The ruling CPM, and more importantly, the Chief Minister, have since then been attempting to create an alternative narrative on the idea that the values of the ‘Navodhanam’, or the Renaissance movement that shaped Kerala in the early 20th century had to be ‘protected’ from the ‘designs’ of the ‘communal forces’ and their ‘B-team’, namely the Sangh Parivar and the Congress.



It seemed that the Chief Minister was insistent on women entering Sabarimala, using all possible pressure tactics and bearing the full force of the state machinery on the pilgrims, prompting even the Kerala High Court to intervene.

The state government sponsored a ‘Women’s Wall’ in a bid to ‘protect’ the values of the ‘Navodhanam’ on 1 January 2019.



Many Hindu caste and community organisations participated in the event, including the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), the primary caste organisation of the largest caste, the Ezhavas.



Early morning the next day (2 January 2019), two women in their early 40s entered the temple through the back door. The wife of the SNDP general secretary, Preethi Natesan, acclaimed: “We’ve been betrayed badly in the name of Navodhanam”.

A catharsis has taken shape in the Hindu community in Kerala since then. The state government has since back-pedalled, and has barely mentioned the issue since. Even if it was raised, the state government has downplayed it as much as it could during the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election.



The results were much more of a shock for the CPM than expected, with them barely scraping one seat — Alappuzha — out of the 20 seats in Kerala.



The Congress-led United Democratic Front coasted to victory in the remaining 19, riding on a wave of minority and majority consolidation. The CPM, with their absolute drubbing in the election, went on to at least admit that the Sabarimala issue affected their chances.

Since then, the CPM has attempted to regain their lost prestige and reaffirm their ‘commitment’ to the people of Kerala by conducting house visits. One can presume that they have heard quite an earful.

The last line on the Sabarimala issue has not been written yet. What it will end up being for Kerala polity and the Hindu community in Kerala is almost unpredictable. The review petition has still not been decided.



Until then, the fate of the temple, the faith of millions, and the state of Kerala will continue to be in an uneasy calm.