Sabarimala fiasco: So, who won - religion, politics or women?
Religion is the last resort of cowards. Where logic ends, religion starts. And, in this time and age, we don't need religion. Politics, on the other hand, is a dirty game. The first and the last rule of politics is to win, at any cost. Put religion and politics together, and you get Sabarimala fiasco. But, why are women fighting this already lost battle?
Disclaimer: This will hurt you, read at your own risk
Neither this writer has an acute knowledge (Thank God for that!) of religion, nor does she want to associate herself with politics. She just thinks she is an 'empowered' woman in her own tiny, little space. You have every right to troll her.
First the facts: Even Supreme Court can't 'empower' women
On September 28, the Supreme Court, in its infinite wisdom, decided to allow women of all ages to enter the 800-year-old Sabarimala temple, overturning the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorization of Entry) Rules, 1965 that banned menstruating women from entering. And, when two women decided to enter the hilltop shrine, they were stopped on Vijayadashmi day, no less. The police couldn't protect them, the law of the land couldn't either. Religion 1-0 Rule of Law, Women's Rights.
Symbolism apart, why is entering the temple so important?
Now, don't get me wrong, I understand it was a fight against oppression. Entering the temple was symbolic, and failing to enter it - a stark reminder of patriarchy. Even when the law is on our side, we still can't win the battle. But, is this battle worth the efforts? It won't miraculously solve our issues, will it? Can Lord Ayyappa guarantee us that?
Dear women, why shouldn't you fight this futile battle
The real battle is not in temples/mosques, but on roads, in our homes, and at our workplaces. The real battle is when you are being objectified, and you have to normalize it. And, the even tougher battle is what a rural woman fights everyday - from access to education, hygiene to even safety - the basics she is being denied every moment. No temple, rituals or priest can fix it; the 'dhaakad' you has to.
Your God is not stronger than my God
End of it all, philosophical and inane as it sounds, where is God? Does He reside in my 'karma' or 'dharma'? Should we be God-fearing or God-loving? I am sure my God (or the diluted version of my mother's God) doesn't care about menstruating women. And, even if He does, He needs to learn science. There is a very thin line between being religious and spiritual, and that thin line is common sense.
Dear religious reader, here's something to ponder over
Believing that an almighty power, who created the universe could be interested in the triviality of the issue of women's entry to Sabarimala not only reeks of extreme narcissism but is also a way to use divinity to justify patriarchy, something that should not be tolerated in the 21st Century.
