Caste discrimination has reached a state of abominable proportion in Tamil Nadu, which is ironically the birthplace of self-respect movement.
Forget the poor in villages and small towns, even doctors in major cities are abused and discriminated against by their colleagues and juniors calling them by caste names.
The latest incident is the humiliation faced by to Prof V Pugalendhi (52), the head of department of orthopaedics surgery and traumatology at government Rajaji Hospital and a faculty memeber at Madurai Medical College, both of which, are elite institutions in southern Tamil Nadu. Prof Pugalenthi, who holds a masters degree and post graduate diploma in orthopaedic surgery was instrumental in converting the department into the best organisation ever since he took over.
“Some of the faculty and staff of the department were opposed to the move to shift the orthopaedic surgery and traumatology to the new Trauma Centre since this would have prevented their business interests and private practice. All of them leave the hospital by 11:30 am for work in private hospital,” Prof Pugalendhi, the first ever Dalit to head this department, told DNA.
Hailing from a scheduled caste community, Prof Pugalendhi is quite often humiliated by his colleagues and juniors.
“You are the only untouchable scheduled caste dog and we will see to it that you are out soon,” Prof T Chandraprakasam, a colleague reportedly shouted at Prof Pugalendhi once.
The Hindus in his department were upset because Dr Pugalendhi questioned the late arrivals and unauthorised absence.
Though Dr Pugalendhi has raised the issue with his superiors, he is yet to get any relief. A letter addressed to chief minister Jayalalithaa (a copy of the same is available with this newspaper) remains unanswered.
Had he accepted offers which poured in from countries like USA and gone to work there, Prof Pugalendhi would have become a billionaire by this time, says his friend Vincent Raj Kathir who heads Evidence, an organisation tracking atrocities against Dalits.
Annamalai, a patient hailing from one of the nearby villages described Dr Pugalendhi as a doctor with a big heart. “I have never seen a doctor who is as kind to the patients as him. But upper caste doctors can never stand his popularity,” said Annamalai.
Dr Pugalendhi is not the only Dalit who faces this form of discrimination. There are other medical and government officials in Tamil Nadu who face humiliation because of their caste.
