Dravidian movement played a key role in temple entry struggles: Kanimozhi
She was speaking at the launch of The People’s Sanctum, a book that documents the temple entry struggles over the last 100 years
DMK MP K. Kanimozhi highlighted the pivotal role played by the Dravidian movement in dismantling caste barriers within temples during a book release event for "The People’s Sanctum" in Chennai. The Dravidian movement, which advocated for dismantling a religion that upheld caste hierarchies, relentlessly fought against temple entry restrictions, according to Kanimozhi.
She emphasized that the movement's efforts, championed by atheist philosopher Periyar and others, were instrumental in ensuring no barriers existed for believers seeking to enter temples. Kanimozhi pointed out that the struggle for temple entry served as a launching point for broader societal inclusivity in fields such as medicine, judiciary, IT, and industry.
Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, present at the event, noted the historical caste restrictions imposed at the Mahadeva Temple in Travancore Princely State, expressing empathy for those affected. Manuraj Shunmugasundaram, the author of the book, acknowledged that while significant progress has been made in temple inclusion, many challenges remain, emphasizing the ongoing need for equality and the appointment of women and transgender individuals as priests.
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