KOCHI: It came as a great disappointment for the women activists eagerly waiting to enjoy the enc h a n t i n g t r e k t o Agasthyarkoodam, the sacred peak famed for its wealth of rare medicinal herbs. Kerala High Court has struck down a plea from women activists seeking permission to trek the peak, where history merrily walks hand-in-hand with belief and rituals. Drawing inspiration from the victory of a campaign for gender equality in places of worship including Haji Ali Dargah, Mumbai, women activists in Kerala had sought permission to trek the Agasthyarkoodom peak.
The High Court order came as a shocker to the activists as they had made all arrangements to start the trek on Saturday. The Forest Department had given special permission to the women activists in the wake of a series of agitations. However, the Kani tribals living in the Agastyarkoodam opposed the move and informed the court that even tribal women were not allowed to enter the abode of sage Agasthya who was a celibate. The tribals urged to honour the custom and pleaded to let them live inside the forest with their decades old traditions and belief handed down by their forefathers.
Disappointed by the High Court verdict, denying permission for women to trek the Agas t hiyarkoodam peak, activists have decided to approach the higher court seeking to quash the order. “The court verdict has come as a big disappointment for us. We have decided to approach the higher court seeking to quash the High Court verdict as it amounts to the denial of the constitutional rights to a citizen,” said M Sulfath of Pennoruma.
However, the Forest officer maintained that allowing the women to trek the peak would spoil the pristine atmosphere of the forest. At present the Forest Department allows a restricted pilgrimage for men from January to March. As per the tradition of Kani tribals, the Forest Department used to open the peak for trekking on Makaravilakku day and close the programme on Sivarathri.
If women and children were allowed, the department would have to construct toilets for women and quarters for the police personnel along the 28-km long trek path to ensure security and safety of the women. It would naturally affect the wildlife of the reserve forest and the department was not inclined to allow the pilgrim spot develop as another Sabarimala, said a senior Forest officer.