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Rahul Easwar

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Rahul Easwar
File:Rahul Easwar.png
Rahul Easwar
NationalityIndian
Alma materLondon School of Economics[1]
Occupation(s)Author, social activist
SpouseDeepa Vijayan[2]

Rahul Easwar is an Indian right-wing activist, philosophy author and orator from Kerala.[3][4][5][6] He is an executive member of Munnokka Samudaya Samrakshana Munnani.[7] He is also the secretary of Hindu Parliament.[8]

Personal life

Easwar is the son of Easwaran Namboothiri and Mallika, and grandson of Kandararu Maheshwararu, senior supreme priest of Sabarimala.[8]

He was the winner of Malayalee House, a show similar to Bigg Boss show.[9] He is a TEDx speaker and has spoken in TEDxIIM, TEDxSRM and TEDxNMIMS.[10]

Activism

When Kerala Government decided to give the Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram award to artist M. F. Husain in 2007, Easwar initiated a campaign against him for alleged anti-Hindu sentiments resulting in the retraction of the award. Easwar has conducted campaigns for tribal rights in Kerala and was arrested along with a thousand members of the Malayaraya Tribal Community.[11]

Easwar protested against Travancore Devaswom Board, in favour of letting members of the Malayaraya Scheduled Tribe (ST) community light the makaravilakku light at Sabarimala. He was detained by the police for planning the protest.[11]

Easwar defended Mata Amritanandamayi[12] over the controversies related to allegations made by Gail Tredwell. He also congratulated the Travancore Royal Family for victory in the Padmanabha Swamy Temple issue[clarification needed] and wishes to free all temples from government control.[13] Easwar articulated the difference between Makara Jyothi and Makara Vilakku, bringing closure to a long-standing controversy.[14] He and MLA P.C George were engaged in legal battle for rights of Malayaraya Tribals who was involved in the 'Makaravilakku' in Sabarimala.[15]

In July 2016, during an interview about mistreatment of temple elephants, Easwar pointed that temples have financial incentives to entertain crowds, which often results in the use of elephants for the spectacle. The root cause of the mistreatment, he believes, is a lack of spiritual education. "Our temples have become carnival spaces and tourist places, devoid of spiritual meaning and content." Easwar recommended as a reform, one-hour Saturday spiritual education for Hindus, similar to Friday for Muslims and Sunday for Christians.[16] He supports the cultivation of "Secular Hindu unity" in Kerala. He went to court against the hate speech by Hindu leader Sadhvi Prachi against Muslim community.[17]

He had made it clear that Hindu majority consolidation should not be anti minority and it should be inclusive. He also quoted DGP Siby Mathews, that more than 80% of suicides are among hindus, as opposed to just 8% Muslims, saying that a well organised religious majority would come to the rescue of these individuals. [7]

Easwar was selected as Flag Ambassador of Mahatma Gandhi National Foundation which aims at National integration.[18]

He was attacked by a group of left wing students from Milad E Sherif Memorial College for his anti-beef festival & cow protection stance. They attacked and vandalized his car.[6]

Easwar received many death threats when he was the guest for Jamat-e-Islami religious harmony function in Kochi.[19] NIA investigation held that ISIS was targeting some Hindu leaders and Muslim organisations in the state, who had condemned the terrorist outfit.[20]

Easwar received threats for visiting Hadiya and Madani.[21][22] A complaint was filed by K M Ashokan, whose daughter's marriage was annulled by the High Court over controversy of forcible religious conversion. Easwar released the video of Hadiya saying that her life is in danger and Supreme Court took note of it when it was raised and it later secured her release from captivity. Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice also expunged the allegations against Easwar.[23] [24] [25]Easwar welcomed the entry of all believers to Sabarimala temple irrespective of religion.[26] He also supported the priesthood for all beyond caste.[27] Easwar and Thushar Vellappaly, son of Vellapally Natesan demanded an anti forced conversion law in Kerala.[28]

For centuries, females of childbearing age (approx. age 10–50) have been banned from worshipping at the Sabarimala temple, because of the belief that the resident deity is practising celibacy and childbearing women may sway him away from his vow.[29][30][31] In September 2018, after a 20-year legal challenge,[32] the Supreme Court lifted the ban. Easwar and his group Ayyappa Dharma Sena (ADS) protested the decision[33] and threatened to have Ayyappa Dharma Sena members cut themselves to spill blood on the temple floor, which would have forced its closure.[34] Easwar was arrested for inciting violence and rioting near the temple complex during the protests. He was initially denied bail over concerns that he would return to Sabarimala to continue the protest.[35][36] Later, he was given bail but re-arrested for defying bail conditions.[37] According to an NDTV article, the actual reason for denying entry to women is the long-standing cultural belief that menstruating women are "impure".[38]

