Will Take Action If Widows Are Prohibited From Temple: Madras HC

The Madras High Court strongly criticised the practice of prohibiting widows from entering temples, stating that it should never be practised in a civilised society governed by the rule of law. The ruling is commendable in patriarchal societies.

The court observed that, unfortunately, it had been the archaic belief that if a widow entered a temple, it'd cause impurity. Despite many reformers seeking to break the insensible beliefs, it continues to be practised in some villages. The court explained that these were just rules and stigmas framed by men to suit their convenience and that they actually demean a woman just because she has lost her husband.

Widow Prohibited From Entering Temple

A single judge bench of Justice Anand Venkatesh noted that a woman as an individual has a status and an identity that "cannot come down or be taken away depending on her marital status."

The court said that if any such attempt was made to stop a widow from entering a temple, action would be taken against them according to the law.

The Madras High Court was hearing a plea by a woman named Thangamani who sought police protection to enter the Periyakaruparayan temple in Erode District and participate in the festival happening on August 9 and 10.

According to Thangamani’s submissions, her husband, who used to be a priest at the temple, passed away in 2017. She informed the court that when she and her son wanted to participate in the temple festival, she was threatened by some individuals who stated that she couldn’t enter the temple as she was a widow.

Justice Anand Venkatesh observed that the individuals had no right to stop her from entering the temple, participating in the festival, and worshipping God. The court directed the police to clearly inform the individuals that they cannot stop the petitioner (Thangamani) and her son from entering the temple, and if they do so, action would be taken against them in accordance with the law.

Life As A Widow In Patriarchal Societies

Living in metropolitan cities, many of us think that the days when widows were ostracised by society are long gone but, unfortunately, the stigma continues to prevail in certain parts of society.

In a lot of patriarchal societies, when a husband dies, a woman becomes a widow, but when a wife dies, a man becomes a groom again. Admit it or not, this is the reality in most cases. The tag of widow comes with several restrictions, and it applies even amongst the elite families.

For instance, Neetu Kapoor was judged and shamed for being "happy" after her husband and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor’s demise. Yet she continued to defy the regressive social norms and live her life her way. She dolled up for her son Ranbir Kapoor’s wedding, applied mehendi on her hand with her husband’s name, danced her heart out, wore bright coloured outfits, and was an integral part of Ranbir-Alia’s wedding. This came as a breath of fresh air in Indian society, where widowed women are often ostracised from auspicious events, including the wedding of their own children.

Since the day I can remember, I have noticed widows being prevented from participating in auspicious or happy events in the family. We believe the practice of sati ended long ago, but society continues to snatch the colour and light from the lives of widowed women and force them into a dark corner of the world.

From being forced to denounce colours, bindi, and flowers and voluntarily staying away from auspicious events, including their own children’s weddings, haven’t we seen widows themselves do it with a lump in their throats and a forced smile on their faces? It’s not just weddings; widows aren’t allowed to be a part of any auspicious or religious events, both at home and outside, because, after their husband’s demise, they are perceived as "bad luck." But aren't women individual beings? Why should their identity be tied to that of a man?

Amidst the prevailing regressive social norms, the Madras High Court’s ruling to condemn anyone ostracising widows comes as a breath of fresh air. It’s undoubtedly a laudable move and a much-needed one in a society that continues to hold on to patriarchal notions.

Suggested Reading: Widowed Mother In UP Assaulted For Wanting To Remarry: Is This A Refined Version Of Sati?

Views expressed by the author are their own