As a result, since “the witness cannot go to the court”, wrote the Englishman, “the court must go to the witnesses”. Naturally, more often than not, it was not the words spoken by the hapless witness that finally made their way to the judge. Here they raised Ayyankali, providing him a better life than was open to most of their caste-men. He purchased a bullock cart, already an act of defiance; and then, with great fanfare, a turban wound around his head, he proceeded to make open use of a road where people of his caste were strictly prohibited. Unnerved, the government agreed at last to his demands, throwing open large numbers of schools to Dalits across the board.

Source: Mint April 13, 2018 23:37 UTC