By Muslim Mirror Desk
Devadasi system, a exploitative practice which has been a part of the Hindu society for centuries, continues even today in parts of Karnataka despite the government of India formally outlawed it soon after Independence. The process involves a ritual under which a Devadasi is dedicated to the goddess when she gets puberty. Once dedicated to the deity, which is considered like marriage, a Devdasi is not supposed to marry a mortal for the rest of her life. Scores of reformists over the years have tirelessly been trying to end this, some cases still come to fore.
In a latest case reported in February, a 22-year-old Rudramma (name changed) had sought help from the Devadasi Nirmulan Kendra to avoid becoming a Devadasi. With this the administration swung into action and saved her from becoming a Devadasi, reported Dainik Bhaskar.
According to the report, the team while searching for her, reached her house in Kudligi town of Vijayanagar district. Rudramma was going out with her mother for labor on the farm.
“Even though she escaped being a part of this evil practice. But due to my family background, my boyfriend’s family members refused to get married. Now I am getting out of this stress and working as a laborer to support the family,” Rudramma, was quoted, as saying, by Dainik Bhaskar.
“I had never thought of such a life. I used to study due to my interest in dance and drama, I enrolled in the institute. As soon as the people there came to know that I belonged to the family of a sex worker, the institute and the boys around it started taunting me,” she said.
“So everything went away. This social discrimination must be broken.”
Rudramma’s mother said that Rudramma had resorted to lies to avoid marriage. Rudramma had told the police that she was being pressured by her mother and family to become a devadasi. Later her mother gave an assurance in writing that she would not associate her daughter with the Devadasi system.
Actually, this practice is associated with religious tradition. Therefore, in Kudligi, when a girl is introduced into the devadasi system, it begins with worship, rituals and dances and songs performed by the devadasi girl at the Maramma temple.
After being dedicated to the temple and married to the Lord, she becomes their sex slave or captive to serve the men of the upper castes without any future. For the past few years, the administration has banned the observance of such customs. But in some of the temples of the district, this practice secretly continues unabated. Rudramma was rescued before she was sent to the temple.
Journalist Kiran Kumar Balnanavaran told Dainik Bhaskar that there are about 3 thousand former devadasis in the 120 villages in Hudlige taluka of Vijayanagar.
“It is the responsibility of the government to rehabilitate all these. 90% of the Devadasis come from the Scheduled Tribes. Brahmins and girls of upper castes are not made devadasis,” he said.
Gopal Nayak, who is associated with Devadasi Rescue and Rehabilitation, explains that Devadasi’s brother leads a normal life and his wife is not included in this practice.
According to the survey conducted by the State Government in 2008 and the figures of Karnataka State Women Development Corporation, the number of Devadasis is about 40,600. But in 2018, a study conducted by a foreign NGO and Karnataka State Women’s
University found 90,000 Devadasis in Karnataka, of which more than 20% Devadasis from northern Karnataka are below 18 years of age.
I want to be a part of organisation which is fighting against DEVDASI PRATHA .
I want to be raise voice of Devdasis
Pl contect or inform
Rajani Brijesh
EX judicial Magistrate ,
Social Activist ,legal advisor