Nicholas, where do you come from? What are your roots?
I come from a small village named Ayandur, in Villupuram District of Tamil Nadu. I have one brother and four sisters. Originally from the Dalit community, my father and mother were ordinary landless agriculture workers, working for a landlord in the village. But one day, my father enrolled the British army. Ever since that, my father never wanted his children to go back to the landlord as workers since he felt that landless peasants’ conditions were extremely horrible. He wanted us to take another road. Therefore, he preferred to send his children to school. Unfortunately only my brother and I had the opportunity to go to University, with the support of the Christian missionaries and the Jesuits.
What about your education, your personal and professional evolution?
I did my under graduate studies at The Saint Josephs in Trichy in Chemistry. Later on, I did my Masters in History. When I was at University, I was actively involved in the All-India Catholic University Federation [2] which was my basic orientation to go back to my community in order to serve them for their own development.
When and why did you decide to work with and for the Dalits?
As I explained earlier, it was my association with AICUF which oriented me to work for the Dalits. This was also strengthened by the sharing of my father’s experiences while he was a bonded labourer with the local landlord. It was at that time when I was an eye witness to a horrible attack on the Dalits in Villupuram town on 26th July 1978, which resulted in the brutal killing of 12 Dalits and burning down of 2000 Dalit houses. All this made me work for the Dalits.
Do you think events such as the recent election of Mayawati Kumari [3], a Dalit, is a first victory to a better future for Dalits and for justice in India?
We cannot say that Mayawati electoral victory is a victory for Dalits. There are other political issues to be discussed when we talk about Dalit empowerment. Maybe later on we can specifically discuss about these issues.
Have you observed concrete evolutions in your different actions?
We are basically involved in Dalit human rights monitoring and struggles related to dalit land rights by inciting them to share the common property resources in all the villages. We are also involved in integrating Dalits in private sector including education and industrial sectors. Our struggles evolved from the basic needs of the Dalits such as drinking water, housing, burial grounds, schools and hospitals to the present struggles of land rights and other rights.
Tell us about your most important victory in this world.
The first important victory is the Panchami land struggles of the Dalit women in three villages which allowed the Dalit women to get land in these three villages. Even if it is not personal it is an essential one.
Also read: Resonances Asia N°15 - June 2007
