Braving the barriers of poverty and caste was no mean job for them. Yet, P.R. Yadukrishnan, P.C. Manoj, M. K. Pradeepkumar and G. Jeevan valiantly fought the twin disadvantages that pinned their forefathers down for centuries together to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Kerala temples.
The four, who were among the six SC/ST members who were recently appointed priests in the temples of Travancore Devaswom Board, come from penurious background with no steady income or family to fall back on. Even while being instrumental in scripting a new era in the social history of Kerala, the unassuming youths are determined to fight any challenges that may prop up in their way.
Mr. Manoj, a Vettua, was appointed at Pirakkattu Maha Deva Temple at Arakkapady near Perumbavur. Mr. Jeevan, a Pulaya caste member, got his employment at Devar Danam Vishnu Temple, near Kaduthuruthy. Mr. Pradeepkumar, also a Pulaya youth, was appointed at Narayana Mangalam Sastha Temple, Karumaloor, near North Paravur.
The parents of all the four youths with whom The Hindu caught up with were daily wage labourers and with no societal back-up.
Mr. Yadukrishnan and Mr. Manoj were mentored by M. C. Sabu Santhi, a local priest, who also belonged to an Other Backward Community of the State.
Mr. Manoj had been performing the rites for the past 17 years and assisting senior priests in the rituals. “I used to earn some money by performing pujas when sought by someone. And during lean days, nothing much would be left to survive,” he said. “Till now, none has discriminated against me on caste grounds and had to reveal my caste while performing the puja,” he said.
While Mr. Pradeepkumar learnt the early lessons of puja from his father M.K. Karunakaran, who used to perform some rites, Mr. Jeevan taught his brother the initial lessons of temple rituals.
A graduate in history, Mr. Jeevan himself became part of the history of State by becoming one among the six to to be selected for the post.
Even while the young priests are hopeful of smoothly performing their temple rites, some of their mentors privately shared apprehensions about possible resistance from some sections of the society. Enthused by the achievements of the youths who hailed from the socially and economically disadvantaged segments of the society, some of their well-wishers are planning a public reception to them at Paravur town, on October 20, to assert the message of social change.
