Immanuvel Devendrar

Immanuvel Devendrar was born in Sellur, Mudukulathur, Tamil Nadu on 9 October 1924. He took part in the Quit India movement from the age of 18 and was imprisoned for three months because of it. In 1945, he enlisted in the British Indian Army and, upon his discharge, he returned to his native Ramanathapuram district to work for the Indian National Congress party (INC). His time in the army had caused him to question the historic oppression of the Pallar caste in his district, which was particularly severe.[1][2]

Devendrar worked to improve the education, rights and representation of the Pallars, of which he was a member. He tried to mobilise them to demand equality. The INC saw him as a useful opposition to Pasumpon Mutharamalingam Thevar, who had defected from the party to join the Forward Bloc.[1] The party thought that he might be a worthy future member of the Legislative Assembly and groomed him for that end. It was for this reason that he converted to the Hindu religion and took the name Immanuel Sekaran.[2]

The Pallars were often in dispute with the higher-status Thevar caste and the relationship between the communities became fraught following a by-election in 1957. A peace meeting was called, at which Devendrar refused to stand up when Thevar arrived.[1]

Devendrar was ambushed and murdered by a group of Thevars for his activity on 11 September 1957. There were accusations that Thevar himself had some responsibility for the death. Thevar was in fact arrested but later released without charge.[1]

The 1957 Ramnad riots, in which 42 Dalits were killed, occurred as a consequence of Devendrar's murder.[2]

The anniversary of Devendrar's death is celebrated annually as Devendrar Jayanti by Pallar people in Tamil Nadu.[3][4]

• Paramakudi Riots