Temple entry in Tamil Nadu: Tracing the struggle for temple entry in Tamil Nadu

This New Year started with hope for Dalits of Eduthavainatham village in Kallakurichi district as they entered the Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple there for the first time on January 2, 2023. The issue in Eduthavainatham regarding temple entry is not an isolated one in Tamil Nadu, which continues to witness struggles, big and small, of Dalits trying to assert their right to enter, worship and participate in festivals in many temples against backlash from caste Hindus. If you rather be a Hindu than be a gentleman, then shut the doors and damn yourself for I don’t care to come.” For a religiously-minded Depressed Class person, he said the decision on supporting the Bill would depend on whether Gandhi and the Hindus thought of temple entry as the final goal or as a first step for the advancement of social status of the Depressed Classes within the Hindu fold. The Assembly, however, passed a separate Bill introduced by Rajaji in December 1938 to enable temple entry in Malabar region of the Madras Presidency, provided the majority of the local community of caste Hindus support the entry in temples located in their areas. Every developed state would have experienced a social reform agenda.” VCK assembly floor leader, Sinthanai Selvan, who admits that he got into politics after getting involved in Gandhari Amman temple issue in Kurinjakkulam in early 1990s, said that it is easier to identify temples in rural Tamil Nadu where Dalits are able to worship without any issue as the Dalit community continue to face issues in temples across Tamil Nadu.