In Kerala, rights were never gifted, but wrested through organised efforts: K R Gowri Amma

In a freewheeling interview with Express, the communist stalwart shared her displeasure with the Pinarayi Vijayan Government’s handling of the reformatory yet sensitive issue.
Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple (File | EPS)
Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple (File | EPS)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Weren’t you born to a woman? K R Gowri Amma, one of the female icons of Kerala politics, began the conversation on the Sabarimala controversy thus.“This is a ridiculous debate. Those who want to offer prayers at the shrine should be allowed to do that. Don’t compel anyone to visit and also don’t allow anyone to prevent genuine devotees,” she said.

In a freewheeling interview with Express, the communist stalwart shared her displeasure with the Pinarayi Vijayan Government’s handling of the reformatory yet sensitive issue.She feels the government failed in taking the people into confidence and implement the SC order without untoward incidents. “If he cannot do this, why is he occupying the Chief Minister’s post?” she wondered.Gowri Amma, who celebrated her 100th birthday this July, starts her day at 4.30 am. She reads four newspapers and is quite aware of current affairs.The veteran leader disagrees with the Chief Minister’s branding of the Sabarimala issue as a fight between upper and lower castes.

“That is due to his ignorance about the state’s history. The fight for temple entry was not made by Dalits alone,” she said.Those opposed to reforms need not always be orthodox people, she said. “The idea of temple entry for all did not enthuse a prominent CPM leader of that time. Not because he was a Brahmin, but for his selfish motives,” she said.

“In Kerala, rights were never gifted to the people, but wrested through organised efforts,” she said.On the large female participation in the protest rallies, she said: “It is not education or literacy but an awareness of our rights that make mankind move forward. Their ignorance is to be blamed.”

She confronted the idea of menstruation’s impurity with her own story. “I was in my teens then. I was having my periods and had to accompany my elder brother Krishnan and his wife to a temple. Initially, I waited outside. But when they did not turn up in time, I went inside. The devi is still there. She did not run away at my presence. The world has always been like this — will take two steps forward and one step back. But eventually it will move ahead,” she said.The six-time minister had also handled the devaswom portfolio. However, she did not go beyond Nilakkal for Sabarimala pilgrimage arrangements.

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