Woman 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. However, she has been reported to be stable. Notably, this isn't the first instance of backlash Kanaka Durga has faced since she entered the temple. Here's more.
39-year-old Kanaka Durga, a civil servant, and 40-year-old Bindu Ammini, a lecturer at Kerala's Kannur University, became the first to defy the Sabarimala temple's entry restrictions when they entered the temple on January 2. Their entry sparked widespread protests and a day-long strike in Kerala, and the two women also suffered significantly on the personal front.
"I knew my life will be in danger but I still wanted to go into the temple. We are proud that we have made it easier for women who want to go to Sabarimala now. It's about devotion but it's also about gender equality," Kanaka Durga had told NDTV after her visit.
After entering the temple, the two women had to spend nearly two weeks in hiding, owing to threats from Ayyappa devotees. They had been hiding in an undisclosed location in the outskirts of Kochi. However, even then, things started going downhill for Kanaka Durga. Her husband's family disowned her after her visit to the temple, and when she returned home, more misfortune awaited.
Kanaka Durga reportedly returned home on Monday, but her relief did not last long. She was allegedly attacked by her mother-in-law, and was hit in the head. The blow to the head left Kanaka Durga hospitalized, but reportedly did not inflict serious, lasting damage. She is currently stable, and awaiting further tests at a hospital in the Malappuram district.
Since Bindu and Kanaka Durga scripted history, sporadic violence has broken out between authorities and protesting devotees trying to stop women from entering. However, even in the chaos, a 46-year-old woman from Sri Lanka managed to enter the temple on January 4. Then, on January 8, another 36-year-old woman Dalit leader claimed to have entered the temple. Video evidence was circulated to prove the same.
