Sabarimala for all

Sabarimala for all

SC allowed women to enter, now Kerala government must uphold law and order.

Because of the climate of fear and intimidation created by those opposing the historic Sabarimala verdict, very few women ventured to the hill shrine on the day it opened for the first time since the historic Supreme Court judgment allowing women between 10 and 50 to pray there. As for the few who came, the gauntlet put up by belligerent bhakts, many ironically decked up in bermudas and bandanas, proved too much. Even journalists weren’t spared, as the protesters took out their ire on several media persons, especially women reporters. But it’s still early days. Depressing as it is, there is no reason that what happened on Wednesday should necessarily happen on Thursday or in the days to come.

More women are bound to come and some of them will definitely overcome the heckling, booing and even manhandling, to reach the sanctum and get darshan. When that happens – surely sooner than later – it will become a red letter moment in India’s evolution as a modern and progressive society. This is because Sabarimala is unique in that it demands its devotees transcend the usual barriers of caste, class, creed and even religion – the trademark all black attire of Ayyappa pilgrims symbolises the renunciation of all such divisions.

That the only division which has persisted – and that too with all the force of a taboo – is that of gender, reveals the extent to which patriarchy is entrenched in Indian society. It is this patriarchy, and its ability to insinuate itself even in a modern context through dubious notions of ‘purity’ and ‘pollution’, that has now been struck a body blow.

While Kerala’s LDF government has maintained that it is committed to women’s rights and has resisted pressure to file a review petition in SC, it has not exactly been proactive. It has sought to open back channels with agitators, has not put in place special facilities for women that would make it easier for them to make the pilgrimage and, worse, has of late been taking an occasional ‘soft Hindutva’ line that sends confusing signals. Of course, those protesting against the entry of women are not an insignificant number, and the fanatic self-righteousness of ordinary bhakts in their hundreds and thousands cannot be underestimated. One calamitous incident is all it may take to turn the clock back.