Television career

Year Program Role Notes
2013 Malayalee House Contestant Winner
2015 Champions Host Co-host with Deepa Rahul Easwar
2016 Smart Brain Host Quiz show
2017 Smart Brain Season 2 Host Quiz show
2018–present Around the World in 80 Minutes Host
2018–2019 Sreshtabharatham Judge
2019–2020 Sreshtabharatham Judge Season 2

References

  1. ^ "Who is Rahul Easwar". 29 October 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  2. ^ "Sabarimala protests: Ayyappa Dharma Sena president Rahul Easwar detained". 17 October 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  3. ^ Padanna, Imran Qureshi Ashraf (11 April 2016). "India's Temple of Fireworks, Rahul Easwar to BBC". BBC News. BBC.
  4. ^ Mirza, Sarah (4 December 2016). "Rahul Easwars feminism comment creates Twitter turmoil". India Today News. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Who is Rahul Easwar ?". Indian Express Web Desk.
  6. ^ a b "Rahul Easwar's car attacked at Kayamkulam – The Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b Oct 17, TNN /; 2015; Ist, 08:46. "FC groups voice support for BJP-SNDP alliance | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 August 2020. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ a b Singhal, Lavanya (23 October 2013). "Eyeing God's gold in India". Al Jazeera.
  9. ^ "Bigg Boss will redefine TV shows in Malayalam, says 'Malayali House' winner Rahul Easwar - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Rahul Easwar @ TEDxIIM".
  11. ^ a b "Sabarimala Tantri kin arrested". Times of India.
  12. ^ "Conspiracy to defame Math". The New Indian Express.
  13. ^ "Kerala: Political parties of all hues welcome SC's Padmanabhaswamy temple verdict". The Week. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Makara Jyothi is a star". The Hindu. The Hindu. 23 January 2011.
  15. ^ "Rahul Easwar, MLA PC George petitions SC ST Commission, September 26,2016". The News Minute.
  16. ^ "Rahul Easwar to Rajdeep Sardesai". India Today.
  17. ^ Anil, Chintha Mary (14 June 2016). "Rahul Easwar goes after Sadhvi Prachi, says he is a right Hindu, not Hindu Right". The News Minute.
  18. ^ "Easwar as Flag Ambassador for Mahatma Gandhi Foundation". Kairaly News.
  19. ^ "France Model Terror attack threat in Kochi". Times of India.
  20. ^ "ISIS Plots major attacks in Kochi". Asianet News.
  21. ^ "My sister Akhila Hadiya". theweek.in. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Activist Rahul Easwar gets death threats for visiting Madani". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Supreme Court expunges remarks against Rahul Easwar". Asianet News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018.
  24. ^ "Kerala 'love-jihad case': Hadiya pleads in new video – 'Please get me out, I will get killed soon'". The Indian Express. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  25. ^ "Rahul Easwar gets death threat for Hadiya & Madani visit". Asianet.
  26. ^ "Non-Hindus at Sabarimala temple rakes row". Deccan Chronicle. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  27. ^ Reporter, Staff (5 July 2011). "No Caste for Temple Priest". The Hindu.
  28. ^ "Demand for Anti forced conversion law".
  29. ^ "Ayyappan | Hindu deity". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Here's why women are barred from Sabarimala; It is not because they are 'unclean' - India News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  31. ^ "Why Sabarimala has restrictions on women, Rahul Easwar explains". 14 January 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  32. ^ "Will Fight For Lord Ayyappa's Right To Privacy, Says Activist Rahul Easwar". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  33. ^ "Arrest for protest 'Plan B' & 'Plan C'". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  34. ^ Rautray, Samanwaya (29 September 2018). "Women of all ages can enter Sabarimala Temple, rules Supreme Court". Retrieved 6 November 2018 – via The Economic Times.
  35. ^ "Rahul Easwar, face of 'Save Sabarimala' campaign, on a fast in prison". The Hindu. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  36. ^ "Court denied bail to Rahul Easwar". The Hindu. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  37. ^ "Sabarimala Row: Court Orders Activist Rahul Easwar's Re-arrest for Defying Bail Condition". News18. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  38. ^ "Will Fight For Lord Ayyappa's Right To Privacy, Says Activist Rahul Easwar". NDTV.com. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
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