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The '''1991 Anti-Tamil violence in Karnataka''' refers to incidents of mob violence targeting [[Tamil people|Tamils]] in state of [[Karnataka]] in India. The incidents took place in Southern Karnataka on 12–13 December 1991, mainly in the cities of [[Bangalore]] and [[Mysore]]. The attacks originated in the demonstrations organised against the orders of the [[Kaveri River water dispute|Cauvery Water Tribunal]] appointed by the Government of India. The violence terrified the Tamil populace of Southern Karnataka forcing hundreds of thousands to flee in a matter of weeks. The official statistics given by the Government of Karnataka was that sixteen people had been killed in the police firing during protest but individual sources give higher numbers.<ref name="nairp259">[[#Nair|Nair]], p 259</ref>

== Background ==

As of 2001, Tamil-speakers formed 3.82% of the total population of Karnataka.<ref name="demographics">{{cite web|url=http://www.languageinindia.com/dec2002/urduinkarnataka.html|author=A. R. Fatihi|work=Language in India, Volume 2: 2002-12-09|publisher=M. S. Thirumalai, Managing Editor, Language in India|title=Urdu in Karnataka|accessdate=2007-06-29}}</ref><ref>[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement3.htm Almost 5 million Tamils live outside Tamil Nadu, inside India]</ref> Minority Tamil-speaking people are found in the districts of [[Bangalore Urban district|Bangalore Urban]], [[Bangalore Rural district|Bangalore Rural]], [[Ramanagara district|Ramanagara]], [[Mysore district|Mysore]], [[Kolar district|Kolar]], [[Hassan district|Hassan]], few in [[Mandya district|Mandya]] and [[Chamarajanagar district|Chamarajanagar]] in southern Karnataka, and few in [[Shimoga district|Shimoga]] in central Karnataka

Until 1991, Tamils formed the single largest ethnic group in Bangalore Urban district. The 1991 census, for the first time, recorded a Kannadiga majority ahead of Tamils in the district.<ref name="modernisationp16">{{cite book|title=Modernisation and ethnicity: locating the Telugu community in Bangalore|pages=16|author=D. V. Kumar|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=2006|id={{ISBN|8183241077}}, {{ISBN|9788183241076}}}}</ref> While the [[Bangalore Cantonment]] area administered directly by the Government of British India prior to its integration with the then Mysore state, had a sizable Tamil-speaking population, they were also found in significantly large numbers in the "pētē" area of the city which was situated within Mysore proper.<ref name="bang hist two towns">{{Cite thesis |chapter=8: Public domain—contested spaces and lack of imageability |title=Bangalore—future trends in public open space usage. Case study: Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bangalore |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10919/9941|last=Vagale |first=Uday Kumar |year=2004 |publisher=[[Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]] |page=49 |accessdate=26 September 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605195117/http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05172004-231956/unrestricted/4.pdf |archivedate=5 June 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The migrants occupied extremely diverse positions in the socioeconomic strata and represented every class, caste and community in Tamil Nadu. While there were also many who lived in abject poverty, since the early 19th century, the higher posts in the state administration had been mostly held by Tamil-speakers due to the preferential treatment by the British.<ref name="nairp259262">[[#Nair|Nair]], pp 259 - 262</ref> Gradually, this demographic and bureaucratic domination began to be resented by Kannada people who felt that the immigrant Tamils were snatching away their rightful jobs.<ref name="nairp235">[[#Nair|Nair]], p 235</ref>

== Events ==

On 25 June 1991, the Kaveri Water Tribunal, constituted in 1990, directed the Karnataka state government to release 205 billion ft³ (5.8 km³) of water to Tamil Nadu within a year. Karnataka issued an ordinance to annul the tribunal's award but this was struck down by the Supreme Court of India. The tribunal's award was subsequently gazetted by the Government of India on 11 December 1991.

