The recent brutal killing of a Puri Jagannath temple Sebayat or servitor
once again confirmed the fact that the famous Odisha temple town has already
become a criminals’ den. This is not for the first time such a crime has taken
place in the tourists’ hotspot. For the last two decades or so major crimes
like gun battles and gang wars have been taking place in the coastal town in
regular intervals. In fact, the Sebayat who was shot dead recently was an
accused in the killing of another Sebayat of the Puri temple nearly twelve
years back. He was set free by a local court in January this year. This criminalization
of Puri is sure to affect the image of Odisha both within the country and
outside. Hence there is an urgent need to decriminalize the popular tourists’
hub.
The criminalization of Puri no doubt is linked to politicization of the
Jagannath temple. The world famous and popular Hindu shrine has become
politicized only because of temple servitors or priests’ immense interest to be
part of politics in the local as well as state level. If not all, majority of
the Puri temple priests are active members of different political parties in
the state. There were instances in the past of Jagannath temple sebayats
holding positions in the political parties and even occupying posts like the
chairman of different government corporations. Many priests have also been
running different types of trades and businesses and sometimes business rivalry
too triggers gun battles and murder or armed attacks.
The Jagannath temple can only be depoliticized if big ticket reforms can
be brought in to modernize the running of the popular shrine. Currently the
temple is being run through stone age rules and regulations which are needed to
be changed immediately. Jagannath temple sebayats and priests carry an impression
that the shrine is their paternal property. It is not. The temple belongs to
the people of Odisha. They(the sebayats and priests) must realize and acknowledge
this fact. If they failed to realize this themselves then it is the duty of the
government being in charge of the management of the temple to make them understand
this important fact.
Like other important shrines in the country the sebayats or priests of
the Puri temple should be appointed through proper methods and procedures. Applications
for these posts should be invited with the help of advertisements in
newspapers. And they(the sebayat and priests) should be appointed through a
proper interview with a good salary structure. Once appointed, they should be
barred from indulging in politics or running businesses. Their only job should
be serving the temple and the deities.
Moreover, the number of sebayats and priests of the temple should be cut
drastically. At present, a whopping twenty thousand and odd sebayats are
reportedly engaged to perform different rituals which is certainly a huge and ridiculous
number.
Being a tourists’ paradise, Puri also generates a lot of revenue for the
state coffer besides creating job opportunities. For this reason too, there is
a need to decriminalize the important
Odisha coastal town as early as possible.
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