People remembering freedom fighters’ caste over valour: HC

Madurai: Expressing anguish over the fact that people were remembering the caste of freedom fighters instead of remembering their valour to protect the country, Madras high court refused to interfere with an order passed by the authorities denying permission to a man who sought to install a statue of freedom fighter Veerapandiya Kattabomman on his patta land in Ramanathapuram district.The court was hearing the petition filed by S Kumarasamy.Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy observed that the perusal of the prayer sought by the petitioner shows that no authority or no court would deny the same, considering the fact that Veerapandiya Kattabomman was a great freedom fighter and is a hero to everyone in this part of the world. However, the authorities rejected the permission to install his statue on the ground that the petitioner and his caste people are tracing casteism to the said great king/leader also and, on that basis, now the statue is sought to be installed on the private land.The authorities in their rejection order noted with pain how the erection of statues and memorials of some other great leaders who fought for our freedom are now taking the shape of caste consolidation. When the people are forgetting the valour of the freedom fighters who fought to protect the country, they are just remembering their caste. Sadly, the authorities are being forced to pass such an order to refuse permission to install a statue, the judge observed."The constitutional mandate to create a casteless egalitarian society cannot be forgotten," the judge observed and added that when the rejection order is passed, keeping that in mind, it cannot be interfered with. Already, a memorial for the freedom fighter was constructed by the govt in Panchalankurichi in Tuticorin district, and nothing prevents the petitioner or others from paying their respects to the great freedom fighter at the said site, the judge observed and disposed of the petition.