Madiga - Madiga Protest

Madiga Protest

To a Madiga protest is not a lifestyle but centuries of suppression made it imminent. There were several ceremonies that reflect the element of protest and some of them were incorporated into the Hindu culture. Theodore Wilber Elmore in his ‘Dravidian Gods in Modern Hinduism: A Study of the Local and Village Deities of Southern India’ identifies some of such ceremonies. One of them was associated with the Goddess Matangi who was worshipped by Madigas of Kurnool. It was of an annual festival when a Madiga priestess spits at higher castes in protest of mistreatment.

"As she rushes about spitting on those who under ordinary circumstances would almost choose death rather than to suffer such pollution from a Madiga, she breaks into wild, exulting songs, telling of the humiliation to which she is subjecting the proud caste people. She also abuses them all thoroughly..."

Moreover, this ritual has been well integrated into the religious life of Hindus. Though she humiliates them by spitting, it was said, the caste people would eagerly wait for their turn and would not be satisfied "without a full measure of her invective", as a reminder that, despite their low caste status, they deserved dignified treatment.

It had also been a custom among Madigas to clean their streets with water mixed with turmeric whenever a Brahmin happens to pass by their hamlet. This was a practice designed to criticize the ultra-orthodox Brahmins' belief that the Madiga were "natural polluters".

On certain days in a year, especially after the grains were gathered and stored, a couple of Madigas were permitted to hawk their wares in the village. This procession was called ‘garaga’. A Mala and a Madiga who in ordinary circumstances do not socialize had made the pair to go hawking. While the Mala was to collect the grains in a container placed above his head the Madiga joined him to beat the drum. Mala would go each doorstep and embarrass the families into business with obscenities. Caste people were to reciprocate this gesture politely by giving a winnowful of grain. This indicates the amount of space the Madiga could make for themselves in Hindu religion to express their protest.