Today is the first of the Malayalam month of Vrishchikam, that marks the beginning of the Sabarimala season. Devotees from war and wide, across India, will make a beeline to the hill temple to have their annual tryst with Lord Ayyappa. This time the state government is not taking chances and making it clear that there would be no support from its side to enable women pilgrims - between 10 and 50 years of age - to enter the shrine, this time.
It took a drubbing at the Lok Sabha elections to understand that the average Malayalee does not like any sort of interference in his/her beliefs. Last year, this time, this government had stood firm that it was committed to execute the Supreme Court verdict of allowing women of all ages into the shrine. To that extent, with heavy police presence along the pathway to the shrine, a few women were covertly brought into the sanctum sanctorum and the consequences were there for all to see with the believers clashing with the police - all over the state - consequent to it.
To my mind, what went against the collective psyche, was the sight of those ladies' first action of taking selfies on reaching the sanctum sanctorum, as though celebrating a victory!
It was an ugly scene that should never have happened. Massive egos were at play and the net result was that the 'political foot soldiers' took the brunt during the clashes on the streets. The people were watching and biding for their time......which came in the form of the General Elections. The CPM came a cropper with just one against the total number of 20 Lok Sabha seats! It was this electoral drubbing that forced the party to have a rethink on the issue.
The fact is that the latest Supreme Court verdict on the subject has not annulled its earlier verdict of '18, regarding gender equality. In other words, women have the right to enter Sabarimala but the state government has changed its tune. Today, many women pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh were asked to return by the police from Pamba -a question of being once bitten, twice shy! A novice can always turn around and ask as to whether the present action by the state government is not tantamount to a contempt of court!
But we are known to take diabolically opposite positions to tide over difficult situations without any sense of shame! And all political parties - without exception - dabble in this double play!! Sad!!!
Tailpiece.
Mithun and Ammu had reached 'The Quarterdeck' by 8. After a quick wash and change followed by breakfast, they were dropped at the Private Bus stand to go to Thriprayar to rendezvous Achu, to meet up with Arunima.
Incidentally, I shall be following the Sabarimala routine from today, for the next two months, but shall not undertake the trek.
It took a drubbing at the Lok Sabha elections to understand that the average Malayalee does not like any sort of interference in his/her beliefs. Last year, this time, this government had stood firm that it was committed to execute the Supreme Court verdict of allowing women of all ages into the shrine. To that extent, with heavy police presence along the pathway to the shrine, a few women were covertly brought into the sanctum sanctorum and the consequences were there for all to see with the believers clashing with the police - all over the state - consequent to it.
To my mind, what went against the collective psyche, was the sight of those ladies' first action of taking selfies on reaching the sanctum sanctorum, as though celebrating a victory!
It was an ugly scene that should never have happened. Massive egos were at play and the net result was that the 'political foot soldiers' took the brunt during the clashes on the streets. The people were watching and biding for their time......which came in the form of the General Elections. The CPM came a cropper with just one against the total number of 20 Lok Sabha seats! It was this electoral drubbing that forced the party to have a rethink on the issue.
The fact is that the latest Supreme Court verdict on the subject has not annulled its earlier verdict of '18, regarding gender equality. In other words, women have the right to enter Sabarimala but the state government has changed its tune. Today, many women pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh were asked to return by the police from Pamba -a question of being once bitten, twice shy! A novice can always turn around and ask as to whether the present action by the state government is not tantamount to a contempt of court!
But we are known to take diabolically opposite positions to tide over difficult situations without any sense of shame! And all political parties - without exception - dabble in this double play!! Sad!!!
Tailpiece.
Mithun and Ammu had reached 'The Quarterdeck' by 8. After a quick wash and change followed by breakfast, they were dropped at the Private Bus stand to go to Thriprayar to rendezvous Achu, to meet up with Arunima.
Incidentally, I shall be following the Sabarimala routine from today, for the next two months, but shall not undertake the trek.
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