Bindu Ammini: News
Bindu Ammini is a lawyer, academic, activist, and feminist from Kerala. She and Kanakadurga became the first women between the ages of 10 and 50 years to visit the Lord Ayyappa shrine at Sabarimala. She was associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), and has been teaching as an Assistant Professor at the School of Legal Studies at Kannur University. The Sabarimala temple’s tradition restricted the entry of women in the reproductive age as the residing deity is believed to be a ‘naishtika brahmachari’ (a dedicated lifelong celibate). In 2018, the Supreme Court of India passed a verdict that allowed women of the restricted age group to enter the temple, inviting mixed reactions. Following the court order, Ammini and Kanakadurga made a visit to the shrine in January 2019, and prayed inside the sanctum sanctorum. While the move was appreciated by some, it drew the ire of Ayyappa devotees across the gender divide. Ammini, in her defense, claimed that she was “fighting for gender justice.”
26 Nov 2019
Supreme Court Of IndiaWoman who prayed at Sabarimala attacked with pepper spray
Bindu Ammini, who was one of two women to offer prayers at Sabarimala temple in January, was attacked by a Hindu Helpline activist outside the Kochi Police Commissioner's office on Tuesday.
12 Feb 2019
Supreme Court Of IndiaKerala Police want Section 144 imposed as Sabarimala Temple opens
With the Sabarimala Temple slated to open for five-day monthly pujas on Tuesday, certain fringe groups have reiterated their plans to block women of menstrual age from entering the temple.
06 Feb 2019
Supreme Court Of IndiaWoman who entered Sabarimala returns home; her family moves out
Two weeks after she was allegedly assaulted by her mother-in-law for entering the Sabarimala temple, Kanaka Durga returned to her home in Angadipuram on Tuesday following a court order in her favor.
31 Jan 2019
Supreme Court Of IndiaSupreme Court to hear Sabarimala review petitions from February 6
On Thursday, the Supreme Court announced that it would hear the review petitions against its earlier verdict pertaining to women's entry to the Sabarimala temple on February 6.
22 Jan 2019
Rashtriya Swayamsevak SanghKanakadurga, woman who entered #SabarimalaTemple, disowned, thrown out by family
Kanakadurga, one of the first two women of menstrual age to enter Kerala's Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, was sent to a government-run shelter home after she was disowned and thrown out by her family.
15 Jan 2019
Supreme Court Of IndiaWoman who entered Sabarimala disowned, attacked by family; hospitalized
Kanaka Durga, one of the two women who scripted history by becoming the first women of menstrual age to enter the Sabarimala temple in centuries, has been hospitalized after she was allegedly attacked by her mother-in-law.
