Sabarimala Row: Women Protesters Dragged Me Out of the Bus

Women were pissed at us because my friend and I were dressed in a black kurta, which is worn by Ayyappa’s devotees.

I wish I could I go back and see when the gates to Sabarimala opens for the first time to women but I’m just too scared. I think, I’ll just watch it on TV for now at least.

(Photo Courtesy: Dravika Trehan)

Video Editor: Abhishek Sharma

Kerala has been witnessing protest marches since the day Supreme Court announced its verdict on Sabarimala. The apex court opened the gates of Sabarimala to women of all ages inside the premises.

Being a journalism student, I was curious to witness the 'peaceful' protest of the devotees at Pamba base camp.

A day before, I was informed about the protest from my friends. So I decided to board a morning bus along with my other batch mates and reach the venue.

When we reached Nilakkal around 11 am and were greeted by loud Malayalam slogans.

We were manhandled and dragged out of the bus. (Photo Courtesy: Dravika Trehan)

We were still trying to asses the situation when suddenly a group of women protestors stopped our bus and entered.

They manhandled us and started pulling the women and forced them out of the bus. I was horrified.

Women were screaming at us and refused to listen to a word we said. They forcefully pulled me, I thought, by the end of the day, I would be resting on a hospital bed.

Finally, two women journalists intervened and started explaining to them that we have no intention to enter the temple. Moments later, police officers reached the area and escorted us to a safer place.

I was later told that the women were even more angry at us because we were dressed in a black kurta – which is worn by Lord Ayyappa’s devotees to Sabarimala. As soon I got to know about this, I quickly changed into something which was not black.

I was still very nervous and didn’t know what to expect next. I saw and heard women sitting under the tents and chanting slogans. By then women who had dragged us out of the bus realised that we were telling the truth and we had no intention to enter Sabarimala temple.

I picked up the courage and walked towards these agitated women protesters to talk about their protest as that was why I was there in the first place. I noticed that these women were stopping every vehicle that was passing by. While I sat and observed their every move, I decided to interact with some women who were sitting under the tent.

One of the elderly women said that these north Indians (probably the SC Judges, who passed the verdict) have no right to comment on their religious beliefs. and that they will not let anyone disturb their Lord’s sanctity.

Men, meanwhile, refused to comment because they were not comfortable saying the word – menstruation.

With so many angry women protestors around, I was surprised to see not even one woman police officer or constable. There were only four-five men officers for about hundreds of protestors. Innocent children joined the protest along with their mother, grandmothers or even relatives without realising the intensity of the situation.

I had seen enough violent activity in just a span of one-and-a-half hours. I decided to catch the bus and head back to my college in Kottayam. By that time we decided to leave, we saw another tent being set up to accommodate more protestors. My heart wished to stay longer but my mind took over and advised me to leave before it becomes more chaotic.

Kerala government clearly failed to provide safety to people. I don’t understand, why didn’t the state take adequate measures? This kind of violence was expected.

As soon as I reached my PG (paying guest), my landlord told me that he saw me on TV. He even advised me to be careful for the next few days as people who’ve seen me on TV might not like that I went to Nilakkal.

One thing is for sure, implementation of this verdict might take time to be welcomed and accepted. I wish I could I go back and see when the gates to Sabarimala opens for the first time to women but I’m just too scared. I think, I’ll just watch it on TV for now at least.

(The author is studying journalism at Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam. She is from Delhi and graduated in political science.)