Sabarimala issue: Faith vs Rights

When faith turns a weapon, it can inflict the most severe harm.

The recent Supreme Court verdict allowing women to enter Sabarimala Temple has clearly affected the emotions of a majority people who were left with no other option but protest. They are not fighting just for an age-old custom, but for the feelings associated with a million hearts who are true Ayyappa devotees.

Looking the other way around, human rights are violated when a particular section of people is denied entry to the temple. In the case of Sabarimala, women were excluded as the male deity is believed to be a celibate.

If the ban was due to a consideration to women so that they might avoid a dangerous forest trek to the temple, time has changed a lot. Moreover, if this custom was borne out of male dominance it has to be uprooted.

Any sudden decision on a sensitive matter can hurt the feelings of people, but a complete disregard of a rule can may perpetuate the violation of rights. It is worthwhile to wait a little, and let women ponder if they should present before the deity.