With the din over the appointment of non-Brahmin priests in temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) settling, the Ezhava community, an Other Backward Community Community, has emerged as the single largest beneficiary in appointments.
The recruitment process, which followed the 33% caste reservation norn for the first time, saw 21 Ezhavas becoming priests. Among them, 15 got the appointment in general merit and six others by way of reservation, indicating the definitive strides the community has made in society where their forefathers had to fight for their right for temple worship and use public thoroughfare. Brahmins, who dominated the priesthood for centuries together, have been relegated to the second position, as only 18 community members emerged successful. The representation of the Nair community is limited to eight. Two members of the Dheevara community, one on merit list and another one in reservation, got selected.
Of the 62 appointments made to the TDB, 42 were in merit and 20 in the reservation category. The recruitment process was hailed as a social revolution of sorts as it also paved way for the appointment of six members of the Scheduled Castes and Ssheduled Tribes as priests in temples for the first time.
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Vellappally Natesan, general secretary, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yoagam, attributed the success of the Ezhava candidates to the efforts taken by agencies such as Sree Narayana Vaidika Samithi, Kalavamkodam, in training the community members in temple rituals. A few organisations affiliated to the Yogam are focused on training youths. Moreover, the introduction of reservation has also benefited the community, Mr. Natesan said.
Though employed as part-time priests, the appointment is of permanent nature with scope for promotions. Once promoted, they would become full-time priests and on retirement and would be eligible for pension, making the appointment attractive, said Recruitment Board member G.S. Shailamani.
More members of Other Backward Communities and SC/STs are likely to get appointment in TDB as more vacancies likely to be reported in the coming years. The rank-list would be valid for three years, said Ms. Shailamani.
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Resistance is brewing up against the appointment of non-Brahmins as priests with the Akhila Kerala Tantri Mandalam, an organisation of Kerala Brahman Tantris, opposing the recruitment. Only those who are born Brahmins are eligible for priesthood, said S. Radhakrishnan Potti, general secretary of the organisation.
The mandalam, after sensing that its community members were outsmarted by OBC communities like the Ezhavas, has decided to focus on training Brahmin boys to get through the selection process. One such exclusive training facility for Brahmins will begin in Thiruvananthapuram on October 21. Such centres would come up in other parts of the State too,Mr. Potti said.