‘Approach of priests has pained me’: Kerala OBC man refuses to join post at Thrissur temple

Both the state’s Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government as well as the Sri Koodalmanikyam Devaswom Board have backed Balu’s appointment.

Balu was the first rank-holder in a recruitment exam held by the devaswom recruitment board and was issued his appointment order on February 24. However, he was not allowed to join following protests from the priests and was subsequently moved to an office job at the temple while another person from the upper caste segment was given the kazhakam post.

If he had joined, Balu would have been the first Kazhakam from the backward community in the history of the temple.

On Wednesday, as protests against the stand of the temple priests mounted, Balu said: “The approach of the priests has pained me. I don’t want to create any issues at the temple when the festival is approaching. My family is also of the same view. I have given a letter to the temple administrator saying that I don’t want the post of kazhakam. I am ready to do the office job at the temple.”

Devaswom (temple) board chairman advocate C K Gopi, who has been pushing for Balu to be retained at the assigned post, said the board will discuss his request and take a decision.

“The state government will also be apprised of the developments,” he said.

CPI(M) leader and state Devaswom Minister said the government, too, was of the view that Balu should be retained in the post of kazhakam.

“Kerala is a land of social reformers, and it is an insult to the state that a person is being kept away on account of caste. We cannot agree with the stand of the temple priests. Kerala is a place where non-Brahmins were made temple priests,” he said.

This isn’t the first time that the temple has been accused of caste discrimination. In 2022, Bharatanatyam exponent Mansiya V P had alleged that the temple barred her from a scheduled dance programme on its premises because she is not a Hindu.

Mansiya, a PhD research scholar in Bharatanatyam, had earlier faced the ire and boycott of Islamic clerics for being a performing artiste of the classical dance form despite being born and brought up as a Muslim. The temple board was of the view that existing tradition dictated that only Hindus can perform within the compound of the temple.