The caste system in India is deeply entrenched – Dalits are still humiliated, beaten, lynched for all kinds of imagined transgressions: for entering a temple, to transporting or skinning cows, using a well, to taking out wedding processions to watching garba festivals. In a social climate that is so inimical to social justice; which seeks to revisit and follow the tenets of the Manusmriti, Kerala has shown the way.
It is a significant departure from the norm – the Travancore Devaswom (Temple) Recruitment Board has appointed priests from Dalit and backward communities. In our country, where Dalits still face widespread discrimination and a form of caste apartheid; having to suffer the humiliation of being barred from entering upon the premises of temples meant for so called higher castes, this is a welcome step towards social parity.
There has been a demand for Dalit representation in the priesthood for years now, but it was always met with resistance. The board oversees the running of over 1200 temples including the revered Ayyappa temple at Sabrimala. This is a first and is a huge step forward in demolishing the privileged preserves of so called higher communities that have sought to exclude Dalits based on birth and antiquated notions of purity.
Marathakavalli David was among the first women to be ordained as a priest. In 1989, she became a priest at South Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India. This again was the result of a decade long struggle for representation including a legal battle, but David was finally able to realize her childhood dream of becoming a priest. It is as a result of these early efforts that the Church of South India has resolved to recruit and promote more female clergy.
It is well known that Kerala is the most developed state in India as far as education goes. It is the first Indian state to achieve 100% primary education and till date is the only Indian state to have done so.
The male to female ratio in other parts of the country is abysmal because of the importance given to the male child and the clandestine termination of pregnancies that continue in spite of laws against it; the national sex ratio is just 933 females to every 1000 males. In Kerala however women outnumber men – 1084 women to every 1000 men. This state is the only one other than Puducherry where women outnumber men.
The state was the first Indian state to introduce free Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) through government hospitals, gender Taxi (operated by transgender people) and among the first to hold Queer pride rallies. It was Shashi Tharoor, MP from Kerala who introduced the bill for decriminalization of homosexuality. Kerala is also the first to have a transgender beauty contest!
While the national infant mortality rate (IMR) — per 1,000 live births is 41, Kerala's is just 6; by far the best in the country. This IMR is as low as developed countries such as the USA.
This is a state where there are significant minority populations: Muslims are 26% while Christians make up 18% of the population. Yet the communities have coexisted in peace for centuries and the incidents of communal riots are far lower than the national average. Kerala is among India's most progressive states – perhaps it is the willingness of the people to be accepting of social and gender equality that is responsible? Certainly there appears to be a strong sense of community – which seems to override religious, caste, gender and sexual orientation – that appears to foster the common good of the people of this Indian state.
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