Nicholas Chinappan, the Director of IRDS, presented the Trajectory of Tamilnadu Land Rights Federation during The East Asia Evangelization Center (EAEC) international symposium. EAEC, which was established in 2013 to carry out the mission of evangelizing Asia, celebrated its 10th anniversary. In commemoration of this, EAEC held an international symposium on June 7-9 at the Spiritual Education Center of the Suwon Diocese in Yongin, one settlite city of Seoul, under the theme of “Synodality, Interaction, and Solidarity of Asian Catholic Church for the Future.”
EAEC was started in 2013 as a response to the universal church’s proposal for the establishment of a research institute to meet the Asian evangelization mission expected from the status of the Korean church.
Following the keynote lecture on ‘Synodalitas for Evangelization in Asia in the 21st Century’, various themes such as ‘Synodalitas for the Public Good in Asia’, ‘Korean Church’s Asia Mission Experience and Synodalitas’, “Accompanying for the People: Korea-Japan Catholic Exchange Meeting of Bishops” and others were dealt with.
Among the speakers were Archbishop Felix Machado, Archbishop of Vasai, India, Fr. Felix Wilfred (India), Fr. Vimal Trimannan (Sri Lanka), and Fr. Steve Bevans (US). Mr. Nicholas Chinappan (India) and Fr. Jojo Fung (Malaysia), representatives of IRDS and IMCS-AP respectively also joined.
While presenting the Trajectory of Tamilnadu Land Rights Federation, Mr. Nicholas Chinappan deliberated on the situation of Dalit communities in India, especially in Tamilnadu; How Agriculture, village structures, private property, etc. functions in the context of Dalits, Social Exclusion based on dissent, Discrimination, marginalization, and occupation-based violations; Sanctioned and justified by religious hegemony, Belief in Karma – destiny. Then he spoke about ‘The Political economy of Dalits’, Where Slavery operates based on caste, although Dalits make up the Major workforce, Labour capital, and key source in food production. How Dalits are Landless through enforcement and belief of a rigid system; Where Reward is attached to conformity and punishment for change. Where Dalits are Beaten to death, starved to death, sexual abuse, a negation of knowledge, bonded labor, etc.; Land entitlements & Loss of control over land.
He later on delivered on the series of events that led to the establishment of IRDS beginning from the Villupuram riots in 1978, The Popular reassertions by Dalit communities for dignity and identity in the region. The Iconisation of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar (the chief architect of the Indian Constitution), the Formation of Ambedkar Peravai (Forum) and Ambedkar Mandrams (Associations – clubs)in the region, and finally the Establishment of registered legal entity – IRDS (Integrated Rural Development Society) in Villupuram.
IRDS brought about a new beginning of popular awareness on Land entitlements among Dalits (inclusion of non-traditional communities in village administration and revenue matters – new VAOs in 1980) – Landowners, commons, boundaries, resources, fish, etc. This also led to the Rediscovery of Panchami Land and the emergence of reclamation lobbies and Advocacy actions which led to the John Thomas and Elumalai killings in Karanai, then Chengalpattu District in 1994.
Mr. Nicholas also shared how the Entry of Neo-Liberal policies (the 1990s) negatively impacted the survival, growth, and development of Dalits, precisely The introduction of Neo-Liberal economic policy and programs…, Industry and economic growth takes precedence over people’s life (Habitation, culture, displacement, negation), Structural Adjustment Programmes, Single window clearance, Land Acquisition Act, Entry of mega projects, Special Economic Zones, Nuclear plants, Thermal plants, Hydro projects.
This made clear that there were widespread growth-centric violations and revolts such as Agitations and actions against land grabbing, and resource grabbing taken up by various movements, individuals, and communities -Tribals, fishers, and coastal people struggle, forest dwellers, Dalits struggle, Mining – Major and minor minerals, Highway and Road expansion projects, PPP centric mega projects, Industrial corridors, Tourism projects, and Wildlife sanctuaries.
Mr. Nicholas lastly comprehended the collective response of the Tamilnadu Land Rights Federation (TNLRF) by stating how they began to Politicize the resources and addressed the issue collectively, Sensitively approached the regional habitats and eco-systems, embraced the Significance of geo-cultures, Challenged the trickle-down model, Challenged map nationalism, Revisited administrative concepts and language and mainly Reached out to other struggles – through solidarity building.*