Kausalya could immediately relate to the tearful face of the woman who lost her sweetheart to the schemes of her parents and brother. Like Neenu in Kottayam, Kausalya in Palani is also a victim of the so-called “honour killing”.
She has seen her beloved husband Shankar being hacked to death on the street. She refused to buck down to the dictates of the caste system. Instead, she stood up to the false pride of the upper-caste communities.
“Everyone wants to listen to my love story but I keep listening to tragic stories,” said Kausalya, who has been spearheading a campaign against caste discrimination in Tamil Nadu since her father’s goons hacked her dalit husband.
“I had heard about the fate of Neenu and Kevin. Such things happening in Kerala! We have to work for a law against ‘honour killing’,” she said.
Kevin P Joseph was kidnapped from his house in Kottayam last month. He was found dead in a rivulet near Kollam the next morning. Neenu’s father and brother have been arrested in connection with the case.
Parental hatred
Kausalya’s life had a tragic trajectory just like that of Neenu. From a devastated girl contemplating suicide to the saviour of many, Kausalya has come a long way. She is a darling of the people in the nondescript Kumaralingam village near Palani.
She met Shankar while they were studying in an engineering college in Pollachi. They were drawn to each other. They got married despite the protests of her family.
Kausalya’s parents kept pestering her to leave the man from the lower caste. When she refused, they sent goons after the couple. Shankar was killed in the attack near the Udumalpet bus stand. Kausalya was grievously hurt and spent months under therapy.
Back to life
Kausalya bounced back to life with a determination. She launched a crusade against caste differences by forming an association on the second death anniversary of Shankar. The Shankar Social Justice Trust works to empower dalit women and to protect victims of “honour killings”.
She has found ample support from women’s associations, dalit groups and leftist outfits.
She has turned a vocal critic of the caste system and its horrors. She challenges the patriarchal society even in her attire and attitudes. Is she not worried about a backlash? “I am not one to buck down. I am the ‘granddaughter’ of Thanthai Periyar,” she said.
She joined a degree course and found a job. She has kept aside a part of her earnings to run a tuition centre for underprivileged children. She supports the education of Shankar’s siblings, Vikhneswar and Yuvaraj.
Monument to love
Shankar’s sacrifice has turned into an inspiring tale. A lot of progressive people frequent his village. Even people from Kerala go to the tomb of the fallen man to vow to fight the caste system.
“There was a time when my world centered around Shankar’s love. That love has given me a bigger motivation. Many people are still being hounded for marrying someone from another caste. I will always be there for them,” Kausalya said.