Protests against SC verdict on Sabarimala take Kerala back by a century: MT Vasudevan Nair

Veteran writer MT Vasudevan Nair said that the protestors are using women to maintain women as second grade citizens in a state that has achieved a great culture through the renaissance movement.

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The protests against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple is a move to take Kerala back by a century, said renowned writer MT Vasudevan Nair.

In an interview to newspaper Deshabhimani, the writer said that what Kerala was witnessing now was shameful to a state that has achieved a great culture through the renaissance movement. "No one who hopes for the state's future would support this move (of the protestors)," he was quoted as saying.

'Fools may consider a blunder committed yesterday as a ritual today, it may become science tomorrow, hence do not give a nod to this, my lord', he quoted poet Kumaranasan. "When we correct our old mistakes and move forward, some are making us walk back. This is very dangerous. These people do not understand history," he said.

MT remembered how the Guruvayoor temple entry was also opposed by a section of people. "The story spread was that Guruvayoor Appan's radiance would reduce (if temple entry was allowed). But believers know that there has been no such reduction in that radiance. It is foolish to believe that wrongs can continue as wrongs," the writer said.

It is rare that such a progressive court verdict should come from the legal system, MT said. It is government's responsibility to implement it. "The government's move to implement the verdict is a progressive one. These protests are a result of attempts to destroy it. To maintain women as second class citizens, they are using women. Today or tomorrow everyone will have to accept the right way. There would come a day when they realise their mistake. Long ago the noise was about lower castes entering the temple. God's strength is not something that ceases to exist if women or people belonging to lower castes come. It would always be there," he said.

Meanwhile, the gates of the Sabarimala temple are set to open again on November 5. The Pathanamthitta District Collector has announced that Section 144 will be at force at the Sannidhanam and in the areas of Nilakkal and Pamba. The curfew will come into force from the night of November 3 till the night of November 6.

To avoid any sort of failure in the law and order situation in the temple and in its premises, the Kerala Police had earlier said that they will be drastically increasing the manpower deployment in the areas of Sabarimala, Pamba and Nilakkal.