It could have been a historic day for Hindu women, who planned to enter the inner sanctum of the revered Shani Shingnapur temple in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, last Tuesday. Alas, patriarchy and an age-old tradition trumped faith, and the trailblazing women and men, so to speak, were detained (and later released) by the police. Not surprisingly, the thwarted desecration was cause for much celebration. The Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, headed by Trupti Desai, led the agitation. As Desai was detained, she called it a “black day” for democracy.
The Bhumata Ranragini Brigade, headed by Trupti Desai, led the protest. As she was detained, she called it a “black day” for democracy The temple authorities say that the inner sanctum has been closed to everyone for the last five years. However, men who…