Temple Entry Mk II

Temple Entry Mk I was way back in 1936 when “low caste” people were allowed into Travancore State temples by a royal proclamation. That was a huge leap forward in ensuring religious freedom and social equality guarantted much later by or Constitution. Temple Entry Mk II was different and Trupti Desai scripted a forcible entry into temples where tradition restricted the  entry of women. Debate still goes on to judge whether this helped gender equality but may have violated the guarantee of freedom to practice religion.

No person who truthfully  believes in religion or in visiting temples specifically  to pray to a God wil venture to break into any other place of worship. Such a person will not use one constitutional prescription relating to gender equality, known to be intended for the uplift of certain focused social levels, to challenge another which guarantees religious freedom and tolerance. Any person who forces one’s entry into places of worship, regardless of religion, assisted by a  militant following can be suspected of  doing  so to find a place in the Limca or Guinness Book of Records or media headlines.

I am a Hindu but NOT a fanatical one  and am able to stand on the sidelines and watch neutrally as millions of people practice their beliefs and religious rituals. I have been to several temples and seen the fervour and the faith with which the devotees cry out to their Gods for blessings, comfort, peace, release from pain. In short religion and God are their ultimate refuge. What does Trupti achieve from her march from one place of worship to another notching up her mission statistics? Beliefs and religious practices have no logic in our eyes but there is an explanation on which a faith has been built up. All these are doing no harm to anybody but are bringing solace to many. The local beliefs and practices are accepted by the local devotees or those who travel on pilgrims. Who is Trupti Desai to  contest beliefs in temples which she had never chosen to visit to pray but now wishes to break into on an undesirable pioneering spree. There are numerous other worthier causes of women  like the anti-khap panchayat feeling,triple talaq etc  that would benefit from Truti’s undisputed spirit and enthusiasm.

I was watching one of Barkha Dutt’s “We the People” programmes a few weeks ago on Triple Talaq. A Naib Imam from Lucknow referred to a Supreme Court observation of a few years ago that it should not be their job to interfere in established religious practices. If that is true what has prompted the same Supreme Court to suddenly turn activist and authorise the likes of Trupti to gain entry into places  of worship to enforce the principle of gender equality?  Why has the Supreme Court not succeeded in reining in khap panchayats which defy the judiciary and  act criminally against women whom they hold virtually captive ?

In conclusion I would ask the Supreme Court one final question to ponder over.  The honourable justices, presumably, swear upon God on taking office. If they  consider religious beliefs and practices based on the word of God to be violable how is it then that the word of the Supreme Court remains inviolable ?