Anti Brahminism

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<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>No Brahmins to run temples</b>

Chennai, Jan 26: The DMK government headed by chief
minister M. Karunanidhi, well known for his atheist views, has ensured
that no Brahmin is appointed as trustee in any of the major temples
across Tamil Nadu. Perhaps this is the first time that the
community, closely identified with priesthood, has been so comprehensively
kept out of temple administration. While the norms that a dalit and a
woman should be accommodated in the five-member temple committees have
been followed, the state Hindu Religious and Charitable  Endowments
Department (HR&CE), which administers most of the temples
in Tamil Nadu, has ensured that the Brahmins are kept out of these
prestigious positions.

The famous places of worship, including Madurai Meenakshi
temple, Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy temple, Palani Dandayuthapani
temple, Tiruchendur Subramania Swamy temple and Mylai Kapaleeswarar
temple, do not have a Brahmin as arangaavalar in the administrating
committees.

In the Thanjavur-Kumbakonam which has a large Brahmin
population, not a single member of the community has found place in the
committees of the dozens of well-known places of worship such as the
Thirumanjeri Udweganathaswamy temple, Uppiliappan temple,
Thirunageswaram Naganathaswamy temple and Patteeswaram Thenupureeswarar
temple.

"The Brahmin community has not been given any representation in temple
administration. This is because the DMK believes that Brahmins are
against the party and support the rival AIADMK of Jayalalithaa. This
is not fair. We will take it up with the government after our
organisational elections, now in progress, are over in a
couple of months," said Mr N. Narayanan, president of the Tamil Nadu
Brahmins' Association (TAMBRAS).

Said the Mylapore legislator S.V.Sekar of the AIADMK, "By  keeping the
Brahmins out of the temple committees, the DMK government is only
baring its inborn vengeance for our community. Why is chief
minister Karunanidhi appointing his party members as arangaavalars
(trustees) even while claiming that the DMK is a rationalist party?
There will be divine justice and God will punish these people some day. I
am not saying this as a politician but as a believer in God."

However, the DMK organizing secretary T. K. S. Elangovan
dismissed the charge that the government had targeted the Brahmin
community for unfair treatment in the appointment of temple trustees.
"This action is not aimed at the Brahmins. We are only acting in favour
of the people who had been so far kept out of temple
administration. We have given such sections a chance now to be in charge of temple administration," said the ruling party functionary.

While the Brahmins are upset with the DMK government, there
is however support from unexpected quarters for the elaborate exercise
of keeping the Brahmins out of temple administration. The founder of
Hindu Munnani (Hindu Front) Rama Gopalan said it was not
necessary that only Brahmins should be appointed trustees of temples. "It is
enough if the trustees are believers and do not indulge in
misappropriation of temple properties. The Brahmins should not feel offended
that they are being kept out of temple administration. Besides, why get
into these committees and later share the blame for misuse of temple
funds?," he said.

Interestingly, there is a Brahmin as a trustee in just one
temple—at the Swaminathaswamy temple at Swamimalai in Thanjavur
district. The trustee R. Ganesh is the lone Brahmin in this famous temple
and is said to have got the post because of his DMK leanings.
Also, at the Madurai Koodalalaragar temple, two women, one of them a
Dalit, have been appointed as trustees. Besides, a tahsildar in Madurai
has been appointed as a trustee in the world-famous Meenakshi temple
because it is claimed, he is close to the DMK.
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