In A Disappointing Turn Of Events, Government And Travancore Devaswom Board Restores Curb Against Women Entry In Sabarimala. What A Huge Let Down!
Change is never easy to come by. In fact, often change is preceded by chaos, but considering that the end result is all worth it, we embrace it. But what does one do when the change that we so wholeheartedly wished and fought for is reversed in one swift motion? As is what happened after the state government and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), that manages the Sabarimala Temple changed their stance on women’s entry into the temple.
Two years ago, a Constitution Bench allowed the entry of women irrespective of age into the Sabarimala Temple on the grounds that the ban violated the fundamental right of freedom of religion as per Article 25 of the Constitution. A ruling that was considered a milestone in women’s fight for equal rights. However today, seems like we have moved ten steps back as the curb against women has been reinstated.
The portal launched by TDB says, “females and other gender (trans) less than 50 years and above 65 years won’t be allowed for darshan.” And with that, we find ourselves wondering if change for women would ever stick around for good?
Also Read : Two Women Enter The Sabarimala Temple And We’re Rooting For Them!
U-turn!!
2 years after it allowed 2 young women to visit #Sabarimala Lord #Ayyappa temple with police support, @CMOKerala Govt and Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the temple,seem to have changed their stance on women’s entry to the hill shrine.
https://t.co/I0m83f9uby— Raam Das (@PRamdas_TNIE) December 3, 2020
Kerala govt restores #Sabarimala curbs for women @Manojexpress @xpresskerala @KarmaSamithi @BJP4Keralam @surendranbjphttps://t.co/mvJSv9kZrf
— Ganesh Neelakantan (@minutepoint) December 3, 2020
Where once the TDB had argued before the five-member constitution bench of the Supreme Court in February 2019 that “it’s high time a particular class is not discriminated on the ground of biological attributes,” we now see the government and the board to have gone back on their judgement.
TDB chief N Vasu said, “The portal is managed by the police department. The board has nothing to do with the guidelines and hasn’t taken any decision in this regard.” In addition to this, Bindhu Ammini, one of the two women who entered the temple on January 2, 2019 also commented on the matter and said, “his discriminatory decision is against the Constitution and exposes the double stand of the Left government.”
Some are calling this a political gimmick, others are calling this a restoration of century old customs, but we are calling it a disservice to women and any progress that has been made in their respect it this patriarchal society. This was a huge let down.
