Tackling caste pride and prejudice, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The DMK government in Tamil Nadu will consider legislation against caste-based hate crimes and 'honour' killings after pressure from allies [CPI, CPI(M), VCK].
• Justice K.N. Basha will head a Commission to provide recommendations to the government on enacting legislation.
• Since 2016, the CPI(M) has fought for justice in 118 such cases, with potentially an equal number unreported.
• In March 2025, it was reported that 12,114 self-respect marriages have been registered in Tamil Nadu since 2018.

Detailed Insights:

• Inter-caste couples, particularly those involving a Scheduled Caste (SC) member, are vulnerable to violent retaliation in Tamil Nadu due to deeply entrenched caste pride.
• The constitution of the Basha Commission is viewed as a tactic to postpone action on a sensitive issue, especially with upcoming Assembly elections.
• Political parties often hesitate to take a firm stance against honour killings due to concerns about alienating their support base, particularly among influential intermediate communities.
• Despite Tamil Nadu's history of social justice movements and the legalisation of self-respect marriages, enacting laws to protect inter-caste couples remains a challenge.
• Political parties often reinforce caste identities through their electoral strategies, such as fielding candidates based on community demographics.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Honour Killing: Murder committed to protect or restore the alleged honour of a family.
• Caste Pride: Belief in the superiority of one's own caste, leading to discrimination.
• Self-Respect Marriage: Marriages without rituals, promoted by Periyar, to break caste barriers.