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Rahul Easwar
Indian activist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Rahul Easwar is an Indian public policy commentator, philosophy author, advocate and activist[3] from Kerala.[4][5][6][7]
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Personal life and education
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Education
He has completed only higher secondary education (+2) and does not hold a college degree. He later attended short-term executive education programmes, including a 6 to 8 week online certificate course offered by the London School of Economics and a short-duration Senior Leaders Programme at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. These are certificate programmes rather than academic degrees and do not confer alumni status.[8]
Personal life
Rahul Easwar was born in Kerala, to Easwaran Namboothiri and Mallika into a Malayali Nambudiri Brahmin family.[9] He is also the grandson of Kandararu Maheshwararu, who was the Senior Supreme priest of the Sabarimala temple.[10] His wife is Deepa (née Deepa Vijayan Pillai).[11] He is an executive member of the Munnokka Samudaya Samrakshana Munnani and the secretary of the Hindu Parliament.[10][12] Easwar was selected as the Flag Ambassador of the Mahatma Gandhi National Foundation which aims to achieve National integration.[13] Easwar proposed a Commission for Men on the lines of the Commission for Women and Youth Commission.[14]
He is a ubiquitous presence on Malayalam regional TV News channels and National Indian TV news Channels, often being described as a "right-wing political activist". He was the winner of Malayalee House, an adaptation of the reality television show Big Brother.[15] He has given talks at TEDxIIM, TEDxSRM and TEDxNMIMS.[16][3]
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Controversies
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Defending Rahul Mamkootathil on rape case leading to his arrest
Rahul Easwar publicly supported Rahul Mamkootathil during the period when Mankootam faced allegations involving sexual assault and forced abortion. Easwar appeared on television discussions as a spokesperson defending Rahul Mamkootathil while Rahul Mamkootathil was in hiding. During these discussions, Easwar was accused of insulting and dehumanising the complainant and of revealing identifying details about her, which is prohibited under Indian law. He was subsequently arrested in connection with these actions.[17][18]
Defending Dileep on rape case
While his call with Kavya Madhavan’s ex-husband Nishal Chandra’s mother went viral, where he was heard saying “Kavya Madhavan undresses not in front of the camera like other actress, but undresses behind the camera”, he later changed his stance. Rahul Easwar expressed public support for actor Dileep during the investigation into the 2017 abduction and sexually raping actress Bhavana, an incident carried out in retaliation after Bhavana witnessed Dileep and Kavya Madhavan together in a sexual act and reported it to Manju Warrier.[19]
Defending Mata Amritanandamayi
Rahul Easwar defended Mata Amritanandamayi over controversies related to the allegations made by Gail Tredwell.[20] He also congratulated the Travancore Royal Family for the victory in the Padmanabha Swamy Temple case and wishes to free all temples from government control.[21] Easwar articulated the difference between the Makara Jyothi and Makara Vilakku, bringing closure to a long-standing controversy.[22] He and MLA P.C George were engaged in a legal battle for the rights of the Malayaraya Tribals who were involved in the 'Makaravilakku' in Sabarimala.[23]
Supporting Jihad
Rahul Easwar participated in a public debate on the topic “Jihad – good or bad,” where he appeared opposite ex-Muslim freethinker Arif Hussain Theruvath. During the discussion, Easwar argued in favour of jihad, presenting it as a concept that is good for the humanity and the world as a whole.[24]
Anti-Hindu sentiments
When the Kerala Government decided to give the Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram award to the 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 thousand members of the Malayaraya Tribal Community.[25]
Easwar protested against the 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 leading the protest.[25]
Secular Hindu unity
During an interview to India Today, Easwar pointed that temples have economic incentives to entertain crowds, which often results in the use of elephants for the spectacle. The root cause of 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.[26] He supports the cultivation of "Secular Hindu unity" in Kerala. He went to court against the hate speech by Hindu leader Sadhvi Prachi against the Muslim community.[27]
He proposed that "Hindu majority consolidation should not be anti-minority and it should be inclusive. He also quoted former DGP Siby Mathews on the issue of more than 80% of suicides being by Hindus, in contrast to a mere 8% suicide by Muslims, saying that they have socio-spiritual education.[12]
Jamat-e-Islami
Easwar received death threats from ISIS terrorists when he was the guest for the Jamat-e-Islami religious harmony function in Kochi.[28]
Anti-beef festival and cow protection
He was attacked by left wing students from the Milad E Sherif Memorial College for his anti-beef festival & cow protection stance. They attacked and vandalized his car.[7]
Support for Hadiya (Akhila)
Easwar received threats when he met Hadiya and Madani.[29][30] Easwar released the video of Hadiya where she says her life is in danger and the Supreme Court took note of it when it was raised which later secured her release from captivity for Hadiya. A Supreme Court bench headed by the chief justice also expunged the allegations against Easwar.[31][32][33]
Entry of all believers to the Sabarimala temple
Easwar welcomed the entry of all believers to the Sabarimala temple irrespective of their religion.[34] He also supported priesthood for all irrespective of caste.[35]
Anti forced conversion law
Easwar and Thushar Vellappaly, son of Vellapplly Nateshan demanded an anti forced conversion law in Kerala.[36]
Sabarimala riots
Females of age group 10 to 50 are prohibited from entering the Sabarimala temple, because the resident deity, Lord Ayyappā is a celibate (Naiṣṭika Brahmacārya).[37][38][39] In September 2018, after a 20-year legal challenge, the Supreme Court lifted the ban.[40] Easwar and his group Ayyappa Dharma Sena protested the decision.[41][42] Easwar became the face of the Sabarimala protests and was arrested for protesting.[43][44][45][46]
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Media career
References
External links
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