The Kollam Tragedy and Politicisation of Kerala’s Temple Boards

Kollam fire tragedy makes a compelling case for temples to function in a transparent manner, writes RK Raghavan.

There is an undisputed symbiotic relationship between religion and politics in our country. Even politicians who claim to be atheists would never miss a chance to have a finger in the pie of temple administration. Mind you, the poorest of our temples – especially in large towns and cities – are rich, at least moderately, owning substantial land and real estate. This is why the average Indian politician is attracted to temples like bees to flowers, and extracts his own quota of honey.

One striking example is the fervour with which DMK leaders in Tamil Nadu managed to become, either direct or indirect, beneficiaries of temple wealth. Remember this is a party that was born out of the Dravida Kazhagam (DK), whose charismatic leader Periyar (EVR Naicker), openly declared that whoever believed in God was a fool (‘muttal’ in chaste Tamil). Incidentally, he was politically correct in desisting from tirades against other religions.  Attacks on Brahmins and Hindu temples came naturally to his followers.

After parting ways with EVR, and the formation of the present DMK, the anti-religious streak continued for decades, before being given up by the DMK as it was of little utility in promoting the party.

Politicisation of Temple Administration

More recently, control over the huge and famous temple in Chidambaram by a small group of priests (Dikshitars) over centuries was an eye-sore to many Tamil Nadu politicians. When the State government sought to dilute this by inducting a non-Brahmin element, the Dikshitars went to court. They were stoutly supported by Dr Subramanian Swamy, who argued their case, and eventually got an Apex Court ruling which has enabled the Dikshitars to retain their hold over the temple.

Kerala is another state where there has been gross politicisation of temple administration. This phenomenon is germane to a discussion on the recent Kollam tragedy. Temple committee members are invariably ruling party men, and wield enormous clout.

Better Temple Management

• Kollam tragedy raises questions on the functioning of the Devaswom Boards, responsible for managing 3000 temples in the state.
  
• Politics and religion go hand in hand, with two Congress leaders making it to the Travancore Devaswom Board in November last year.
  
• Red tape also ails temple committees, with malpractices being reported at the Padmanabhaswamy temple in 2014.
  
• Unlike Kerala, Tamil Nadu has done fairly well by appointing representatives from the private sector as caretaker of respective temples.
  

Holding Local Administration to Ransom

How else would you explain those in the Kollam temple committee ignoring with impunity, the administration’s decision not to allow pyrotechnics? I am certain that if the police had put its foot down, the committee members would have got a directive issued from the Chief Minister’s office. There is a rumour that the State Labour Minister Baby John spoke to the District Collector with a view to asking her to reconsider her tough stance not to allow the fireworks display. Of course the Minister has denied this. 

The brazenness with which the local administration is browbeaten or brushed aside is not confined to Kerala. It is a national disease which sometimes ends in disasters like Kollam.

Corruption Ails Temple Boards

Kerala has four Devaswom (Sanskrit for Property of God) Boards that control about 3000 temples in the State. There was a huge controversy last November when the State government appointed a new President and a new Member to the Travancore Devaswom Board that looks after the famous Sabarimala temple. One of them was a former Congress MLA and the other was a spokesperson for the KPCC. This was vehemently opposed by the KSP, a partner in the ruling UDF, which demanded its own slice of the cake. This is an unremitting spoils system that adversely affects the quality of temple management.

What is galling is the corruption that marks the system. Each Board has a huge income from contributions made by devotees. This attracts the wrong kind of person to get a foothold in the administration and abuse his authority.

Kerala has been witness to another major controversy in the recent past with regard to temple management. This is in respect of the magnificent Sri Padmanabhaswami temple in the State capital. Traditionally, the temple was being run by a trust headed by the former Travancore royal family. Alleging large scale malpractices, Advocate Sundar Rajan took the matter up to the Apex Court, which appointed an Amicus Curiae (former Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium) calling for an enquiry into various allegations, including the removal of precious jewels from the temple vaults.

Subramanium’s report charged the temple administration with a number of irregularities, including the failure to open bank accounts and to file IT returns. In August 2014, the Royal Family was divested of its control of the temple by the SC which appointed an interim committee to run the day-to-day administration. An audit by the then CAG Vinod Rai and his first report confirmed some of Gopal Subramanium’s findings. This chain of events alone would show how temple management in the State had been vitiated by gross external interference and charges of corruption.

Temple Management in Tamil Nadu

Kollam will have to be analysed against the above backdrop. A role in the management of temples in the State carries prestige and some perquisites. There is naturally a scramble for obtaining the coveted position. In contrast, and despite many other faults, the AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu has done better, at least in respect of the most important temples.

The government chose two outstanding individuals with an impeccable record – one each from the TVS industrial family and the Apollo Hospitals Group- to manage the Srirangam temple in Trichy and the Kapaleeswarar temple in Chennai. These two selfless men have brought about wonders in the whole ambience that will be spoken about for years to come. Both are non-political persons who have kept tight control over the huge finances of the two shrines. Is this not worth emulating by the governments elsewhere in the country? Am I being dreamy?

(The writer is a former CBI Director)

Also read:

Kerala Temples: Story of Fires, Stampedes & Elephants Running Amok

Kollam Fire Tragedy: Taking Recourse to Law on Manmade Disasters