HubliA few moments agoAuthor: Ram Raj D
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My mother and grandmother were Devadasi. I also pushed it into it. The family became a sex worker in the name of handling. Meanwhile, two children became. Both go to school. There people ask him the father’s name. They are very embarrassed.
This story is of 41 -year -old Shoba Mathad in Karnataka and more than 46 thousand women like them, who were made Devadasi in temples in the name of alleged service to God. She then became a victim of sexual abuse and torture.
In Karnataka in 1982, a law was brought against the practice of making girls a goddess. Since then, governments have been claiming that this practice has stopped. However, the secret girls are still pushed into this quagmire. After making the girls Devdasi, the girls now send them to other states for body trade.
Dainik Bhaskar visited Baglkote, Belgavi, Dharwad, Vijayanagar and Kopal districts for 8 days to understand the ground reality of this practice. During this time, Devdasia, talking to their families, tried to understand the whole matter. Read this ground report. Dainik Bhaskar spoke to Manohar in Hallur village of Belgavi district. He has sent his daughter Sapna for body trade in Maharashtra after making him Devadasi. Another woman named Neha told that her story is also similar. They do not want to tell their identity, so we have changed their names.
The story of two Devadasis who are sex workers in Maharashtra …
1. Story of Sapna: Father could not raise 5 sisters, sent one to Maharashtra Manohar told that he has 5 daughters. Sapna is the greatest. So made him a goddess. He says, ‘All this happens with God’s will. He gave 5-5 daughters. Did not give a son. Me and my wife work in the farm. It was very difficult to run a family of 7 people with that earnings. It is a distant thing to teach and write daughters.
‘My aunt and sisters are sex workers in other states after becoming Devadasi. She earns good money. So when our elder daughter grew up a bit, she took her to the temple. After making Devadasi there, he was sent to Maharashtra. Now she also sends us by earning money. The family runs from that.
2. The story of Neha: Mind is to leave this work and run away, but family Neha of Rabkavi-Banhatti city in Bagalkot district of Karnataka is a sex worker in Sangli, Maharashtra. She says, ‘We are 3 sisters and a brother. I am the eldest. There was a minor, when the family made Devadasi. Parents are not educated. We used to raise all four siblings by doing daily.
‘Mom-father said that my life will become easier with my becoming a goddess. So I also agreed, but after becoming a sex worker, my life has become very difficult. Many times the mind is to run away, but the face of the family members is missed. Do not dare to break their expectations. The future of my siblings can improve with my money earned.
Now the story of Shoba and former Devadasis like him …
‘Doctors did not treat, everyone thought I would have HIV’ Shoba Mathad lives in Hirsindogi village in Koppal district. She says, ‘My family had a tradition to make girls a goddess. My grandmother was Devadasi. The mother was handicapped, so the grandmother made her Devadasi. ‘
‘I was the only support of both of them. So I also made me a sex worker at a young age. After becoming Devadasi, I liked a boy. He was of another caste. We both wanted to get married, but his family refused to adopt me. ‘
‘Then I became pregnant. He went to many hospitals to get abortion, but no doctor treated me. Everyone used to think that I would have HIV. That day I decided that I would not punish my child. I gave birth to a child. Later there was also a daughter.
Shoba says, ‘I thought after leaving this work, they will raise their heads and live in the society, but the stigma on our forehead will probably never go away. My son studies in 12th and daughter 8th. When he only tells the mother’s name in school, he is deliberately asked the father’s name. This causes them to be very embarrassed. ‘
‘By the time the body left trade, he had become the mother of 3 children’ Yashoda Gasti, a 45-year-old Mudalgi city in Belgavi district, says, “I was the only daughter of my parents. Papa used to drink a lot of alcohol. The financial condition of the house was not good. As soon as I went to 8th class, grandmother started pressurizing him to become Devadasi. I also felt that if I earn money, I will be able to take care of the family members. So I agreed. ‘
‘However, I realized very quickly how bad the lives of the Devadasis are. By the time I decided to leave this work, I had three children. There are two daughters and a son. The elder daughter is married. The second daughter is studying nursing. Son studies in 10th.
