As the Ram temple issue heads for an SC-ordered mediation, the other temple that바카라™s been a lot in the news of late, Sabarimala, presents itself as a political fruit ripe for the plucking before the Lok Sabha polls. Yes, the Election CommiÂssion has warned parties in Kerala not to bring it up, but try catch even one voter who thinks Sabarimala will not be an overt or underlying theme in the campaign. Voting is due on April 23, and the four-month-long agitation which split open religious and social faultlines in Malayali society will hang heavy in the air. The RSS, for one, gave ample signs of what its main agenda for Kerala will be at a conclave in Gwalior last week. If the Supreme Court order overturning a judicial ban on menstruating women entering the AyyaÂppa temple shook up Kerala politics, it also changed the lives of women who decided to uphold their constitutional rights.
The ordeal of Kanakadurga바카라”who scripted history by being one of two women who entered the temple after the SC order바카라”is symptomatic of the deep-rooted misogyny public responses in Kerala are often awash in. On January 2, the state government employee entered the shrine with Bindu Ammini. After the news broke out, tempers ran high everywhere and both women had to go into hiding. What ensued was out of some ancient script.
Life has changed drastically for Kanakadurga바카라”first she was assaulted and ousted from her house. When the 39-year-old returned after obtaining a court order, she found her children had been taken away by her husband. Disowned by family, ostracised by many, Kanakadurga lives alone at her house in MalappÂuram district. She eagerly waits for weekends, when she is allowed to see her 12-year-old twin boys. Her family demands a public apology, but she won바카라™t relent: 바카라śI have exercised my right to worship바카라¦. There바카라™s no question of saying sorry바카라ť.
바카라śWe were prepared for consequences, but didn바카라™t have an idea of the scale it would take,바카라ť she tells Outlook. Kanakadurga still gets death threats, though the government provides her with round-the-clock security. 바카라śI don바카라™t regret my decision. It바카라™s people who oppose women바카라™s entry who should feel guilty,바카라ť she says, undaunted.
Sabarimala became a politically combustible issue after the CPI(M)-led LDF government vowed, some say too hastily, to implement the SC order. In the next four months, Kerala witnessed violence and polarisation, fuelled allegedly by right-wing groups. For the BJP, SabariÂmala is an opportunity to gain a foothold in a state that alternates between Communist and Congress governments.
Kanakadurga squarely blames the Sangh parivar for fomenting trouble바카라”it had initially backed the Supreme Court order but soon swung around to the other side to tap the conservative reaction. 바카라śThe BJP is trying to exploit devotees바카라™ feelings,바카라ť she alleÂges. Hailing from an orthodox family, Kanakadurga says it was as a devotee that she decided to fulfil her wish to visit the temple. She is unperturbed by the large numbers of women who oppose temple entry. 바카라śReform movements have always faced resistance from those conditioned by a patriarchal society,바카라ť she says.
