KOZHIKODE: The 'Panthibhojanam' (inter dining of upper castes and untouchables) that recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is set to take a state-wide mode, as the Dalit activists feel that there should be a 'walk back' from Cherayi, to certain places in the state, where the caste division is visible. The walk, 'Sahodarya Swabhimana Yathra' will start on June 28 in Cherayi and end with a 'Panthibhojanam' in Perambra. The yathra will be flagged off by senior journalist B.R.P. Bhaskar at 3pm and will stop at Kalabhavan Mani memorial in Chalakkudy, said writer and activist Civic Chandran.
"The statistics on Kerala are painting a shiny picture of the state outside. However, this is just peripheral and the public should be made aware of it. We need to walk back from Cherayi and expose how the society still keeps some people as outcastes," he said. A group of Dalit activists will take out the march that will conclude at Perambra on June 30. Perambra was recently in news when the students from Sambava community were considered outcasts and other community children abstained from joining them. The activists feel that when the celebrities visit and share food with them, only they are in the limelight, and not the cause.
"When V.T. Balram, MLA or Arudhathi, activist, address the issue, these celebrities are in limelight, and not the cause. The issue should be addressed. When the 'Panthibhojanam anniversary was held in Cherayi, the chief minister was having a feast prepared by Pazhayidam Nambood-iri," said Mriduladevi Sasidharan, one of the organisers. The journey will also halt at Koottamkulam in Iringalakkuda, were allegedly a lane was banned for the dalits from entering. On June 29, the trip will be to Govindapuram in Palakkad. After the Panthibhojanam there, the team will move to Calicut University and join the Ambedkarite-Lohiaite students there. The yatra will conclude with atrip to Perambra, said Ms Mridula, adding that they were expecting cooperation from people from all walks of life.
