Dalit Minister Faces Caste Discrimination at Kannur Temple

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala SC/ST Welfare Minister K Radhakrishnan has made a startling revelation about the alleged caste discrimination faced by him during a temple function in the Kannur district of Kerala.

The minister who also holds the portfolio of Devaswom temple affairs, said that he has the strength to overcome such discrimination on the basis of caste. However, efforts must be made to change the mindset that still upholds such discrimination. “I believe that the general public of Kerala will not accept it. The caste system is a stain on society and as it exists, the fight against it will continue,” he said.

The incident of caste discrimination:

The minister revealed that he was sidelined in the name of caste during the inauguration ceremony at a temple. Two priests of the temple refused to hand him the flame they had brought to light the main lamp at the venue of the ceremony.

At a programme of Bharatiya Velan Service Society (BVS) in Kottayam on Sunday, the minister recollected the incident; "I went to attend a function at a temple. During the inaugural ceremony, the main priest placed a lamp. He came with the flame and I thought that he was going to give it to me to light the lamp. But he did not hand it to me. Instead, he lit the lamp himself. At that time I thought it was part of some custom and should not be disturbed."

"After that, the main priest handed over the flame to the co-priest who also lit the lamp. I thought the flame would be given to me after that. But it was not. Instead, he placed the flame on the ground. Their thinking was that I would pick it up from the floor and light the lamp," recalled Radhakrishnan who is a CPM central committee member and national president of the party-led Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch.’

For a moment, I thought should I light the lamp that was not personally handed over to me by the two priests? Should I pick it up from the floor? I said to hell with it. You don't consider the money given by me as untouchable, but you consider me as untouchable," he said.

Later, addressing the gathering at the same temple, Radhakrishnan spoke about the incident;“I pointed out that they don't discriminate against the money I give but they discriminate against me. The caste system may not disappear overnight, but it has not gone away from people's minds. I expressed my disappointment that they discriminate against people while not showing any discrimination towards the money donated by the poor, which changes hands from the butcher or fish seller and comes out of their trousers.”

The minister also emphasized that he would not take legal action in the Kannur incident and believed that change must come through discussions.