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Feb012008
Temples, mosques, churches and money
If I were to ask any ordinary malayalee, if Kerala is a secular state or not, the answer will be an outright yes. The state hasn’t witnessed religious tension for a very long time and Hindus, Muslims and Christians co-exist here celebrating each others festivals with much joy (in front of the television of course!). But after speaking to a friend of mine I am having second thoughts on the secular nature of the Govt in Kerala.
Why oh why, should the govt have rights over all the money that comes into the temples in Kerala? In other words, why does the govt have control over the devaswams (a body that makes revenue, administrative decisions, for temples)? In other words why is Kerala govt concerned solely about the money that comes into Hindu temples alone? Why don’t they form devaswams like body for churches and mosques in Kerala? Why?
Is this secularism? Can this be even considered to be a secular act? Why does the govt have to keep a tab on what temples are doing with their money, when no such attempt is made with churches and mosques?
So should govt have a say over monetary transactions of religious institutions at all? I would say yes to that. Because having an eye on the administrative functions of religious bodies, govt can control religious extremism which might originate within the closed doors of religious institutions.
So where has the Kerala govt gone wrong? In not making the law applicable for all religions? In other states, this wouldn’t be such a big issue because of the fact that followers of Christianity and Islam form a minority. But in Kerala Muslims and Christians together form almost 40% of the population, while in many areas they form a majority. Also, many of these institutions receive flurry of money in form of donations from malayalees settled abroad. Their income may not be as big as that of the devaswams; but they are still pretty high.
Is it right to let huge sums of money go unaccounted? No, they create problems for these religious institutions. We have already heard enough allegations (even on mutiny) on how church is misusing funding so availed for conversion and how mosques might be encouraging extremism!
Can’t govt put an end to all this by making it a LAW*, than a biased restriction?
* By LAW I mean a rule that is applicable to everyone and not to a particular class of society alone.
PS: The ‘friend’ I mentioned in the first paragraph is son of an employee at Guruvayur devaswam
The views expressed in this post are those of the writer and are not necessarily endorsed by Mutiny.in
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chacko
001
1:54 pm
Balu. I agree it does seem unfair that only the temples face government interference but it is not right to argue that Chruches and Mosques be brought under the same controls.
The reason why temples are controled are because they used to be run by the royal bodies and the state just took over from them. The ideal solution might be for the Hindu community to form a body and fight to free itself from state controls.
Yes, Chruches do get money from outside India. I know this because I send money to my local chruch to pay for fees for kids who might be of any religion studying in our chruch run school. The key is to get the government out of religion. The politicians use these bodies for their own use.
| Balu |
002
2:01 pm
Hmmm .. I don’t agree with you fully. I would prefer govt presence in religious institutions, (not a controlling stake) just to keep a tab. My concern is that only one religion is under scrutiny here…. Ya you are right when you said, govt took over from ruling families… But it’s high time they made these devaswams independent functioning bodies! Hindus have to fight for that?
And govt wouldn’t let go that easily after all its a cash cow!
chacko
003
3:01 pm
I wouldn’t like any government to interfere in my chruch. The politicians would just appoint their clowns who will do nothing useful and spoil the institutions.
The Hindus have to fight for it, there is no other way. Isn’t it ironic that we have communists who have no belief or religion running religious bldoies just for posts and money.
| Balu |
004
3:09 pm
LOL.. thanks for bringing out that irony! (Marxists one)
I agree about the clowns too! Hold on there was a Mohanlal movie on this theme. wat was the name… hmm it had Mohanlal and Jayaram.. can’t remember!
chacko
005
3:29 pm
Yes, I’ve seen that movie. I can’t remember the name either. But it did show us the irony and what’s now happening in Sabarimala is another example.
xylene
006
5:55 pm
I guess the govt should keep away from all the temples. we know for sure why they are interested in it.
I guess other than asking the govt to control the churches and mosques, let them make the temples independant.
Like chacko suggested “let the hindus fight for it.”