The very next day, Kannada chauvinist organisations led by [[Vatal Nagaraj]] called for a bandh on 13 December alleging partisan behaviour of the Government of India.<ref name="nytimes_19920105">{{cite news|title=Tamils are target of riots in Southern India|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/05/world/tamils-are-target-of-riots-in-southern-india.html?src=pm|author=Sanjoy Hazarika|date=5 January 1992}}</ref><ref name="indianidentity">{{cite book|title=The nation, the state, and Indian identity|pages=105–112|first1=Madhusree |last1=Dutta |first2=Neera |last2=Adarkar|chapter=Challenge of Communalism|publisher=Popular Prakashan|id={{ISBN|8185604096}}, {{ISBN|9788185604091}}|year=1996|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=clVkXbbcrhIC&pg=PA105&hl=en&ei=WcpuTpurOYHX0QHr-KiMCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage}}</ref> Their leaders declared

{{quote|Cauvery is the mother of the Kannadigas, so we cannot give the water to anybody else.<ref name="indianidentity" />}}

The next day, Kannada chauvinists allegedly roamed the streets of Bangalore carrying sticks, shouting slogans, beating up Tamil laborers.<ref name="indianidentity" /> Tamil businesses, movie theatres and even vehicles with Tamil Nadu license plates were targeted.<ref name="nytimes_19920105" /> Soon the riots spread to the [[Mysore district]] and other parts of southern Karnataka.<ref name="indianidentity" /> Tamil-speaking villagers were driven out and their property confiscated. Over thousands of Tamils fled from the state. A curfew of one week was declared under section 144.<ref name="indianidentity" /><ref name="communalriotsp25">{{cite book|title=Communal riots: the state and law in India|page=25|author=Iqbal Ahmad Ansari|publisher=Institute of Objective Studies|year=1997|id={{ISBN|8185220441}}, {{ISBN|9788185220444}}}}</ref> The violence left more than 17 ethnic Tamils dead.<ref name="nytimes_19920105" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=Dugger|first=Celia W.|date=2000-08-18|title=Evildoer, Kidnapper, Tamils' Hero, Rolled into One|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/18/world/evildoer-kidnapper-tamils-hero-rolled-into-one.html|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

The Indian Peoples' Human Rights Tribunal puts the total property losses suffered in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka at {{INR}} 170 million while the Venkatesh Commission has given estimates varying from {{INR}} 30 million to {{INR}} 155 million.<ref name="nairp259" />

== Aftermath ==

The situation was soon brought under control and though, there were incidents of violence reported till the end of 1991, the situation had calmed down.<ref name="nytimes_19920105" />

There have been similar incidents of violence in 1996, 2000,<ref name="nairp234235">[[#Nair|Nair]], pp 234 - 235</ref> 2004 and 2016.

==See also==
* [[List of riots in India]]

== Notes ==

{{Reflist}}

== References ==

* {{cite book|title=A history of water: The world of water, Volume 3|author=Terje Tvedt|author-link=Terje Tvedt|publisher=I. B. Tauris|year=2006|id={{ISBN|185043445X}}, {{ISBN|9781850434450}}|pages=403}}
* {{cite book|title=The promise of the metropolis: Bangalore's twentieth century|first=Janaki|last=Nair|publisher=Oxford University Press|id={{ISBN|0195667255}}, {{ISBN|9780195667257}}|year=2005|ref=Nair}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=1990s in Bangalore, History of Karnataka (1947–present), Riots and civil disorder in India, Regionalism in India, Crime in Karnataka
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[[Category:1991 in India|Anti-Tamil Riots of Karnataka, 1991]]
[[Category:1991 riots|Anti-Tamil Riots of Karnataka, 1991]]
[[Category:1990s in Bangalore]]
[[Category:History of Karnataka (1947–present)]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]
[[Category:Regionalism in India]]
[[Category:Crime in Karnataka]]

1991 anti-Tamil violence in Karnataka - Revision history

MetaBOT at 15:35, 8 July 2023