Malayali expatriates anxious over Sabarimala protests
abu dhabi — The South Indian state of Kerala is under siege after violent protests over two women made history by entering the Sabarimala temple on Wednesday.
One person was killed in the state-wide protests and shut down called by the right-wing groups led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Local media reported that several journalists were attacked and many were injured.
Many expatriates from Kerala said they are watching with angst as their state, which recently overcame a devastating flood, is burning over a temple entry issue.
Bhaskaran, a writer based in the UAE said as an expat it is painful to see violent protests flaring up all across Kerala because two women entered Sabarimala. “These two women have only exercised their constitutional rights as upheld by the recent Supreme Court verdict. These protests and bandh are in fact anti-women.
“We must be celebrating it. Instead, communal forces are out on a rampage. It is scary.”
Bhaskaran said the state, which has not even recovered from the floods and its devastation is slipping into anarchy thanks to people who are polarising the state in the name of faith.”
Priya. G, 40, a health and safety professional, said Kerala, which is otherwise a progressive example for the rest of India, is walking backwards. “People are forgetting history. We have come a long way from the dark ages where people from lower castes were not allowed to enter or walk in front of the temple.”
The controversies around Sabarimala had also divided expat organisations in the UAE who held meetings and events in support and against the Women’s Wall called on by the Left government in Kerala on January 1.
Christopher Varghese, head of exports in a private company, said the two women in their forties setting foot inside the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala “is first step towards gender equality”.
“Hope many women seek inspiration from this act and visit Sabarimala. Women are neither impure nor second-rate citizens. Let’s unite against all sorts of discrimination. Every women has the right to worship at the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala if they so wish.”
However, not all expat women agree that women have the right to enter Sabarimala.
Diji Sujahi, 37, an emcee based in Abu Dhabi, said she did not understand the hullaballoo surrounding the issue. “I believe that the rules and traditions of a temple are there for a reason and we should let it be. There is no need to tamper with it.
“Sabarimala entry of women is not about equality. It isn’t about men VS women, though unfortunately it is portrayed as that. Women are barred from entering Sabarimala to protect the whole energy of the place and I would not want to disturb it,” said the mother of two from Kerala.
Savitha Avish, 38, mother of two from Sharjah, also voiced similar opinion. “I would say that Sabarimala should not have been dragged into the gender inequality bracket. It was a belief and people have been following it for many years. There are so many different kinds of belief systems in India and in that case, we should be challenging all that.”
“It is bad that it has happened. The most unfortunate thing is the state got messed up because of a temple entry issue. It was totally unnecessary. I don’t think the two women who entered the temple did it out of faith.”
These two women have only exercised their constitutional rights as upheld by the recent Supreme Court verdict. These protests and bandh are in fact anti-women.”
Bhaskaran, writer
It isn’t about men VS women, though it is portrayed as that. Women are barred from entering Sabarimala to protect the energy of the place and I would not want to disturb it.”
Savitha Avish, Sharjah resident