The Gowthojigudem village of Manoharabad mandal in Medak district, where the incident happened is situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad, underscoring the prevalence of caste discrimination in the state.
Published Sep 23, 2024 | 2:37 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 23, 2024 | 2:38 PM
Dalit family ostracized for refusing to play Dappu. (Wikimeidia/ representational)
Two Dalit brothers pursuing their education at Osmania University and working at a private firm in Hyderabad, have been ostracized in Medak district, along with their family for refusing to play “Dappu”—a caste occupation— for funeral processions.
The two brothers are postgraduates, while the elder brother Chandram Panchami (33), has an M Com, and the younger brother, Arjun Panchami (30), has an M.Sc.
While the incident occurred on 10 September, and the family filed a police complaint on 12 September, the incident came to light only recently.
A Dappu is a musical instrument, played by artists mainly belonging to the Madiga community (Scheduled caste community), during various events. While, it is a caste occupation, and has been used as a source to discriminate against the community, it has been over the years reclaimed by the Madiga community as a sign of resistance.
The Gowthojigudem village of Manoharabad mandal in Medak district, where the incident happened is situated on the outskirts of Hyderabad, underscoring the prevalence of caste discrimination in the state.
According to the FIR accessed by South First, the complainant, Panchami Chandram (33), informed that playing “Dappu” has been their family’s profession for generations, and he also used to play the “Dappu” for his livelihood. However, since a few months, he stopped playing, as he had taken up a private job in Hyderabad.
The complaint in Telugu read: “I have informed the same to people from our caste — Panchami Anjaneyulu, Panchami Pentaiah, Panchami Ganesh, and Panchami Srinivas. For which they too expressed their unwillingness to play the Dappu. I, then, informed the same to village elders belonging to the Mudiraj and Padmashali castes.”
Further speaking of the atrocity, Chandram wrote in the complaint, “On 10 September, they called us to the Gandhi statue in our village, where they further pressurised us to continue the caste occupation. When we refused, they humiliated us based on caste and threatened that, if we didn’t play Dappu, we have to return our land to the village.”
Gram Sabha resolution. (Supplied)
The FIR named 19 individuals who signed the panchayat order to socially ostracize the Dalit family. They include Boddu Venkatesham, Panchami Renukumar, Pogaku Sathyanaryana, Pogaku Narsimulu, Thalari Narsimulu, Karre Narsimulu, Karre Ananad, Karre Venkatesham, Karre Krishna, Parshaboina Narsaiah, Chukka Mahesh, Chinnabala Nagesh, Erra Krishna, Chapal Krishna, and Chukka Pedda Sathyanarayana.
The panchayat resolution, accessed by South First, reads, “We have repeatedly asked Panchami Shankariah’s sons and his family to play the Dappu, however, they have refused to do so. Upon discussing with others (Gram panchayat members) we have decided that no one should talk or interact with their family.”
The other points mentioned in the resolution written in Telugu read, “No one should go to their home. If they come to others’ houses, they should be asked to leave. If anyone fails to follow this resolution, they also will be ostracized.”
Chandram also mentioned in the FIR that, the gram panchayat levied ₹5,000 fine if anyone did not follow the resolution.
Speaking to South First, Chandram said, “Dappu is the traditional occupation of the people of my community. However, my brother and I are not interested in continuing this practice. We are both privately employed professionals with a master’s degree.”
“Despite resisting for the last five years, the elders in the village kept enforcing this practice on us, forcing us. On 10 September, they called a Grama Sabha and vilified us and our family publicly. They passed a resolution banishing us. We filed an FIR two days later. While there were 31 signatories, we filed an FIR against the 19 who targeted us the most.”
Chandram further said that it has become extremely difficult for him and his family to live in the village, and meet their basic necessities.
Confirming the same, a police officer from Manoharabad police station said, “The incident occurred on 10 September. The brothers filed an FIR on 12 September. They named only 19 people, but we took cognizance of the 31 other signatories as offenders as well.”
Speaking of the action taken, the police officer said, “We’ve arrested 16 accused till now while the remaining 15 are absconding.”
The case has been registered under SC/STs (POA) amendment act 2015, Sec 7(1)(b)(c) of Protection of Civil Rights (PCR)-1955.
On 21 September, the Telangana High Court directed the Medak Superintendent of Police and District Collector to take steps to provide relief and rehabilitation to the Dalit family ostracized by the villagers, and also provide police protection to the petitioner.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula.)
