Battling caste in Tamil Nadu

Anti-Dalit violence in the state exposes the underbelly of the Dravidian Movement

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The idea of social justice has shaped politics in Tamil Nadu for over a century. Political parties that subscribe to E V “Periyar” Ramasamy’s anti-caste ideology have had an uninterrupted run in office since 1967. Yet, caste violence, mostly targeting Dalits and perpetrated by members of castes under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, continues to roil Tamil Nadu, highlighting not just the administrative failure of successive governments but also the ideological hypocrisy of parties subscribing to the Dravidian Movement that takes pride in its anti-caste roots.