"The Furious and the Friendly"- Parattai

- Learning From the Poor Dalits

Article Courtesy: Rev. Sebastian Jones Arpudaraj Simpson, Germany. 

                                      

                                    Painting by Rev. W. Jebasingh Samuvel, CSI Jaffna Diocese. 

As a Dalit scholar of Communication, I wanted to study our ancestors religious communication. One day 1 went to a village two hundred miles away from Madurai, as part of my study with one of my friends by bus. After getting down from the bus we walked four miles to reach the "cheri" (the part of a village where Dalits are made in live) of that village.

Before reaching the cheri "we saw the worship place of that cheri". A tall stone without any particular shape stood there surrounded by many types of spears. There was no building whatsoever to spoil the environment. It is so rustic and beautiful. My friend wanted to photograph that place. As soon as we had taken the picture of the place, a middle-aged woman came running to us.

She said, "Have you photographed our Aththa (Mother)? She does not like being photographed. She will punish you. She is an angry samy (deity), Both of you look like good persons. Oh, you should be very unfortunate". Then she started narrating how Aththa has punished various people because they had dared to take picture of her. I said, "Oh, sorry we don't know about that. Is your Aththa so furious to punish the ignorant?"

She said, "Yes, she is a very angry deity. Even the high caste people are afraid of her. They treat us as filth. But they respect our Aththa out of fear. My friend asked her whether there is any remedy. She said, "Yes there is. But that can be done only tomorrow. Are you leaving now?

I said, "We have come here to stay for two days. She asked, where are you staying? Then I told her the name of the per son who is going to host us. She said, "Oh, 1 know him. He is one of us, the only person who has studied in our village. Come on, I will take you to his house We followed her to the "cheri"

As we were walking my friend said, "Parattai Annan! I feel feverish. Do you have any medicine?" The woman said, "Oh, no medicine will work. It is the anger of Her. You are having small pos My friend became pale. Then she said, "Are you really going to stay with us? We are out castes. Caste people like you will not stay or cat with us". I said, We don't mind staying or eating with you". When we reached our host's house she left us.

Our host was very friendly. He welcomed us and gave us good meal. My friend ate very little. Our host asked him why he was not eating as be should eat. I told him about the anger of the deity.

He said. No, don't worry. Our Aththa will not punish out-castes like you. Velamma, the woman who took you here did not know that you are also out castes like us" Then he called Velamma and introduced us as "our caste people."Velamma said, "Oh I thought you are high caste people. Our Aththa will not punish her own children. I will bring some medicine for your fever. She went home that was just opposite to our host's house and brought some native medicine.

My friend's fever seemed to be receding. I wanted to start data collection immediately. But our host said, Since your friend is not well, we will do that tomorrow morning. You now take rest "He gave us two coir cots to sleep in front of his house. My friend went to sleep immediately.

I could not sleep. I was thinking about the data collection. Then I saw a big pig coming towards me. It came near me and stared sniffing my feet. I was scared and sat up drawing my legs away from pig. Velamma who was sitting at her door, shouted at the pig. It ran away. She said to me, "Don't worry! It is samy pig. It will not harm you". I found that as an occasion to start data collection. I said to her. "Samy pig? Is it like Samy Bull"

Velamma said. No, it is different. They don't sacrifice the bull. But we sacrifice the pig to our Aththa. Last year we gave her a pig. But the Deevidiya Mundai (Headless bitch) did not bless us as she should. This year we will give her a bigger pig. If she refused to bless us I will drive her out from our village

I was confused. I said to her. "Yesterday you said that your Aththa was a furious deity but now you scold her as if she was nothing but your servant who fulfills your needs. Why?" She laughed and said, "Our Aththa is furious to those caste-men who oppress us. But she is our friend, because we don't oppress others. At first 1 thought you were caste-men. So I showed you her furious face. Now I know that you are also one us. So I showed her friendly face"

I had nothing to talk then. I went to sleep thinking about the God of Psalmists who is for tress of refuge to the oppressed and enemy to the oppressors.

- Parattai

Painting by Rev. W. Jebasingh Samuvel, CSI Jaffna Diocese. 

Who is Parattai 

Reverend James Theophilus Appavoo (1940-2005) was a presbyter of the CSI Madras Diocese and a faculty member at the Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary in Madurai. He pioneered the use of village folk music as a medium of expression among Dalit Christians. 

Appavoo’s musical ideas are considered a powerful vehicle for social change and spiritual development. He developed a "musical theology of Liberation," using folk music to challenge caste and economic oppression. His folk compositions were known for their theological depth, rhythmic vitality, and ability to inspire Dalit Christians. Appavoo believed that folk music was key to empowering Dalits, and he emphasized social transformation over institutional conversion. His work focused on creating "kingdom values" and challenging casteism, particularly within Christian communities.

For more details, see the chapter "Dalit Theology in Tamil Christian Folk Music: A Transformed Liturgy" by Zoë C. Sherinian in Popular Christianity in India: Writing Between the Lines, edited by Selva J. Raj and Corinne G. Dempsey (SUNY Press, 2002).