Well, as usual, the whole debate was a showdown. Foremost there was complete chaos which I am yet to come to terms with even after watching his shows and getting frustrated a hundred times. Secondly, the "#ReadyToWait" side was too poorly equipped with counter points to justify their stand. Knowing the kind of show and debate they were going to be part of I expected them to be more prepared to argue with the likes of Arnab and well-informed activists on the opposite side. In between all this one thing always surprises me that in a show where Arnab is supposed to be a facilitator and stay neutral, he comfortably takes a side and smashes the enemies with his non-stop questions. I could smell something fishy here.
For the uninitiated, let me explain the topic of debate a little bit. "Sabarimala" is a Hindu pilgrimage centre located in Kerala which is visited by millions of devotees from all over India who come every year after a 41 days penance which includes strict fasting and continence. This is one temple where people from all religions are allowed to visit. But there is one custom here which restricts entry for women between the age of 10 and 50. This is as per the Kerala high court ruling in 1991 stating the age old custom of the temple. Now the Supreme court of India has taken a petition contesting the judgement by the High court preventing entry of women of certain age. And the verdict is expected very soon which has given way to this intense debate on every type of media. While the women's rights activists are vying for the right to pray for women of all age citing equality for all citizens, a group of women and devotees who are against this have come up with a campaign "#Ready to Wait". These are the 2 groups who were involved in the debate on the above show.
Though the argument of the devotees who take shelter behind the so-called belief and custom may sound fair enough, I believe that women should never be restricted from entering a temple just because they are women. Whatever arguments be put forth, the reality remains that it is misogynous to restrict women in the name of beliefs and customs. Would the god who we believe created everyone advice such practices? There was a time when we practised outrageous things in the name of custom and ritual like Sati, monogamy and child marriages. With time and struggle of many, we were able to break away from such practices and make them strictly punishable. We should be able to break out of this practice also. Those who want to wait can wait. No one is forcing them to go. But if there is even one young woman who wants to visit the temple and worship Lord Ayyappa, she should not be stopped because of her age. If custom is so strictly to be followed then let me ask how many men who visit the temple take the complete 41 days of penance? Citing practical reasons and today's living style there is a short form of the penance which is followed by men. When these things can change with time why not other aspects too?
My point here is something beyond all this discussion. A detailed discussion as above was required so that even I could look at this issue from a third perspective. Why would someone whose ideology has been leaning to the right in all other cases try to speak for and take sides with the activists and supporters fighting for equality? This is where I suspect there is some bigger conspiracy being played behind the scenes. The right wing people have always been irritated by the point that only Hindu religion is targeted and questioned by activists. They always counter every argument by raising one question that why these people never question the practices of other communities. By supporting the "RightToPray" group today, I feel there is a possibility for the same person to conduct another debate at another time to instigate the right against such people by raising the same question which would by them have taken the form of a hatred in the minds of righties. This could lead to bigger problem considering the volatile times we are living in. Maybe there is a need to look at the whole issue from a much wider perspective by everyone.
Though the argument of the devotees who take shelter behind the so-called belief and custom may sound fair enough, I believe that women should never be restricted from entering a temple just because they are women. Whatever arguments be put forth, the reality remains that it is misogynous to restrict women in the name of beliefs and customs. Would the god who we believe created everyone advice such practices? There was a time when we practised outrageous things in the name of custom and ritual like Sati, monogamy and child marriages. With time and struggle of many, we were able to break away from such practices and make them strictly punishable. We should be able to break out of this practice also. Those who want to wait can wait. No one is forcing them to go. But if there is even one young woman who wants to visit the temple and worship Lord Ayyappa, she should not be stopped because of her age. If custom is so strictly to be followed then let me ask how many men who visit the temple take the complete 41 days of penance? Citing practical reasons and today's living style there is a short form of the penance which is followed by men. When these things can change with time why not other aspects too?
My point here is something beyond all this discussion. A detailed discussion as above was required so that even I could look at this issue from a third perspective. Why would someone whose ideology has been leaning to the right in all other cases try to speak for and take sides with the activists and supporters fighting for equality? This is where I suspect there is some bigger conspiracy being played behind the scenes. The right wing people have always been irritated by the point that only Hindu religion is targeted and questioned by activists. They always counter every argument by raising one question that why these people never question the practices of other communities. By supporting the "RightToPray" group today, I feel there is a possibility for the same person to conduct another debate at another time to instigate the right against such people by raising the same question which would by them have taken the form of a hatred in the minds of righties. This could lead to bigger problem considering the volatile times we are living in. Maybe there is a need to look at the whole issue from a much wider perspective by everyone.
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