Even as the aftermath of every caste killing occupies predominant space in all discussions and with the media outlets presuming that it would provide support to the victims or their families, the real ordeal the families face is often not revealed or remains underreported.
Though data suggests that a little over 50 murders related to caste violence have been registered between 2017 and 2025 in Tamil Nadu, not all the cases get equal attention from both the public and media.
Starting from the murder of Shankar to the latest C. Kavin Selvaganesh, the ensuing life of the victims or the surviving families or friends, taking a difficult and different path, often ends up fighting the perpetrators in courts and juggling through the obstacles that life throws at them.
Only few of the victims cum survivors like Gowsalya who lost her husband Shankar to the indiscriminate caste-motivated murder committed by the former’s family members, have overcome the painful past to fight against the system.
Known as an activist, Ms. Gowsalya, has gracefully learned to lean towards democratic ideologies to wage her fight against the castiest ideology and its strongholds.
