 "Shani Shingnapur")
It is a controversy that stirred the nation's imagination -- one that had women go to any length to defy a tradition that has been in existence since medieval times.
Led by Trupti Desai, they were all set to use a helicopter to descend onto the sanctum sanctorium of the Shani Shingnapur temple, which had been off limits to them for centuries. The legal battle that ensued went in favour of the women, with a high court order allowing their entry. Business Standard gives you the low down on the flow of events, including the who, what, where and why.
What's the big fuss?
In January 2016, about 500 women from Bhumata Ranragini Brigade led by President Trupti Desai, stepped up to defy a five-century-old tradition that debars women from worshipping the stone idol of Lord Shani, on account of “harmful vibrations” believed to be emanating from the deity.
The only demand of the activists is that women too have the right to pray.
The Shani Temple, a unique place of worship in Maharashtra's Shingnapur village has no walls or roof. A self-emerged five-foot high black stone stands on a platform and is worshipped as the presiding deity.
It is globally renowned as the only village where houses, including a local branch of a nationalised bank do not have doors and locks.
However, recently for the first time, a woman was appointed as the trust president by the committee members.
“This is the first time in the temple's five-century-old history that this welcome development has taken place. Another woman, Vaishali Lande, has also been appointed to the board of 11 trustees managing the temple,” Prafull N Surpuriya, a trustee, told IANS
Who is Trupti Desai and what is Bhumata Rangragini Brigade?
Equal-rights activists have for months been pressing for entry into the core of the temple (the sanctum sanctorium).
Trupti Desai, who founded the Bhumata Ranragini Brigade in 2010 in Pune, launched a state-wide campaign in January to gather public support for their agitation seeking entry for women into the sanctum of the temple. She tried to do the same on January 26, but was arrested, then released.
She said, “This is a murder of democracy.”
“Our fight has been going on for the past three-four months. We faced a lot of hurdles. We have been maligned; we were detained despite the court orders,” she added.
However, villagers opposed the campaign and formed a ‘counter-campaign pandal' in order to continue the traditions.
Desai's organisation currently has about 4,000 members, including some men. Bhumata Ranragani Brigade, an offshoot of the set up, is focused on women's causes, the latest of which is their right to enter the Shani temple. The brigade also assists victims of eve teasing, besides tackling dowry issues, domestic violence and sexual or physical assault.
What are the political parties saying?
The Women’s wing of the Shiv Sena, along with other right-wing group represented by the Sanatan Sanstha supports the opposing villagers who want the ban to stay.
Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) and its women's wing Ranragini Shakha also supported them.
However, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy stood up for women rights, saying, Virat Hindustan Sangam (VHS) stands for Hindu Renaissance and not Hindu revival.
“We must support women's demand for equal rights to men's for temple entry. Any Shastra sourced discrimination is amendable. Commies no!" Swamy tweeted.
So, who supports Desai and company?
As the issue unfolded rapidly in January, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis favoured a dialogue between temple authorities and activists to find a way out over the ban.
“Indian culture and Hindu religion gives women the right to pray. A change in yesterday's traditions is our culture. Discrimination in praying is not in our culture. The temple authorities should resolve the issue through a dialogue,” he tweeted.
What's the latest?
On April 1, a division bench of the Bombay High Court, headed by Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice M S Sonak, ruled in favour of the protesting activists.
"There is no law that prevents entry of women in any place. If you allow men then you should allow women also," Chief Justice Waghela said.
The temple trust, caught up in a tiff, decided to ban men as well, hoping to have overruled the issue of gender discrimination.
That move backfired severely, as on the festival of Gudi Padwa, with hundreds of devotees in line to worship, a mob of men stripped down to their undergarments and barged past the security into the temple.
Trustees, including Sayaram Bankar and Haridas Gaywale said they have decided to facilitate unrestricted entry to all devotees including men and women, complying with the court order.
“It is the state government's duty to protect the rights of women. If it is the sanctity of the deity that you are worried about then let the government make such a statement,” the court said after abolishing the age-old tradition.
"The state government has taken the same stand from the very beginning and we filed an affidavit in the High Court that there should be no discrimination.
Today, they have decoded on this issue and we wish that after today, no one needs the police to get 'darshan'. Religion never discriminates on the basis of caste or gender," Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis told the media,” Fadnavis said.
Desai will be fighting a similar battle against the similar traditions practiced in Trimbakeshwar and Mahalaxmi temples in Nashik and Kolhapur.
