New Delhi: Amid a raging row over ban on women entering Shani Shingnapur temple, pro-RSS journal 'Organiser' has sought to justify the tradition saying arguments of rationalists protesting in support of defying it are wrong and favoured resolution through 'respectful dialogue'.
Citing reforms initiated during the pre-independence days, the publication said many thinkers argued for social reforms through legislations by the British, but were opposed by nationalists like Tilak who felt reformation has to come from within through a dialogue process, a thought reiterated by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in his last Vijayadashami speech.
"In case of Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra, there is a 400-year-old tradition of banning women from entering its sanctum sanctorum. The women activists from the Bhumata Brigade led by Trupti Desai tried to forcefully enter the temple to break this tradition.
"Though there can be genuine concerns regarding space for women in religious matters, the arguments of rationalist protesters in support of defying the tradition are wrong on at least three counts," the 'Organiser' editorial said.
Titled "Reformation through respectful dialogue", the editorial said from Sabrimala to Shani Shingnapur, liberals, seculars, rationalists, feminists are against the alleged discrimination against women in religious affairs.
It said while in Sabrimala, entry of all women between 10 and 50 years is banned due to ritualistic practice and tradition, in Shani Shingnapur there is a 400-year-old tradition of banning women from entering its sanctum sanctorum.
"In both the cases, it is a matter of faith. The trustees, villagers and devotees of both the places believe that the tradition has some reason which has to be followed. Rationality has no place for faith or tradition.
"The 'rationalists' have to explain whether they want to forcefully worship the God they do not believe in or to respect the sentiments of the people who believe in. People who do not have the courage to question the heinous practices in organised religion should do away with this age-old practice of making Hindu way of life a convenient target," it said.
Talking about reforms during the British, the journal said Hindu society has a long cherished reformist tradition as even during the freedom struggle many thinkers argued for social reforms through legislations by the British.
"On the other hand, nationalists like Tilak opposed it as British did not represent the will of the people but at the same time they believed that reformation has to come from within through a process of dialogue. The same direction is reiterated by the RSS Sarsanghachalak in his Vijayadashami speech last year," it said.
(With Agency inputs)