Thiruvananthapuram : Casteism still remains intense in society, said Minister K Radhakrishnan. It’s not possible to accept untouchability for humans. These kind of things are on the rise. Incidents of caste-based violence are coming to light everyday from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Dire fallouts of the caste system are cause to such social system. Our state of Kerala has come a long way from such catastrophes. We do not allow incidents to happen here as in North India, the Minster told reporters.
The Payannur temple incident cannot be viewed as problem with an individual. It’s a malady of the society as a whole. This is nothing against the Brahmins. So many Brahmins have fought for social reforms, the minister said.
The mindset created by the caste system cannot be undone overnight. It’s stubborn stain on one’s mind. It is caste and religious thoughts that further push us away from more basic problems of the people. Several in Kerala have the caste mentality. It’s only that they are not able to vent it openly. The temple incident is not intended to become huge controversy. The broader public of Kerala will not accept thins kind of happening,, the minister said.
In the past, children of the poor were not allowed to participate in Krishnanattam at Guruvayur temple. While serving as Speaker, I expressed dissent at the event held there following which, amends were made. There’s no untouchability for money coming from an untouchable man. There’s no untouchability for money of the poor. Money comes changing hands with so many people.
This(caste mentality) cannot be changed just from one community willing. Everybody should work together. The people who worked for temple entry were people considered high in the society. It is they who fought for right to walk roads, the Minister said, speaking with media on Tuesday.
Context: On 26 January this year, the Devaswom Board Minister K Radhakrishnan was faced with a shocking humiliation stemming from extreme caste mentality. In the incident, the Brahmin priests who lit the traditional lamp one by one, placed the Deepam on the ground when it was their turn to hand it to the minister to light the lamp and mark inaugural of the “Nada Pandal”. The incident took place at Namayatrakoval Shiva temple under Malabar Devaswom Board in Payannur.
