Kozhikode: Atheist organisation Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham (KYS) has come out with the ‘truth’ of what has been spreading in social media that a speech impaired man got speech ability at Sabarimala while chanting ‘Swaamiye’. KYS Malappuram district secretary K.K Radhakrishnan said he visited Santhosh of A.R Nagar panchayat in Malappuram, who was said to have been blessed while at Sabarimala on January 15, and confirmed that the ‘news’ was fake. The local panchayat ward member also confirmed that the news was not true.
“Santhosh is 38 years old and has been hearing and spach-impaired since his early childhood,” Mr Radhakrishnan said. “He is an ardent Ayyappa devotee and has been to Sabarimala for more than 30 years. He was able to chant the word ‘Swaamiye’ as a result of the daily vocal exercise of that word sfor many years. Along with the practice, the devotional frenzied moments in Sabarimala could have resulted in the uttering of the word with clarity,” Mr Radhakrishnan told DC.
A video clip is also being circulated in social media which shows Santhosh chanting ‘Swaamiyee…’ at the Sannidhanam. “If it was divine miracle, Santhosh should be able to speak other words, too, which is not the case, Mr Radhakrishnan said. The news that Santhosh called his wife from Sabarimala and spoke through phone have no basis, he said. Santhosh’s brother Rukesh also said that Santhosh has not regained speech ability. “But he is able to say ‘Swaamiye Saranamayyappa’ with more clarity,” Rukesh told DC. Sameel Kolakkattil, the local ward member, said that Santhosh used to call the name of persons he interacts regularly, though in a weird manner.
