Caste ConflictsCaste Conflicts

An incident at Chunduru An incident at Chunduru Village Village

Andhra Pradesh, IndiaAndhra Pradesh, IndiaVIKAS GORAVIKAS GORA

Caste HierarchyCaste Hierarchy

Brahmins (Intellectuals)Brahmins (Intellectuals) Kshytriyas (Soldiers)Kshytriyas (Soldiers) Vishayas (Entrepreneurs) Vishayas (Entrepreneurs) Sudras (Work Force)Sudras (Work Force)

- Dalits (Untouchables)- Dalits (Untouchables)

Map of India & Andhra PradeshMap of India & Andhra Pradesh

The IssueThe Issue

August 6, 1991, Chunduru Village, 150 August 6, 1991, Chunduru Village, 150 familiesfamilies

Guntur District: Caste sensitive areaGuntur District: Caste sensitive area Land Issue between landlords and peasantsLand Issue between landlords and peasants 8 Dalits were butchered after they stabbed 8 Dalits were butchered after they stabbed

to death four Reddy Landowners.to death four Reddy Landowners. Dalit Bodies were packed in gunny bags Dalit Bodies were packed in gunny bags

and disposed into irrigation canal.and disposed into irrigation canal. Brutality of murders struck the national Brutality of murders struck the national

news.news.

OnslaughtOnslaught

32 killed on both sides32 killed on both sides 2 police officers investigating the 2 police officers investigating the

crime were murdered. crime were murdered. 150 were injured and 40 survived 150 were injured and 40 survived

fatal injuries.fatal injuries. Govt. issued 21 day curfew with Govt. issued 21 day curfew with

‘shoot at sight’ orders‘shoot at sight’ orders

Pre 1991Pre 1991

50 years of co-existence within the 50 years of co-existence within the villagevillage

Sharing common schools and Sharing common schools and Primary Health Centre.Primary Health Centre.

Both castes housed in the same Both castes housed in the same neighborhood. neighborhood.

Source: http://www.wider.unu.edu/conference/conference-2004-1/conference%202004-1-papers/Venkatesan-Thorat-0206.pdfAccessed on Sept. 4, 2007

Third Party NGOThird Party NGO

Atheist Centre, an NGO with Atheist Centre, an NGO with secular, non religious, Gandhian secular, non religious, Gandhian social development philosophy.social development philosophy.

Started 1940. Started 1940. Founders : Gora (1902-1975) and Founders : Gora (1902-1975) and

Saraswathi Gora (1912-2006)Saraswathi Gora (1912-2006)

Govt. Recognition of Founder: GoraGovt. Recognition of Founder: GoraCommemorative Postage Stamp (2002)Commemorative Postage Stamp (2002)

NGO has 67 years of conflict resolution NGO has 67 years of conflict resolution experience experience (Focal points: rehabilitation of (Focal points: rehabilitation of extremists, criminal settlements, extremists, criminal settlements, landlordism, religious fundamentalists, inter landlordism, religious fundamentalists, inter & intra caste conflicts, witchcraft & sorcery, & intra caste conflicts, witchcraft & sorcery, trafficking, temple prostitutes etc)trafficking, temple prostitutes etc)

NGO as a Third Party Mediator on the NGO as a Third Party Mediator on the request of State Level Dalits & Reddy request of State Level Dalits & Reddy Organizations and the Supreme Court of Organizations and the Supreme Court of India.India.

Plunged into action on the Fourth Day after Plunged into action on the Fourth Day after the conflict. the conflict.

The ActorsThe Actors

12 member NGO Team: 12 member NGO Team:

6 Social Workers, 3 Doctors, 1 6 Social Workers, 3 Doctors, 1 Member of Parliament, 1 Member of Member of Parliament, 1 Member of Legislative Assembly & 1 Documenter. Legislative Assembly & 1 Documenter.

Accompanied by: Accompanied by: Police Commissioner, Police Commissioner, Lawyers Lawyers Media. Media.

Objectives of the Third PartyObjectives of the Third Party

To work towards a consensus between To work towards a consensus between the caste leaders within one month.the caste leaders within one month.

To isolate the conflict and not to make To isolate the conflict and not to make it contagious to caste sensitive areas.it contagious to caste sensitive areas.

To bring back collaboration and peace To bring back collaboration and peace among the castes.among the castes.

To facilitate the germination of a To facilitate the germination of a community based conflict resolution community based conflict resolution plan plan

Gandhian Conflict Resolution Gandhian Conflict Resolution Satyagraha ApproachSatyagraha Approach

Begins with negotiation & arbitrationBegins with negotiation & arbitration On site accumulation and analysis of facts, On site accumulation and analysis of facts,

with opponent participationwith opponent participation Identification of interests in common with Identification of interests in common with

opponentsopponents Formulation of limited action goal acceptable Formulation of limited action goal acceptable

to all parties and mutual discussion of the to all parties and mutual discussion of the same.same.

