'The assault on Dalit gender equality activist Bindu Ammini, by a fervent Ayyappa devotee, reveals the fragility of the Hindu nationalist male ego and a deals a chink to the Hindutva armour... Like other nativist and anti-pluralist projects, Hindutva is premised upon the restoration of a primeval order that involves the dominance of man over woman, father over son, savarna over avarna, avarna over Dalit, fair skin over dark, state over subjects, religion over law, priest over devotee, teacher over student.
'Last year, when the Supreme Court ruled that women of menstrual age could enter the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala despite a proscription against this, the Kerala government led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) decided to prove its social crusader credentials by backing women who wanted to exercise their constitutional rights to visit the shrine... But all it took for the Left government to forget about constitutional rights was one election.
'A woman activist, who is part of a team headed for Sabarimala to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa Shrine, was allegedly attacked by a member of a Hindu outfit here on Tuesday. Bindu Ammini, who created history by visiting Sabarimala temple last year following the apex court order, was part of the team led by gender rights activist Trupti Desai. Ammini was attacked by a member of a Hindu outfit using pepper or chilli spray outside the police commissionerate...'
'The Congress government in Madhya Pradesh has released funds worth Rs 7 crore for the development of the much-hyped ‘Ram Van Gaman Path’ in the state after the Supreme Court verdict cleared the path for a Ram temple in Ayodhya on November 9. The state government’s move is being perceived as the ruling party’s attempt to woo Hindu voters after the announcement of construction of 1,000 cowsheds, hike in honorarium of priests, priest welfare fund, revamp of Ujjain’s Mahakal temple and a separate trust for temples and rivers.
'It is essential for Hindus to take back their faith from extremists, says the founder of Hindus for Human Rights... A close Kashmiri friend of mine in New York City has not spoken with her loved ones for more than 50 days. The Valley has been under siege since August 5, with a communications blackout in place. Meanwhile, detention centres are being built in Assam for potentially millions of people rendered non-citizens through the National Register of Citizens programme.
'In an embarrassment to the government, Kashmiri Pandits who have braved conflict conditions in the Kashmir Valley questioned the figures given by Minister of State for Home Kishan Reddy at a press conference in Bangaluru on Monday (September 23). There are a total of just 5,000 to 7,000 temples across Jammu and Kashmir, however, the government has reached a figure of 50,000 temples? How, questions the Kashmiri Pandit Sangarsh Samiti (KPSS)...'
'On July 11, the Telangana government “externed” or banned godman Paripoornanada Swami from Hyderabad for a period of six months, stating that he is involved in ‘anti-social’ activities. He was dropped off at his peetham (peeth or ashram) called Sri Peetham at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. Paripoornanada, along with Dalit film critic Kathi Mahesh, were externed from Hyderabad by the city police. The row began when the baba and his followers took exception to comments made by Mahesh about the Ramayana.
'After Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted of rape and his followers wrecked havoc in parts of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi – leading to the death of at least 30 people – several BJP leaders were left in an awkward position. Several Haryana BJP leaders had gone to pay their respects to the Sirsa-based Dera chief after the elections in 2014. BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj invited intense backlash by openly supporting Singh and suggesting that the rape survivor should not be believed. “Who is right? Crores of people who see god in Ram Rahim or that girl who filed a complaint?
'Professor B.P. Mahesh Guru, a professor of journalism at the University of Mysore, was arrested on June 17 for making “anti-Ram” comments. The Dalit professor was arrested for an incident that occurred last year, when he apparently criticised the Hindu God for being unjust to Sita. “Ram of Ramayana had violated human rights. He suspected Sita’s fidelity and victimised her. I see this as a violation of human rights,” Guru had said, according to reports. He has been teaching at the university since 1999. Guru has spoken up against those in power before.
'Wendy Doniger's The Hindus: An Alternative History is back, and how. Without any cuts, barely 20 months after it was withdrawn - not banned - from the market by its original publishers Penguin India.
