Caste realities shackle TN’s temple priest diversity push

In 2007, the DMK government opened schools with a one-year course to become temple priests, which was open to people from all castes.

Chennai: When he was appointed as a priest in a temple in northern Tamil Nadu’s Tindivanam town, it was a watershed moment. The 40-year-old was the among the few other backward classes (OBC) man set to serve the sanctum sanctorum – as part of a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam initiative to usher in non-Brahmin priests into temples.

The DMK government appointed non-Brahmin priests to various temples as part of a diversity initiative. Shutterstock/representative (Shuttershock)

Four years on, the dream has soured. One day in February 2022, he sat overnight in the temple sobbing, afraid to leave the premises