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Kerala temple has a separate toilet for Brahmins, removes board after social media uproar

Temple authorities remove the board that marked the separate toilet for Brahmins, after a photo of the toilet block goes viral on social media.

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Bengaluru: A temple in Kerala’s Thrissur was found to have earmarked a toilet exclusively for Brahmins, raising a stink on social media and in the state. 

Temple officials have since removed the discriminatory sign ever since a photograph of the toilet went viral on social media, sparking a row. 

It all began when Delhi-based research student Arvind Christo visited the Kuttumukku Mahadeva temple in Thrissur, his hometown. 

On 3 March, Christo told ThePrint, he went to watch the temple festivities when he stumbled across the set of three toilets — marked separately for women, men and Brahmins.

He quickly took a photograph of the toilets and posted it on Facebook. It went viral soon.  

“I was shocked to see that such things could exist even today,” Christo told ThePrint over the phone. “We all know what role casteism plays in our lives. It’s like the coronavirus; it spreads everywhere.”

Christo’s Facebook post was brought to the notice of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPI(Marxist), which is also the ruling party in Kerala. 

It prompted DYFI Vilvattom area president and media secretary Arvind Palliyil to write to the temple authorities seeking an apology and also directing them to immediately remove the board. 

“I filed an official complaint with the temple authorities and asked them to remove the board. Had we not highlighted it, it would have remained there,” Palliyil told ThePrint. 

“Kerala is one of the most literate states in the country and we will definitely not allow such communal differentiation to tarnish the image of our lovely state,” he added. 


Also read: Kerala poet who called Lord Krishna ‘immoral with no conscience’ gets award, sparks row


Temple authorities remove board

The temple authorities have now removed the sign and are claiming that they were not aware of its existence.

A.B. Mohanan, president of the Cochin Devaswom Board (CDB) under which the temple functions, told ThePrint that authorities had no idea that such a board existed until it was brought to his notice.

“When our officials investigated, it was found that this board has been in existence since 2003. The temple authorities did not notice it as the toilets were hardly used and were around the fringes of the temple property,” Mohanan said. “The moment it was brought to my attention, I ordered its removal.”

The toilets after the sign for Brahmins was removed | By special arrangement
The toilets after the sign for Brahmins was removed | By special arrangement

Mohanan aded that he has directed Cochin Devaswom assistant commissioner Jayakumar to conduct a detailed probe in the matter and submit a report. He emphasised that the CDB has a zero-tolerance policy towards such discriminatory practices. 

Temple officials, who did not want to be named, however said they are upset with the way the issue was handled. Had Christo brought it to the notice of the office-bearers first, it would have been taken care of without such a furore, they said. 

Christo, who is back in Delhi, said he was happy that his effort brought about the change. 

“I did not do this to become famous or make it viral. I wanted people to know that such things exist even today,” Christo said.  


Also read: Kerala priest Vadakkumchery defrocked — the 2016 rape case against him and its many twists


 

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14 COMMENTS

  1. May be this particular inventor has finally found out the basic reality of india being the once respected people are juz confined to reservations only in toilets…. and he has destroyed that too…… great…. great….. or….. goin towards small…. oh lord guruvayoorappa…..

  2. First of all it’s a temple of lord Guruvayoorappa and how a person interested only in toilet could enter into the holy primises of hindus

  3. Leave not an opportunity to blow up any minor issue to demean Hindu institutions and organisations seems to be the motto adopted by these so called righteous Christians who have no business in temple premises.Problem could have been solved by talking in-person to the temple authorities if the intention was honest.Manjapra

  4. I don’t know why this fuz on separate toilet for Brahmins separate perhaps this has done for the pujari and other temple staff so that they aren’t any time lost as they are doing temple work. There may be separate toilet in Christian Church for father’s and nuns and other important people working. In India you will find this type class separation .In defence forces Officers have separate toilet and sitting arrangements.You can’t criticise Hinduism for this.First look your own religious places first and criticise others.This due to these small matter Hindu are not allowing others religion people to their place of worship.

  5. Making mockery of hindu religion become a fashion on other religions. Better mind your own business. Does the person spark the fire say why all types of Christians are not allowed in all church. Same goes with muslims. They have separate worship place being in that community. That should be stopped first.

  6. If reservation for sc st can exist today then even this can . Now Brahmins are treated like untouchables in india , obc sc st get reservation for seats in college , jobs ,etc. But that is fine because the parties want votes.INCREDIBLE INDIA

  7. Not only does this exist today but it thrives. Education in India is only a way for people.get some social status, get a job, get married and demand a huge dowry or marry into a rich family. They have carefully preserved their primitive thoughts , behaviours and hatred for each other separately and unaffected by their schooling . This the only way to change them, name and shame them, order them and if necessary use force..

  8. It sucks to see people who converted to other religions for bread and bun castigating others. We all know your intentions dear. It will never happen – Hindu’s could never be divided again that too on a trivial issue of a priests toilet.

  9. Seperate toilets for Imams, seperate toilets for Bishops and fathers are the order of the day in any church / mosque. Can the DYFI and leftists have audacity to stop this practice. Do they Dare ?? Does this Arvind Christo look into his backyard?

  10. That toilet is for the usage of temple priests you moron. Why are you people hell-bent on creating divisions among the hindu’s ? Do someother useful job other than demeaning others & listening to useless laymen.

    • You r absolutely right sir….. plz don’t ever leave any chance for such……. persons to speak ever in social media like this…..

  11. It is common to call temple priests as Brahmans in Kerala. This toilet is used by temple staff and administration of this temple is a commie. He himself has provided clarification. Pass this message to commie so called intellectual presstitutes.

  12. Will the Church Father or a Muslim priest allow their bathrooms to be used by others? Why discrimination only against Hindu priests?

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