New Delhi Oct 11 (IANS) The appointment of 36 non-Brahmin priests including six Dalits in temples in Kerala is a "major step" to ensure that "all Hindu believers get their due share in priestly functions" the CPI-M has said.
When Yedu Krishnan 22 began his priestly functions at the sanctum sanctorum of the Shiva temple at Valanjavattom in Pathanamthitta district it was a historic first -- a Dalit priest at a major temple in Kerala an editorial in the CPI-M journal People s Democracy said.
The Travancore Devaswom Recruitment Board (TDRB) decided to appoint six Dalits as priests along with 30 other non-Brahmin priests.
The Board which manages more than 1 200 temples functions under the supervision of the state government. The reservation for backward classes and Dalits was instituted for the first time.
"This is a major step taken to ensure that brahmanical considerations are replaced with anti-caste democratic approaches to ensure that all Hindu believers get their due share in priestly functions " the editorial said.
"This step has been welcomed by all sections of public opinion in Kerala - except RSS sections " it added. "This is in contrast to the wide appreciation of the radical step taken by the LDF government all over the country."
--IANS
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