An image of Dr Ambedkar was painted over without permission in Dharmapuri district on February 12, the management of a night school run by the well-known Tamil Nadu based anti-caste organization, Neelam Cultural Centre has alleged.
He also alleges that until Neelam Cultural took up the space, the land itself was being used by the Hindu-Hindu community for purposes such as washing clothes and was in a poor condition.
Neelam Cultural’s night school has images of Dr Ambedkar, Buddha, Tamil anti-caste leaders like Rettamalai Srinivasan, Periyar, Iyotheethass Pandithar and LC Gurusamy.
Neelam Cultural Centre is one of the several ventures begun by film director Pa Ranjith alongside Neelam Social , Neelam Publications and Neelam Productions.
Members of the Pattunool Co-operative painted over the two images on Saturday morning, Udhaya alleges, when no one was around.
It is also unacceptable that Dalit students have a space to assert their voice, finding ways to come up in life.
Now they are trying to act through the co-operative society that was running the handloom that used to be housed in the building used for the night-school,” she alleges.
“As a matter of fact, the person who was responsible for painting over the pictures, was the same person who was supportive of us when we started the night school.
They also have space to learn various sports and the organisers have even brought in local police to help with physical training for students aspiring to join the force.