State bans book claiming SC-Pallars as original rulers of Tamil land

by Maria S Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:53 pm

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/state-bans-book-claiming-scheduled-caste-as-original-rulers-of-tamil-land/article4820915.ece

A book written by an author belonging to the Pallar community, one of the Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu, claiming that Pallars are the original settlers of fertile river tracts in Tamil land, and southern Tamil Nadu’s rulers, has been banned by the State government.
Written by K.Senthil Mallar, the 624-page yet to be released book titled Meendezhum Pandiyar Varalaru (Resurgence of Pandiyar History) is an attempt towards caste identity construction and antiquity that the Pallars were rulers of Tamil land but enslaved by invaders during the 17 century.

The book (a copy of which is with The Hindu) contains photographs of inscriptions, scanned copies of documents, community certificates and other related documents claiming that they are the descendants of Pandyas.

*I am not sure..why they would ban this book and why it's so "dangerous"..looks like this book has historical supporting documents and pictures..*am sure there will always be people who will believe the info and others who will not..I would like to read it and draw my own conclusions.

by Maria S Mon Jun 17, 2013 3:59 pm

Since it has been banned..this book is gaining more publicity via social media which is buzzing (I would not have paid any attention to it!)..the author is going to be well-known.

There are many interesting discussions..learning some new info too.

by Seva Lamberdar Mon Jun 17, 2013 4:20 pm

The Govt. probably is scared to justify the continuation of quotas in future for "scheduled castes" according to this book.

Since the consideration in scheduled caste quotas was the historical poverty and deprivation of scheduled caste people, this book (indicating the scheduled castes in the past as rulers in TN, as late as the 17th century) completely negates that criterion and makes the caste based quotas for scheduled castes wrong and unjustifiable.

It’s good to have such books (backed by authentic historical records and documents) shedding light on the folly of Govt. in granting quotas in education and jobs etc. to people thinking wrongly that they were historically deprived as backward and scheduled castes etc.

by Maria S Mon Jun 17, 2013 4:38 pm

I am not sure if that is the reason for the book ban, but, that's an interesting take Seva!

*I would like to read the book before commenting..don't know anything more..which groups were involved, who is implicated (if they are)..and how it is all narrated.

But, there is no question that there was caste-based oppression and all kinds of "open discrimination"...even in my lifetime..

Did all groups classified as backward and scheduled caste deserve quotas-NO.

Has the time come to end caste-based reservations? My answer would be perhaps for some historically oppressed/discriminated groups, and not for others..depends on other factors.

Think we have different perspectives on this one:)

by Petrichor Mon Jun 17, 2013 4:47 pm

Maria,

Do you agree with a means-tested grant of 'reservation benefits'?

by Seva Lamberdar Mon Jun 17, 2013 4:49 pm

Seva Lamberdar wrote:The Govt. probably is scared to justify the continuation of quotas in future for "scheduled castes" according to this book.

Since the consideration in scheduled caste quotas was the historical poverty and deprivation of scheduled caste people, this book (indicating the scheduled castes in the past as rulers in TN, as late as the 17th century) completely negates that criterion and makes the caste based quotas for scheduled castes wrong and unjustifiable.

It’s good to have such books (backed by authentic historical records and documents) shedding light on the folly of Govt. in granting quotas in education and jobs etc. to people thinking wrongly that they were historically deprived as backward and scheduled castes etc.

Hopefully, others (non-SCs/OBCs) will use the information in this book (showing SCs as the ex-rulers in TN) and ask the Govt. to immediately scrap the present system of caste based quotas in education and jobs (currently only for OBCs and SCs) and instead have the Govt. in future implement a system in which Govt. assistance (in education and jobs etc.) is given only according to the economic consideration (to people living near or below the poverty limit / line) without any consideration of caste or religion.

by Maria S Mon Jun 17, 2013 4:54 pm

It is time for the Govt to review..all the classifications of BC and SC groups.

I have no objection to means-tested grants for certain BC and SC groups.