A search for compromise without ceding on A search for compromise without ceding on essentials. essentials. (If conflict not resolved: Direct Action – (If conflict not resolved: Direct Action – agitation, non cooperation, civil disobedience agitation, non cooperation, civil disobedience etc.)etc.)

Transformative ApproachTransformative Approach Lederach describes the paradox Lederach describes the paradox

posed by commitment to process vs. posed by commitment to process vs. commitment to outcome. Which is commitment to outcome. Which is more important, the means or the more important, the means or the ends? ends?

He calls this the "Gandhi Dilemma," He calls this the "Gandhi Dilemma," and notes that the transformative and notes that the transformative approach similarly adopts a Gandhian approach similarly adopts a Gandhian solution. solution.

Commitment to process becomes Commitment to process becomes understood as a commitment to a understood as a commitment to a particular philosophy and lifestyle: the particular philosophy and lifestyle: the pursuit of truth and the restoration of pursuit of truth and the restoration of relationships. relationships.

The desired outcome is also similarly The desired outcome is also similarly reconceptualized as achieving reconceptualized as achieving commitment to truth and restoration. commitment to truth and restoration.

Third Party Mediation ProcessThird Party Mediation ProcessTransformative Process was followedTransformative Process was followed

Rapport Building: Rapport Building: Interaction with Heads of both castes, Interaction with Heads of both castes,

Village Local Self Governments, the Village Local Self Governments, the survivors of the victims, women & youth.survivors of the victims, women & youth.

Conflict Analysis:Conflict Analysis: Sharing of findings between the team Sharing of findings between the team

members. members.

Designing the Plan: Designing the Plan: Based on the findings and rapport Based on the findings and rapport

building.building. Methods used: Methods used:

- Public gathering and talking about - Public gathering and talking about solidarity of the community before the solidarity of the community before the conflictconflict- Peace March- Peace March- Peace Circle - Peace Circle - Cosmopolitan Lunches- Cosmopolitan Lunches- Children’s and youth cultural evenings - Children’s and youth cultural evenings - Caste Heads sharing common dais- Caste Heads sharing common dais

Community Based Conflict Community Based Conflict ResolutionResolution

Promoting tolerance among youth Promoting tolerance among youth and caste & religious leaders through and caste & religious leaders through training and capacity building. training and capacity building.

Strengthening next generationStrengthening next generation Integrated development programs Integrated development programs

(Water, Health, Education, (Water, Health, Education, Livelihoods, Gender sensitivity etc)Livelihoods, Gender sensitivity etc)

Peace Education as a component of Peace Education as a component of Moral ScienceMoral Science

ChallengesChallenges Politicization of the conflictPoliticization of the conflict Over sensitization by the MediaOver sensitization by the Media Stopping the triggering of the conflict Stopping the triggering of the conflict

from local to regional from local to regional Balancing dialogue between the Balancing dialogue between the

families of those murdered and of the families of those murdered and of the murderers. murderers.

Providing assurance to Govt. for lifting Providing assurance to Govt. for lifting the curfew.the curfew.

Conflict Resolution under the watchful Conflict Resolution under the watchful eyes of police gunmen. eyes of police gunmen.

Positive Signs of MediationPositive Signs of Mediation

Caste Heads and Panchayat Leaders Caste Heads and Panchayat Leaders recognizing & trusting the recognizing & trusting the organization to be the 3organization to be the 3rdrd Party. Party.

A ‘public oath’ of both Caste Heads A ‘public oath’ of both Caste Heads that such incidents will not occur that such incidents will not occur again and coming to a Compromise.again and coming to a Compromise.

ObservationsObservations

Since 1991 till date, no caste conflict Since 1991 till date, no caste conflict in the village. in the village.

Approx. 20 inter-caste marriages Approx. 20 inter-caste marriages from the village were performed by from the village were performed by the organization.the organization.

Legal ActionLegal Action

Supreme Court set up a Special Supreme Court set up a Special Bench. Outcome:Bench. Outcome:

21 people were sentenced to life 21 people were sentenced to life imprisonmentimprisonment

35 people were sentenced for one 35 people were sentenced for one year imprisonmentyear imprisonment

123 people had to pay a fine of Rs. 123 people had to pay a fine of Rs. 2000 each for burning the houses.2000 each for burning the houses.

Life of the InterventionLife of the Intervention

Life of InterventionLife of Intervention

Addressing the event: 29 daysAddressing the event: 29 days

Peace EducationPeace Education : One month : One month

ReferencesReferences John Paul Lederach, "Introduction," and "A Framework for John Paul Lederach, "Introduction," and "A Framework for

Building Peace," Building Peace," chapters in chapters in Preparing for Peace: Conflict Preparing for Peace: Conflict Transformation Across CulturesTransformation Across Cultures (Syracuse, New York: Syracuse (Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 1995), pp 3-23. Summary by Tanya Glaser. University Press, 1995), pp 3-23. Summary by Tanya Glaser. Copyright ©1997 by the Conflict Research Consortium.Copyright ©1997 by the Conflict Research Consortium.

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