Oral Testimonies of Sexual Violence Victims of Puthirai Vannar Women in Tamil Nadu – A Caste and Gender based Approach

Abstract

The issue of women's rights within the Indian caste society remains an ongoing debate. While the Constitution of India guarantees equal rights to all citizens, the practical implementation of these rights often remains stagnant. As a result, caste-based atrocities against women continue to persist across all caste groups. However, Dalit women are the most vulnerable among all women, who face a triple burden of discrimination based on caste, class, and gender. Their social status is considered impure by other caste groups, subjecting them to severe marginalization. This paper examines the specific atrocities faced by Puthirai Vannar women; a community historically treated as "unseeable" within society. While non-Puthirai Vannar Dalit communities also face caste-based oppression, the Indian caste hierarchy ensures that power and dominance are continuously reinforced by upper and intermediary caste groups. The Puthirai Vannar community is often regarded as the "untouchables among the untouchables," facing discrimination from other Dalit subcastes. These, communities also consciously uphold purity norms within Dalit communities, further perpetuating exclusion and oppression as non-Dalits. This research explores how Puthirai Vannar women are victimized through an intersectional lens, considering both caste and gender-based violence. This study presents testimonies and case studies from the northern districts of Tamil Nadu to highlight their lived experiences.