Dalit minister denied the right to light lamp at Kerala temple

Untouchability persists, coiling up and powerless to withstand the urge to strike at will.

At a temple in Kerala on January 26, a minister there described how he experienced the worst consequences of the caste system.

The minister, K. Radhakrishnan, is regarded as one of Kerala's most prominent communists and was involved with initiatives that emphasized scientific knowledge and temperament in a region that takes pride in its progressive heritage. India became a republic on January 26, guaranteeing the equality of all citizens. The Devaswom berth, which is responsible for maintaining temple facilities, is one of the ministries that Dalit Radhakrishnan handles.

At a Shiv temple in Payyannur, one of the remaining anciently civilized regions of north Kerala, none of these things mattered on this Republic Day.

In a video posted on Monday, Radhakrishnan was heard saying: "The principal pujari lit a (little) lamp. I believed he was approaching me to give me the lantern. However, he chose not to and instead lit the nilavilakku, a tall ceremonial lamp. Simply said, I assumed it was a component of the rite. The assistant pujari received the tiny lamp from him next. He also started the enormous lamp. I believed he would hand it to me. However, he swiftly set it down, possibly anticipating that I would pick it up and turn on the (large) lighting.

In addition, Radhakrishnan said that the insult made him unable to ignite the lamp. The Malabar Devaswom Board, which oversees the temple where he was invited to inaugurate a newly constructed facility, is part of the CPM leader's remit.

At a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the rest of the Sangh parivar ecosystem have attempted to make Sanatan Dharma, which detractors claim supports the caste system, into a political issue, Radhakrishnan's testimony is particularly significant. Because they are concerned about a possible voter reaction in northern India, few mainstream parties are eager to address the issue head-on.

"Those who started Chandrayaan used their intellect a lot less than those who started the caste system. According to Radhakrishnan, minister for Devaswom (temple affairs) and the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, the fact that the caste system still exists is proof of their degree of intelligence.

Radhakrishnan had brought up the subject back then, but it received more attention after this week's viral video went viral.

The minister had criticized caste prejudice on January 26 while speaking at an event related to the temple festival. He also questioned why priests should not feel uncomfortable taking donations from "untouchables" without any repercussions.

"I stated that collecting money from untouchables is not a problem despite being an untouchable in front of the pujaris (priests). Everyone from a fish vendor to a butcher would have handled the money (therefore accepted). But they embrace it with no hesitation," Radhakrishnan recalled saying to the group.

He explained that it wasn't a problem exclusive to someone like him but rather evidence of the caste system's persistence in Keralan society. In his words, "This should not be understood as a shame experienced by an individual, but rather as how the caste system's ruins are still present.

However, education minister K. Sivankutty stated on Tuesday that the "government is duty-bound to take necessary action" in contrast to Radhakrishnan's claim that he did not pursue any action against the two priests.

Padmanabhan Unni Namboothiripad, the temple's chief priest, told reporters on Tuesday that he was not present for the incident and was therefore unaware of what took place. "I have no idea what transpired. Without disclosing the identities of the two priests, he stated, "I can only make a statement after investigating the situation.

Spiritual guru Swami Sandeepananda Giri expressed sympathy for people who still adhere to the caste system. He told a TV outlet, "I can only pity these people, who need to be punished in accordance with the law."

"Do all those casteist folks who are waiting in line to get lunch packets at any hospital even know who prepared and packaged the food or what caste they belong to? Is there a caste system for hunger? said Giri.

He was referring to a program run by the Democratic Youth Federation of India, a youth organization affiliated with the CPM, which collects lunches from residences all throughout the state and provides them to patients and their caregivers at public hospitals.

The general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, which stands for the underprivileged Ezhava group, Vellapally Natesan, denounced the incident and claimed that even a minister is not exempt. The fact that a minister experienced such discrimination is evidence that the underprivileged still do not enjoy equality.

This happens as Kerala commemorates the Vaikom Satyagraham, a 603-day campaign for the right to stroll through the streets surrounding a famed Shiva temple named after the town in Kottayam district, which took place 100 years ago. Later, the campaign picked up steam and developed into the historic temple entry movement that assisted the vast majority of Hindus who were barred from entering sanctuaries.