ABSTRACT
The paper makes study the devadasi system which is a socio-cultural practice which exists in India. It mainly deals with the violation of human rights and laws conferred for devadasis, The devadasi system is an integral part of the Hindu religion in the Ancient Era, it is a blatant system curtailing the rights of women and children in the means of attaining puberty dedicating woman or child to the god or marrying the local deity or temple priest. They were married off by temple priests and were sexually exploited by powerful men of money or zamindars.
Even in the modern era of India it still exists in some parts of India, it is a system of so-called sacred prostitution which is violating the socio-political and human rights of women and children in Society. here in this ‘Deva’ which means God and ‘Dasi’ system of the “female slave of the god” Women and children forced into the profession with or without a will or acceptance is a crystal-clear violation of human rights.
This paper makes an attempt to bring out the social injustices and violations of the rights of women and children and the rights conferred to the protection of women under the constitution.
Keywords
Devadasi, Sexual violence, Derogatory, Deplorable, Rehabilitation.
INTRODUCTION
In its introduction, according to many studies on the devadasis system, most women and girls who served in these temples did not choose it; rather, they were coerced into it. It is evident from this account that in most circumstances, the practice of devadasi is not immoral. It is, first and foremost, a psychological conundrum as well as a lack of social consciousness. Also, the current Indian society and any civilization, for that matter reflects a sick Hindu society that is fixated on male chauvinism and perversion, which has exacerbated prostitution.[1]
The paper mainly focuses on the status of devadasi in contemporary India and the infringement of human rights on the social evils of the system associated with it. The Devadasi system has been widely criticized for violating the human rights of women and girls who are forced into it.
Devadasi has the oldest history and there was a widespread sociocultural practice followed in India According to ancient Indian culture, Devadasi refers to the female servant of God (Dev) (Dasi). Young pre-pubescent girls are “married off” and “given away” in wedlock to God or the local deity of the temple. Girl children were once thought to be married to the temple and were not permitted to get married. Instead, they were required to work in the village for the temple’s priests, inmates, so-called Zamindars (landlords), and other powerful men.[2]
However, over time, the Devadasi system became corrupted, and it has been used as a pathway to exploit, and traffic women and girls, denial of education, denial of health care and denial of choice.
The system violates their right to freedom and autonomy, as they are forced into sexual servitude and denied the right to choose their partners. The devadasi system perpetuates gender discrimination and reinforces patriarchal norms, as it primarily targets girls from lower-caste or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. It also violates international human rights standard.
[1]Dr. V. BHARATHI HARISHANKAR Dr. M. PRIYAMVADHA, Exploitation of Women as Devadasis and its Associated Evils, 313.
[2]Dr.P.Anilkumar, ERADICATION OF DEVADASI SYSTEM IN SOUTH INDIA, Int. J. Adv. Res. IJAR.