The Harijans have not been integrated fully in the society. They still live for away from the main streets of the towns. There is no social intercourse between the Harijan and other castes. It is the socio-economic status of a Harijan that decides his place in the society. Many of the Harijans who were my informants, expressed their desire not to debar from the traditional way of life. SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS I am greateful to Mr. K. Vetnkatesan, M.A., Research Asst. sor his help. I express my thanks to Dr. S. V. Shanmugam for his comments. The data presented here form part of my present research project on the “sociolinguistics of South Arcot Tamil or Tamii Dialectology**. The field work was made possible by a grant from the American Institute of Indian Studies, U.S. A. and India. I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to the Institute. 299
