Bhopal: Fight over Sabarimala is patriarchy verses non- patriarchy not male versus female,” said Madhavi Menon, an author and professor of English at Ashoka University, Delhi. Menon was in city on Saturday to attend the first-day of three-day the Bhopal Literature and Art Festival (BLF) at Bharat Bhawan.
It was first edition of the fest, based on theme Heartland Stories. She had a conversation on her book Infinite variety: A history of Desire in India with Journalist Anil Dharker in the event. On being asked whether the ban on women of menstruating age in Sabarimala Temple in Kerala should continue because it is a “Tradition, Menon told Free Press, “The tradition is not sacrosanct. Sati, was also a tradition which was discarded.”
She further said that left government in Kerala was doing the right thing implementing the Supreme Court’s order on the temple and expressed the hope that in next election the right wing must be defeated all over the country. About the Ayyappan reality, the author said, “In reality he is a very open and accepting deity.
There is no chronicles of Ayyappan. There is nothing in written that women should this dos and don’ts. Yes, it is written a bit in the Bible and the ‘Manusmiriti’ which is terrible that way. But one of the beauty of Hinduism is that there are multiple texts and traditions. So, no one can say that this is only way to do this thing. Every book says different things.”
“There is an interesting belief of the Lord Ayyappan.
In India, it is one of the rare temple that you don’t need to be upper caste, Hindu to go into the temple. Ayyappan tradition are always that come and ask questions… ye swaalon ki jagah hai jababon ki nahi… So, here it is not a matter if you believe it or not. It might be you start believing or not believing after you go there. There is no litmus test that you fill an ideological checklist before going. If you get 10 out of 10, then only you can go inside.
What’s this?” the professor said. She said “I hail from Kerala but I have been born and brought in Delhi but my grandfather went to the temple 35 times. He was real devotee. He took to me when I was nine. At that time I know nothing about this tradition. My grand mother and mother don’t go the temple but there were no restriction. Here, we think the real devotee to whom is protesting against the Supreme Court’s decision but it is not true. ”
On being asked, do you think the protest will change the mindset of the people, “Yes, it should but it will take time. At least two women went in January. Their number will increase gradually. I think it is fight over patriarchy verses non- patriarchy not male verses female because lots of women are also against the court’s decision.
In patriarchy system, it is believed that man is superior to women. And lots of women believe that. If the women don’t believe in patriarchy then it would fail. This is like colonialism. If the the British don’t have Indian soldiers, they were unable to rule India. So it is not man verses woman at all.”
“Also, there is global moment about gender and sexuality. Now, people are talking about multiple issues whether it is # Me Too Campaign or others. But there is more awareness now just because women are saying why are leaving us out,” Menon added.