:I cant remember the movie name either
| Balu |
007
6:34 pm
@Xylene
I don’t want to fight, I want to revolt
Jo
008
6:42 pm
Movie name - Adhvaitham??
I think Government should interfere in all the religious institutions - PARTLY. Or else the institutions go on their own (do you think all religious institutions are corrupt/fault-free just because government doesn’t interfere?). This part ruling should be there not only for temples, but in all Christian, Muslim institutions too.
1conoclast
009
7:30 pm
This is a very sad state of affairs.
I believe there should be no Govt. interference in religious institutions. For the following reasons:
Govts. should have nothing to do with Religion!
Govt. can change. India is susceptible to sway suddenly from moderates to right-wing extremist Govts!
There should be a law governing the administration of all institutions, make them auditable, yes. But it should stop at that.
As for Hindus having to fight for their rights, they shouldn’t have to. No one should have to fight for their rights. But in case their rights are being compromised, they should take recourse to agitation, the law or satyagrah. Do avoid violence at all costs. In these troubled times, it’s imperative that we revive Gandhiji’s great weapons!
| Balu |
010
8:01 pm
@Jo —
I think Government should interfere in all the religious institutions - PARTLY.
Exactly my point, but it’s almost impossible to do that now. The transaction of admin controls of temple to govt was smoother as it was done by the then administrators of the temple than by a law!
@1conoclast
I believe there should be no Govt. interference in religious institutions. For the following reasons:
Govts. should have nothing to do with Religion!
Thats a more logical solution.. but its tough for the cash strapped govt to let go of a golden goose!
As far as auditing goes it’s already auditable, thanks to help provided by nationalised banks like Punjab National bank!
Hopefully satyagraha should work! And we need someone there to start the mutiny!
The modern mullah
011
12:01 am
Nowhere in the world does a religious majority have to fight for its rights. Hindus are simply cowards who are afraid to use violence and hit back when their rights are trampled upon.
Chacko
012
12:12 am
@Modern Mullah,
Courage to me is ‘grace under pressure’. Violence will only give the religion a bad name. If you think your rights are being trampled upon, stop calling yourself a modern mullah and try to fight for it using your brains.
Vivekananda
013
12:17 am
Oru jathi, Oru matham, Oru deivam Manushanu
kerala should seriously look at this saying and try to be tolerant
The modern mullah
014
4:59 am
@chacko
Violence might give a bad name to the community but it achieves results. So its best to be violent and disguise it in the form of patriotism or secularism.
chacko
015
11:25 am
@The Modern Mullah,
You need help.
| Balu |
016
12:35 pm
@The modern mulla
Are you trying to justify the Gujarat riots? Because the RSS gave exactly the same reason! I thought you hate Narendra Modi and RSS for what they did!
@Vivekananda
Yes you are right religious tolerance is necessary, but no one is talking of illing each other here except ‘modern mulla’!
All I am saying is there should be equality, either all religious institutions come under control of the govt (not practical) or all religions be cleansed of govt control!
@chacko
I double that!
1conoclast
017
1:10 pm
mod mullah…
please consider this: the violence you’re recommending only begets more violence.
the shit you’re talking is the very reason why India is in this kind of a sad situation today. it is the reason why America had to go through a Civil War. it is the reason the world lost leaders like Gandhi, Lincoln & ML King. but maybe you don’t consider them heroes.
most importantly, what does your pseudonym mean exactly?
Vivek~…
kerela is tolerant!
Chris
018
12:44 am
I think Kerala churches and mosques should also be controlled. With increased revenue, they are resorting to militant pressure , especially in the case of education - we see intolerant priests making very cheap comments. Kerala is blessed to have witnessed great saints like Narayana Guru. But today it’s a brothel run by Sister Abhaya’s killers and rapists in the Church and communist goons. Govt has the right to control these kind of institutions and tax them too.
Problem with Deveswom is it needs to be controlled by an autonomous body with a High court judge’s supervision. This can be made applicable to church and mosques too. Revenue intelligence is already tracking the income of these institutions. This needs to be strengthened as Intelligence had clear indications of church funding the NE terrorism and mosques assisting militiansts.