Balancing Secularism, Religious Freedom, and Temple Governance in Kerala: Issues and Concerns

Abstract

Temple played a pivotal role in the socio- cultural political and economic, scenario of the state. There is an on-going battle occurs in the state by political parties for temple control seems to be paradoxical in a secular context. Politicization, trade unionism among temple employees, mismanagement of funds are the direct result of the state control. Devaswom Boards were created for temple governance are fully politicized. The members of temple governing bodies are nominated or elected by the Hindu MLAs and Hindu Ministers in the state cabinet. It is considered as a severe discrimination to the Hindu community when a secular government makes the temple platform for political clashes and pressure game politics. It is noted that the religious institutions of organized religions like Christianity and Islam are free from any such control. The study is concerned with the interference of secular state’s on the management of particular religious institutions and trying to investigate the nature of state control over temple management which is contradictory to the secular concept. Over time, a story takes shape. Tradition, authority, and the desire for independence are entwined. The researcher's conclusions provoke discussion, dispelling myths and providing solutions.

However, a bridge that connects religion and government holds the key to the solution rather than a single voice. a bridge that maintains secular ideals while honouring tradition. This is a timeless tale of faith navigating change, not just the story of Kerala. An appeal for comprehension, for a realm in which the sacred and the profane coexist, so that the murmurs of the past are full of promise for the future.

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