Renaming Localities in Tamil Nadu: A Step Against Caste Stigma
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian History (Sangam Literature, Bhakti Movement, Vijayanagar Empire), Indian Polity & Governance (Constitutional provisions against untouchability - Article 17, Social Justice), Indian Society (Caste system).
Mains:
GS Paper 1: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India; Social empowerment; Role of women and women’s organization, population and associated issues, poverty and developmental issues, urbanization, their problems and their remedies.
GS Paper 2: Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population; Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.
GS Paper 4 (Ethics): Attitude and Foundational Values for Civil Service (empathy, compassion towards weaker sections); Social influence and persuasion.
Key Highlights from the News
Tamil Nadu Government's Decision: The Tamil Nadu government has decided to remove village names indicating caste abuse, especially those ending in 'colony,' from government records and assign new names.
Main Problem: In rural Tamil Nadu, the word 'colony' has come to denote a place where a specific caste group resides, leading to a social stigma and a mark of 'untouchability'.
Historical Background:
Social segregation based on the varnashrama system began around the 12th century. It became more entrenched during the Chola and Vijayanagara empires.
However, in ancient Tamil literature (Tolkappiyam, Sangam period works), the word 'chery' referred to a common residential area and did not have derogatory connotations.
Irony of the word 'Colony': Initially used by European colonial powers to denote their elite colonial spaces, the word 'colony' later came to be used in India to refer to places inhabited by lower castes.
Objective: This decision is a 'symbolic' and 'historic' move to promote positive social change and enable social integration. The new names will be those of flowers, poets, or scientists, avoiding political leaders' names.
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