‘Malas of beads, wearing bangles went to school, everyone started staring’ Renuka Gadi (50 years) of Bagalkot district and Madhu Naduvinamani (45 years) were made Devadasi at the age of 7 to 10 years. Madhu was the only child of her parents. At the same time, Renuka’s grandmother made her Devadasi just because she was the first daughter of her family.
Renuka says, ‘I was in the first class, when I made me a goddess. The next day I went to school. I had green bangles in both my hands, a garland of beads around the neck, rings in the feet. All the children were staring at me. When 11 years old, the family forced to become a sex worker. After becoming the mother of two children, decided to get out of this practice.
The identity of Devdasi shows the garland of beads, former Devadasi Madhu Naduvinamani and Renuka.
‘Mother made me Devadasi at the behest of the priest’ 50 -year -old Shoba Gasti lives in Ghataprabha in Belagavi district. She says, ‘We were three brothers and three sisters. I am the youngest. She was two years old when Papa died. There was no one to earn at home. The mother made the elder sister a goddess, but she married a boy from another community and left home.
‘After he left, my mother dreamed one day that my brother has become Jogappa (eunuch). She got scared and went to a priest. The priest said that your elder daughter has committed sin by marrying. Now if you want to avoid the curse of Yellamma Devi, then make your younger daughter a goddess, otherwise your son will become Jogappa. ‘
Shoba further states, ‘Mother got scared to hear the priest’s words. He came home and said the most that I have to become a goddess. My brothers protested, but the mother was stubborn. She took me to the Yalemma temple and made me Devadasi. The next day a huge feast was called at home.
‘By then I had passed the 7th exam. Admission was to be taken in 8th, but was Rs 800 a month. Maa used to earn around 1500 rupees by working in Nagar Panchayat. He refused to pay my fees. Said, now do the work of devadasis and earn money. ‘
Shoba says, ‘I was also determined to complete my studies. My brother -in -law took advantage of this. He started exploiting me instead of paying school fees. The family members also did not object to this, because I was Devadasi. I became pregnant in class 10th. As soon as he left after taking the exam.
Shoba said- even girls are still becoming gods, but no action is taken Shoba has now come out of the devadasi system and spreads awareness against women like herself. In this, along with the government, many NGOs and self-help groups also help them. Shoba claims that even today, 20-21-year-old girls are secretly made Devadasi in Dalit families.
You remember any recent incident. On this, Shoba says, ‘In Arabian village, a couple have seven daughters. He made his eldest daughter a goddess. We stopped a lot, but despite this, the girl was sent to Maharashtra. We are still trying to convince the girl and her family. ‘
In the Chikkodi Panchayat of Belagavi district, we prevented an 18 -year -old disabled girl from becoming a goddess. Everyone used to tell him that you will not get married. We explained that it is wrong to become a devadasi due to disability. Then he showed courage and refused the family members. Now he is also married.
Shoba says, ‘Earlier girls lived in temples after becoming Devadasi. Now the family members bring him home due to fear of police-administration. He removes all the things of decoration from his body, so that no one is suspicious. After this, they send it to other states.
‘2000 rupees pension, other government schemes do not get benefit’ 36 -year -old Sasikala in Hirsindogi village in Koppal district says, “The government gives a pension of 2000 rupees to Devadasi women every month. What happens in today’s time. It should be increased. Only 1.8 lakh rupees are available to build a house. That too if it is its own land. ,
‘There are so many government schemes for Dalits and the poor, but no one gets the benefit. We cannot join anyone because it is necessary to fill the husband’s name on the application form. The new generation of children are also troubled by this. He is asked by the father’s name everywhere. The system of asking the husband or father’s name should end.
The priest said- we always opposed the devadasi system We have so far spoken to a priest of Yellamma Temple on the incidents of making girls devadasi. He said on the condition of not revealing the identity, ‘I do not know what happened years ago. However, this does not happen now.
‘My grandfather and father were also priests. Both were strongly against this practice. Earlier there were a lot of rumors about the role of priests in making Devadasi. Everyone used to say that priests used to wear Mangalasutra to girls, but it is not true. ,
Police officer said- no complaint was received for some years A police officer from Kopal district told an off camera that no case has been reported of making girls a goddess for the last few years. If any complaint is received in future, then we are ready to register an FIR.
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