*If it is done fairly and efficiently on a case by case basis.

by Seva Lamberdar Mon Jun 17, 2013 4:57 pm

"I am not sure if that is the reason for the book ban, but, that's an interesting take Seva!"

>>> Maria, whatever the book says, it will be an excellent tool to ask the Govt. to scrap the silly caste based quotas in education and jobs and instead have a uniform economic consideration in Govt. help to people (based on the poverty line / limit of potential recipient).

by Maria S Mon Jun 17, 2013 5:04 pm

Seva, it will be interesting to see how various caste-groups respond to the book!

Obviously most caste-groups have "their own pride-I am the decendant of royalty" claims.. as we say in tamil "raja parambarai..mannan parambarai"..not to mention high IQ claims..

Seriously, am for keeping an open mind and changing my perspectives.. if I am convinced that "the info is factual"..and the inevitable changes with time-practical considerations.

by Kayalvizhi Mon Jun 17, 2013 9:18 pm

I am opposed to banning books.

I am against these castists dividing Tamils.

by Seva Lamberdar Tue Jun 18, 2013 7:03 am

Do you agree with a means-tested grant of 'reservation benefits'?

OBC (Other Backward Castes) and SC (Scheduled Castes) categories were randomly created (by using different castes) initially by the Govt. to grant quotas in education and jobs.

As this book also shows, there was no real basis for the caste criterion to assist people other than collecting votes by Govt. in return for the benefits to people.

Furthermore, this book debunks another lie that SCs / dalits have been suppressed and impoverished for ages, 3000 years or so. In reality, they even might have been the rulers in India until only a few centuries ago.

Here is more on the caste quotas according to another historical documentation (Macaulay‘s report), “Macaulay report refutes the caste basis for quotas” ….
http://creative.sulekha.com/macaulay-report-refutes-the-caste-basis-for-quotas_591797_blog

　

by Maria S Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:03 am

Kayal,

Agree..don't see the need to ban this book, and to "create divisions" tamilians (or anyone) by caste is not a good thing at all. Unfortunately, caste-related divisions (across the range from upper to lower castes- trigger raw emotions) are always beneath the surface..and flare up when kindled and fanned in "subtle/sophisticated" or openly in violent ways.

Good morning dear Seva,

Will read the Macaulay Report..

On a slightly different note..we talk about India, and how complex it can be to find ways to address historic inequalties.. In 2013, it's hard to believe in the USA..to fix "simple gender-based pay disparities" can still face obstacles: Gov. Rick Perry from the great state of Texas vetoed the "Equal Pay Act for women" for the usual false reasons:

http://news.yahoo.com/texas-governor-rick-perry-vetoes-equal-pay-bill-221618240.\
html

Excerpt:

"Texas Governor Rick Perry has some bad news for Texas women. On Friday
afternoon, the one-time presidential hopeful notified legislators that Texas
would not join the federal government and 42 other states that have addressed
gender-based wage discrimination. Their bill, which installs state-level legal
protections similar to those enacted by the federal Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
of 2009, had a lot of momentum before reaching Perry's desk. Last month the
legislation, along with two separate amendements, cleared both of the state's
chambers, and it would have made Texas the 43rd state in the Union to have
passed such legislation."

by Seva Lamberdar Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:45 am

Maria S wrote:Agree..don't see the need to ban this book, and to "create divisions" tamilians (or anyone) by caste is not a good thing at all. Unfortunately, caste-related divisions (across the range from upper to lower castes- trigger raw emotions) are always beneath the surface..and flare up when kindled and fanned in "subtle/sophisticated" or openly in violent ways.

Good morning dear Seva,

Will read the Macaulay Report..

Good Morning dear Maria.

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Re: State bans book claiming SC-Pallars as original rulers of Tamil land

Re: State bans book claiming SC-Pallars as original rulers of Tamil land

Re: State bans book claiming SC-Pallars as original rulers of Tamil land

Re: State bans book claiming SC-Pallars as original rulers of Tamil land

Re: State bans book claiming SC-Pallars as original rulers of Tamil land

Re: State bans book claiming SC-Pallars as original rulers of Tamil land