First rediff must have the decency to accept dissenting views. It is surprising that the moderators don't know the meaning of the word 'abuse', and delete all dissenting opinions. Hats off to your 'freedom of expression'
to misuse SC verdict, most of the Atheists are more interested to enter than devotees. In fact lady devotees are against the SC verdict. Further the policy of Ayappa temple is not harming any individual interest, but SC has shown activism in deciding against temple rules.However where majority of the country is waiting for decision , SC is delaying decision in case of RAM temple. .
a Malayalam TV channel, a man well versed in the scriptures, temple customs, history, the constitution and law easily outgunned and reduced to incoherent blabbering, two politicians - one from the BJP and the other from the Congress party !
To every question by the moderator on the reasoning and sustainability of a review petition before the SC to overturn the latters verdict on Sabarimala dated 28th September, the BJP man (Advocate Narayanan Nampothiri) and the Congress man (Mr Rajmohan Unnithaan) sounded like echoes of each other !
Advocate Harish Vasudevan, noted lawyer, historian, scholar and environmental activist, in a clear, to the point and concise talk, explained why the SC verdict to allow women between 10 and 50 years wanting to worship at Sabarimala to do so is yet another episode in the long history of reform and renaissance in the religious and social sectors in Kerala.
This renaissance, noted Vasudevan, began about a century ago with the lives and work of Sri Narayana Guru, Chattambi Swamikal and Ayyankali. All three boldly challenged and succeeded in overpowering and effacing entrenched practices and customs in Kerala that were regressive and highly discriminatory. These regressive age old customs and traditions had made Swami Vivekananda (who visited Kerala during the turn of the 20th century) famously describe Kerala as a lunatic asylum ! The 3 reformers faced severe resistance from vested interests who did whatever they could to stop them.
Re: In yet another debate on
by piri on Oct 23, 2018 05:02 PM
Later, VT Bhattathiripad, yet another reformer, put an end to the shameful custom of Kerala women coming out into public areas without covering their breaxsts !
This custom - encouraged and sustained by the monarchical and feudalistic society of Kerala before independence - was so deep rooted that it was even considered a sacrilege for women to visit temples or stand before the so called Rajas with their breaxsts covered !
Bhattathiripad argued vehemently how this evil custom had no basis in any of the scriptures or Shastras or tantric texts and was simply imposed on women by society over the ages to keep them subjugated and without any role in society outside their homes.
Bhattathripad was severely castigated and even ostracised by the high and mighty of those days - the so called Rajas, nobles, big landlords (janmis) and by his own Braxhmin community. But he stuck to his conviction and bravely took it to its logical conclusion by calling upon all women to publicly shun the custom by coming out into the open with their breaxsts fully covered !
And what was the response ?
Just a handful of women (who were then shamed as unwomanly and not #kuleenam# by regressive forces) responded to Bhattathiripads call while the great majority of women - prominently those of his own community, the Nampoothiri women - chose to stick to their age old custom and even castigated the women who chose to cover their breaxsts !
And when some lady students of Womens college, Trivandrum
Re: Re: In yet another debate on
by piri on Oct 23, 2018 05:03 PM
chose to worship at a temxple with their breaxsts covered, they were chased, harassed, abused and even physically intimidated by.........other women who chose to take up the role of protectors of customs and traditions !
After Mr Harish Vasudevan described these facts, the BJP and Congress spokespersons were reduced to such noisy blabbering about #hyndutva#, #sentiments# of Ayappa devotees, etc that the moderator began picking holes in their arguments with ease.
And the BJP and Congress men responded on expected lines - loud and shrill posturings on protecting the religious sentiments of people and choosing to neatly sidestep every one of Harish Vasudevans points about social and religious reforms !!
The supreme court should have dismissed the petition asking for permission to women (between 10 and 50 yrs) to enter Shabarimala. Foe example, in case of a cancer patient, does the court decide whether to administer chemo therapy or to surgically operate on him. Obviously not. It is for the doctors and the patient to arrive at a decision. Similarly, in Dharmik matters the court should have refused to poke its nose.
Re: I support Justice Indu Malhotra
by suresh mishra on Oct 23, 2018 08:19 PM
Who ever involved in such decision has not applied his mind or poor judgement or with malafide intention. How they fail to understand local customs which is harmless. They definitely have no guts to address serious issue but poke silly issues.
