Dear Kunjuppu,
I do not know whether you have stayed in New Delhi in the recent past.After the Dravidian parties came to power in Tamilnadu,they wanted to extend their influence on Tamilians living in
other major cities of India.Influential politicians from Tamilnadu started driving poor tamils owning little agricultural land mostly from areas near about Salem.There was exodus of illiterate rural Tamilians
from Salem to New Delhi and settling in urban slums paying bribe money to local leaders.
During 80s,every house in New Delhi started engaging these tamil people as domestic helps.Wards of these persons started joining all DTEA schools and that was the main reason for parents who can afford taking away their children from DTEA Schools and putting them to other well known institutions.While most of these Boys dropped from School at some stage,a few boys have really come up in life and I commend them.
Once I had to meet one Rajya Sabha DMK member in Tamilnadu guest house.His name is MISA Ganesan.When I asked him about these unfortunate people from Salem and why Tamilnadu Govt should not extend assistance to these people,he informed me that he is not aware of such people living in New Delhi.He proudly announced that he is yet to make his maiden speech in Rajya Sabah though he has been MP for the past two years.
My sister in law and brother in laws wife were teachers in DTEA School.They were getting their Salaries (now Pension) from Govt Of New Delhi.
dear sir,
thank you. i have never lived in new delhi and all that i know of dtea aka madrasi schools, have been through classmates at my college (45+ years ago) and from the newspapers.
i also believe that it is always 'fashionable' for people reaching a certain age, decrying the destruction of a world that they knew and cherish.
none of the above may be true for dtea. but i remember reading that dtea was taken over by the delhi govt. i am hoping that the erstwhile tambram teachers of dtea, welcomed the poor rural salem children, instead of expressing dismay or exhibiting prejudices, which though may not be overt, will easily be detected by those against whom these were targetted.
admittedly they would have had to put extra efforts towards these kids, but then had they given some thought, they would have appreciated the handicaps these kids faced, vis a vis, the brahmin children, who came atleast from a middle class household, and with a family intent on education.
i always feel that caste has been the bane of our society, and it is a sad reflection, that whenever lower caste children or even adults, are admitted to previously exclusive or elitist organizations, they would have to experience a level of prejudice and discrimination, that not even the blackest indian would ever face in the usa or even in a racist europe.
please do not treat this note as anything personal against you. i am just reading in between lines your post, and feel completely disheartened, that after 67+ years of freedom, the weakest of the weak of india, still dont have a fair or fighting chance to make it in this world. all due to the prejudices and machinations of the castes above them.