was never allowed to be used. They spoke to the 'upper' with palms covering the mouth. Denigration reached a particular high by refering to child birth in the family as 'dropping of a monkey'
The 'low' were not allowed anywhere near the temples. Similarly, Post office, court, hospital, public well and other public establishments banned their entry. Even markets were out of bounds for them.
On the judicial front, the 'low' people were given cruel punishments even for petty crimes.
As to feeding of the workers in the aftrnoon, they were fed in banan leaf spread near a garbage pile when the pet dog was fed in a plate in the courtyard.
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