ശബരിമലയും സ്ത്രീകളും

by Lekshmy Rajeev

A collection of essays on the Sabarimala controversy. Ever since the Supreme Court pronounced the historical verdict allowing entry of women of the menstrual age into Sabarimala Ayyappa shrine in Kerala, vested interest groups have carried on violent protests. Certain political parties are also fuelling these protests further. Progressive intellectuals, activists and writers who have spoken in favour of the necessity to implement the Supreme Court order, have faced abuse and even threats to their lives. A false impression has been created that public opinion in Kerala and even most women are against the judgment. In fact, the women who are paraded by the conservatives during their protests are no way the representative samples. Also, there is historical evidence to prove that Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala is not a Brahmachari. The deity is, in fact, multifaceted. The ban on the women of reproductive age was imposed only after a Kerala High Court verdict in 1991. Before that, women of all ages used to come to Sabarimala, and even afterwards, young women continued to visit unnoticed with support from authorities and priests. The mainstream media has ignored such facts and issues. This is an attempt to present enlightening views and crucial facts related to Sabarimala, with the aim of providing a multidimensional perspective that can bring clarity amidst the confusion. AJ Thomas, M. Balagovindan, VK Sanju, Babitha Marina Justin, BRP Bhaskar, Ethiran Kathiravan, Nitya Chaitanya Yati, K P Sajeev, K. Satchidanandan, Mriduladevi Sasidharan, PI Lathika, Prabhath P, Ritu Menon, Sethu Menon, Shoukath, Sithara S, Sunil P Ilayidam, Sunny M Kapikadu, T K Vinodan, T S Syamkumar, Ullekh MP, VishnurajThuvayoor, R. Ramanand, TT Sreekumar, SreekanthVelikkatt, Nazeema Beegum , Shibu Gopalakrishnan, Sreedevi S Kartha, Reshma Nishanth and Radhika C Nair.

222 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2019

About the author

Lekshmy Rajeev is a poet, columnist and translator.Her poems have been published in reputed literary magazines and journals such as Indian Literature, Poetry Chain, The Little Magazine, Deccan Herald Sunday Magazine, and many websites. Her volume of poetry titled Dusk Diary was published by the Sahitya Akademi in 2011. She was the poetry editor for the website of The British Council for South Asian Women Writers. Her articles have been published in The Hindu, The Indian Express, Sahara Times, The Sunday Guardian, Deccan Herald, Travel X, Kerala Kaumudi and Mathrubhumi. From 2007 to 2014, she worked with Niyogi Books as consultant editor. She lives in Thiruvananthapuram with her husband Capt. D.K. Rajeev and twins Rajeev Adityan and Bhadra Rajeev. Her illustrated book on a temple and deity that attracts the largest gathering of women in the planet , was published by Harper Collins India in July 2016.

Reviews

[Anoopjith G N · Rating 5 out of 5]

In deficit of word to explain

എല്ലാ അയ്യപ്പ ഭക്തരും (എന്ന് അവകാശപ്പെടുന്നവരും) നിർബന്ധമായും വായിച്ചിരിക്കേണ്ട പുസ്തകം തന്നെ. ശബരിമല - അയ്യപ്പ വിശ്വാസങ്ങളെ പറ്റിയുള്ള ഒരു കൂട്ടം നല്ല /ആരാലും ശ്രദ്ധിക്കപ്പെടാതെ കിടന്ന അറിവുകൾ നൽകുന്ന എഴുത്തുകളും ഒരു കൂട്ടം നിരൂപണങ്ങളും.