Lost Christian Land Miraculously Recovered
Christian land was encroached by government authorities in a small village in Karur District, Tamil Nadu. A colony of people belonging to Adi Dravidar community all of them Christians lived in Kodandur village, Karur District. They had their own houses there and later moved out of the village one by one searching for better jobs and education in nearby cities since Kodandur Village was limited to any better living. Since these people belonged to Adi Dravidar which is one of the least 'Caste' according to the Hindu Caste system (otherwise known as "the Untouchables" they would not be encouraged by other communities to make any progress in their living. Adi Dravidars usually do not have any savings neither own lands nor they are financially strong because of the prevailing discrimination and the only choice is to educate themselves and financially make progress.
Around 1950's the small colony about 30 families left their houses in their Village and settled in Cities where they found their living. Many of them became financially better, educated their children and now a few years ago as they came back to settle in their native Village they found their homes were deserted, demolished and their land taken away by local people of another community most of them in Panchayat leaderships. The only structure still standing in that colony area was an age old Church! Since the local higher Caste people who exploited the issue were highly influential and were financial very sound the powerless AD Christians were unable to stand up against them. So the only thing they could do was to seek God, pray and hope everything gets well.
The land owners who lost their homes started seeking government authorities to take back the illegally possessed land few years back. A meeting with the local Panchayat Leaders and the Land Owners was held yesterday 19 Jan 2014 at the Panchayat Office, Kodandur Village. The matter was put forward by Pastor Chelladurai (a retired Health Inspector at Valparai) who is one of those who lost the land. The Panchayat leaders now came up with a reason that they were not going to take away the land for their own possession but only for a public service as building a School in that colony land. Pastor Chelladurai stated that there are so many large lands possessed by the local wealthy people (higher communities) who can lend their lands for such School projects and why take away the only land belonging to Adi Dravidars who's small land was so precious to them? And he requested to initiate to recover the lands so they can start building their homes again in the Village. This was anonymously agreed to be done so as the reason was so clear, and by the way, the leaders had no other option at this point though against their interest.
The Panchayat Leaders said these issues regarding land is not in their limits to resolve but belongs only to Tasildhar and Revenue Department, and they advised to contact these offices in order to recover their land - which meant they've given up the fight! This encroachment issue had been a long dispute and a lingering cold war among these two parties for more than five years. Miraculously the issue came to a conclusion in favor of the Christian Adi Dravidars which left them with much joy and happiness. They went to the only unruined building in their colony which was a age old Church and held a thanksgiving prayer there. The Church was more than 100 years old built by the British is to be noted.
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| This Church is ironically the only standing structure at the ruined Christian Colony |
The land owners who lost their homes started seeking government authorities to take back the illegally possessed land few years back. A meeting with the local Panchayat Leaders and the Land Owners was held yesterday 19 Jan 2014 at the Panchayat Office, Kodandur Village. The matter was put forward by Pastor Chelladurai (a retired Health Inspector at Valparai) who is one of those who lost the land. The Panchayat leaders now came up with a reason that they were not going to take away the land for their own possession but only for a public service as building a School in that colony land. Pastor Chelladurai stated that there are so many large lands possessed by the local wealthy people (higher communities) who can lend their lands for such School projects and why take away the only land belonging to Adi Dravidars who's small land was so precious to them? And he requested to initiate to recover the lands so they can start building their homes again in the Village. This was anonymously agreed to be done so as the reason was so clear, and by the way, the leaders had no other option at this point though against their interest.
The Panchayat Leaders said these issues regarding land is not in their limits to resolve but belongs only to Tasildhar and Revenue Department, and they advised to contact these offices in order to recover their land - which meant they've given up the fight! This encroachment issue had been a long dispute and a lingering cold war among these two parties for more than five years. Miraculously the issue came to a conclusion in favor of the Christian Adi Dravidars which left them with much joy and happiness. They went to the only unruined building in their colony which was a age old Church and held a thanksgiving prayer there. The Church was more than 100 years old built by the British is to be noted.
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