02-10-2009, 01:35 AM
DMK kills another Hindu tradition
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Mr Karunanidhi seems to be on a fast track mission to conclusively demolish Hinduism in Tamil Nadu. Recall his âDMK-isingâ the Tamil calendar to pass derogatory remarks about tilak. And now, this. The Chidambaram Dikshitars â temple priests â whoâve been struggling to maintain their livelihood from just the temple earnings, are naturally outraged. Their impoverished plight is well-documented. Yet their steadfast faith in god keeps them going. Sadly, the High Court judgement has robbed them of even this. While they have expressed their intent to challenge the court order, Mr Karunanidhi has wasted no time to implement it. His publicity machinery has already termed this shameful move as a âboost for tourismâ. What it doesnât realise is how duplicitous it sounds: Temples are not tourist attractions.
This brings us back to the same point: In an ostensibly secular nation, can courts decide on matters that fall in the religious domain? Recent history shows that secular establishments invoke the courts in the hope of getting favourable verdicts in matters that damage Hindu institutions while âminority institutionsâ are virtually beyond the law.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Mr Karunanidhi seems to be on a fast track mission to conclusively demolish Hinduism in Tamil Nadu. Recall his âDMK-isingâ the Tamil calendar to pass derogatory remarks about tilak. And now, this. The Chidambaram Dikshitars â temple priests â whoâve been struggling to maintain their livelihood from just the temple earnings, are naturally outraged. Their impoverished plight is well-documented. Yet their steadfast faith in god keeps them going. Sadly, the High Court judgement has robbed them of even this. While they have expressed their intent to challenge the court order, Mr Karunanidhi has wasted no time to implement it. His publicity machinery has already termed this shameful move as a âboost for tourismâ. What it doesnât realise is how duplicitous it sounds: Temples are not tourist attractions.
This brings us back to the same point: In an ostensibly secular nation, can courts decide on matters that fall in the religious domain? Recent history shows that secular establishments invoke the courts in the hope of getting favourable verdicts in matters that damage Hindu institutions while âminority institutionsâ are virtually beyond the law.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->