Sangh’s gender-parity call for temples welcome
In categorically saying that all restrictions on the entry of women in temples anywhere in the country must go, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has shown recognition for a changing social order and commitment to greater gender parity. The RSS's stand, which was articulated at the recently concluded three-day conclave of the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the group's highest decision-making body, is especially significant since it comes in the backdrop of several ‘Right-wing' commentators and organisations defending restrictions imposed on women in certain temples or their sanctum sanctorum based on tradition. Protests had broken out in recent weeks following demands by groups of women that they should be allowed to enter the Shani Shingnapur and the Trimbakeshwar temples in Maharashtra — and thus bring an end to gender discrimination that is not sanctioned by Hindu holy texts and is certainly at odds with the country's changed socio-cultural profile.
Senior RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi is absolutely right to observe that “there is a need to change the mentality” (of restricting women in certain temples or areas within temples). Traditional reasons may have been quoted to justify the restrictions, but one of the charms of Hindu tradition has been its flexibility; its refusal to confine itself within rigid doctrines. The time has come to, therefore, re-visit these beliefs and shape them in the present context. But this can happen through a dialogue process in which all stakeholders — temple managements, religious and spiritual leaders, representatives of devotees and groups with differing viewpoints as well as Government officials — should participate.
After all, no one wants ugly confrontations or an impression to go around that the Hindu way of life is housed in fundamentalist and gender-discriminating beliefs. Indeed, if such are the impressions already in certain minds (those that not predisposed against the faith), they can be dispelled by the implementation of progressive measures. Now that the RSS has taken a clear position on the issue, it is to be hoped that various organisations affiliated to it will get the message and the contentious debate comes to an end.
The RSS's pitch for gender parity is similar to its long-running campaign against caste discrimination. For years the Sangh has been working to educate and enlighten the people, especially those of the Hindu faith, about the evils of caste. The purpose has been two-fold. The first is to educate people that the caste-by-birth discrimination, perpetuated for decades, has no religious sanction; and the second is to instill into the Hindu community a sense of oneness, one of unity. In the many institutions that it manages, the RSS has been taking care to ensure that caste does not come in the way of equitable opportunities. Unfortunately, much of its good work gets swamped by allegation that the senior leadership of the organisation itself is determined (or dominated) by caste considerations. Interestingly, this was also the accusation that the Congress faced in its early years since Independence. But changes are coming, and the RSS has not remained untouched. It has now even decided to change the uniform of its cadre — from shorts to full-length brown trousers!