Strategic actions to escape from structural violence: an anthropological study on caste-based marginalization in selected tom-tom beater communities in Batticaloae

Abstract

This study is aimed to describe the strategic actions taken by members of Tom-tom beater caste communities so as to escape from identity-based marginalization and to illustrate consequential barriers for them to successfully perform their strategic actions. This descriptive study is based on qualitative and ethnographical research methods. The study is confined to the selected Tom-tom beater caste communities of Batticaloa district. The study found that demarcated territory and traditional occupation are major factors that make members of Tom-tom beater caste communities more susceptible to subtle forms of marginalization. They pursue two strategies to escape from marginalization on territorial base.Firstly, they try to migrate from their territory and to settle down in places situated very far from their native niches.Secondly, they attempt to get their marital partners from higher caste groups living in remote places by concealing their caste identity. Educated youths have affianced in a radical strategy to annihilate their caste obligation and to prevent their caste men to serve high castes on traditional caste service basis. The study also found barriers for these strategic actions of members of Tom-tom beater caste and evaluates the strategic actions from the perspectives of Tom-tom beater caste members and other high caste members. And it recommends ways to support these strategies of Tom-tom beater caste to promote their social security.