new Delhi: Muslim-origin Bharatanatyam dancer, Manasiya VP, has claimed that she was barred from performing for the upcoming 10-day temple cultural festival at the Koodalmanikyam temple in Thrissur, Kerala, when over 800 artistes participated in the event. Responding to the issue, former health minister KK Shailaja said that not allowing demonstrations on religious grounds is “a matter of concern”.
Former Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja condemned and said that an artiste being banned from cultural festival on the basis of religion is a matter of concern. He said in his Facebook post, “If such a situation arises that man can live only on the basis of any religion, then there will be religious rigidity and communalism in the country. We wanted the country to move towards secular friendship.”
“That’s why it was written in the constitution that when the country is independent then India will be a secular country. The freedom fighters thought that we are all Indian citizens, even if there is difference in religious customs and traditions and there can be stability of the country. This can only be ensured by maintaining love and acceptance. But it is a frightening fact that today a section of people is encouraging religious-centric thinking and Indian rulers are supporting it.”
A report in the Indian Express states that the temple is under the state government-controlled Devaswom Board. In a Facebook post, Manasiya said, “My performance was scheduled for April 21 at 4-5 pm, but a temple office bearer called me and informed me that I was protesting as I was a non-Hindu. Not allowed. After that I have become a Hindu. (She was married to musician Shyam Kalyan). I don’t have religion and where should I go.”
The exponent of Bharatanatyam was earlier excommunicated by Muslim clerics for being an artist performing the dance form despite being Muslim.
And she further said in her Facebook post that this is not the first time she is facing the axe. He alleged that he was not allowed to perform at the Guruvayoor Krishna temple. “Art and artist remain bound by religion and caste. When what is forbidden for one religion, it becomes the monopoly of another. This experience is not new to me. I am here (on Facebook) just to remind myself. Nothing has changed in our secular Kerala,” she said in her Facebook post.
When The Indian Express contacted Pradeep Menon, chairman of the Kudalmanikyam Devaswom (Temple) Board, he said that as per the current temple tradition, only Hindus can perform in the temple premises.