The Maharashtra police acted predictably in detaining approximately 500 women who were planning to barge into the Shani Shingnapur temple in defiance of the four- to five-century-old ban on women. To maintain peace is the duty of the police and they cannot take a call on the equality of genders and the right of women to worship at the shrine to the Saturn god. It is up to more enlightened people and those in authority to resolve this conflict. The Maharashtra CM has already spoken on the desirability of doing away with an abominable practice that keeps half the Hindus from worshipping. Even a so-called malefic god may agree that humans have devised these restrictions in his name. Such obscurantist practices as cleaning the temple with milk if a woman sneaks in to worship should find no place in today’s world.
A Muslim group has also come forward to support the activists. Going a step further in the raging debate over gender discrimination at Shingnapur, and at Sabarimala where women of a certain age group are not allowed, they say religious trusts must change patriarchal practices, built up by gender prejudice rather than theological doctrines. This is an argument that goes beyond even constitutional rights and involves the principle of gender equality, which must be upheld. A huge change in attitude is called for if a genuine change of heart is to take place soon.
