Rahul Easwar
Rahul Easwar | |
|---|---|
| Born | India |
| Alma mater | IIM (A),[1]London School of Economics[2] |
| Occupation(s) | Public Policy Commentator and Activist[3] |
| Spouse | Deepa Vijayan Pillai [4] |
Rahul Easwar is an Indian public policy commentator, philosophy author, advocate and activist[1] from Kerala.[5][6][7][8]
Personal life and Education
[edit]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, Deepa Vijayan, is from a Nair family.[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]
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 observer".[9] He has participated in more than 2700 tv debates across global, national and regional channels like BBC, CNN, Republic, Times Now, NDTV, India Today, Zee, Asianet, Manorama and Mathrubhumi.[14] 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][1]
Controversies
[edit]When the Kerala Government decided to give the Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram award to 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.[17]
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.[17]
Easwar defended Mata Amritanandamayi over controversies related to the allegations made by Gail Tredwell.[18] 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.[19] Easwar articulated the difference between the Makara Jyothi and Makara Vilakku, bringing closure to a long-standing controversy.[20] 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.[21]
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.[22] 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.[23]
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]
Easwar received death threats from ISIS when he was the guest for the Jamat-e-Islami religious harmony function in Kochi.[24]
He was attacked by a group of left wing students from the Milad E Sherif Memorial College for his anti-beef festival & cow protection stance. They attacked and vandalized his car.[8] Easwar received threats when he met Hadiya and Madani.[25][26] 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.[27][28][29] Easwar welcomed the entry of all believers to the Sabarimala temple irrespective of their religion.[30] He also supported priesthood for all irrespective of caste.[31] Easwar and Thushar Vellappaly, son of Vellapplly Nateshan demanded an anti forced conversion law in Kerala.[32]
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).[33][34][35] In September 2018, after a 20-year legal challenge, the Supreme Court lifted the ban.[36] Easwar and his group Ayyappa Dharma Sena protested the decision.[37][38] Easwar became the face of the Sabarimala protests and was arrested for protesting. [39][40][41][42]
Media career
[edit]| Year | Program | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Malayalee House | Contestant | Winner |
| 2016 - 2017 | Smart Brain | Quiz Master | Quiz show |
| 2018 – 2020 | Sreshtabharatham | Judge | Host |
| 2013 – Present | Around the World | Host | Safari TV |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "IIM (A) invited controversial speaker". DNA India. 18 February 2018.
- ^ "Who is Rahul Easwar". Indian Express. 29 October 2018.
- ^ "Sabarimala Row: High Court Grants Bail To Activist Rahul Easwar". NDTV. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ "Rahul Easwar and Deepa welcome their second son, name him Yug". Times of India. 26 October 2023.
- ^ Padanna, Imran Qureshi Ashraf (11 April 2016). "Puttingal: India's 'temple of fireworks". BBC News. BBC.
- ^ Mirza, Sarah (4 December 2016). "Rahul Easwar's feminism comment creates Twitter turmoil". India Today News. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
- ^ "Who is Rahul Easwar ?". Indian Express Web Desk.
- ^ a b "Rahul Easwar's car attacked at Kayamkulam – The Times of India". The Times of India. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Arrested for Sabarimala remark, Rahul Easwar was earlier in news for supporting Hadiya". The Indian Express. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ a b Singhal, Lavanya (23 October 2013). "Eyeing God's gold in India". Al Jazeera.
- ^ "Rahul Easwar and Deepa welcome their second son, name him Yug". The Times of India. 26 October 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ a b "FC groups voice support for BJP-SNDP alliance | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India. TNN. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Easwar as Flag Ambassador for Mahatma Gandhi Foundation". Kairaly News.
- ^ "About Rahul Easwar"., https://www.youtube.com/@RahulEaswarOfficial/videos
- ^ "Bigg Boss will redefine TV shows in Malayalam, says 'Malayali House' winner Rahul Easwar - Times of India". The Times of India. 31 May 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Rahul Easwar @ TEDxIIM". YouTube.
- ^ a b "Sabarimala Tantri kin arrested". Times of India. 15 January 2012.
- ^ "Conspiracy to defame Math". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
- ^ "Kerala: Political parties of all hues welcome SC's Padmanabhaswamy temple verdict". The Week. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Makara Jyothi is a star". The Hindu. 23 January 2011.
- ^ "Rahul Easwar, MLA PC George petitions SC ST Commission, September 26, 2016". The News Minute. 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Rahul Easwar to Rajdeep Sardesai". India Today.
- ^ Anil, Chintha Mary (14 June 2016). "Rahul Easwar goes after Sadhvi Prachi, says he is a right Hindu, not Hindu Right". The News Minute.
- ^ "Venue changed after ISIS threat - India Today". India Today. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ^ "My sister Akhila Hadiya". theweek.in. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Activist Rahul Easwar gets death threats for visiting Madani". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ^ "Supreme Court expunges remarks against Rahul Easwar". Asianet News. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018.
- ^ "Kerala 'love-jihad case': Hadiya pleads in new video – 'Please get me out, I will get killed soon'". The Indian Express. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "Rahul Easwar gets death threat for Hadiya & Madani visit". Asianet.
- ^ "Non-Hindus at Sabarimala temple rakes row". Deccan Chronicle. 10 September 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ Staff Reporter (5 July 2011). "No Caste for Temple Priest". The Hindu.
- ^ "Demand for Anti forced conversion law". 29 December 2009.
- ^ "Ayyappan | Hindu deity". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ "Here's why women are barred from Sabarimala; It is not because they are 'unclean'". Firstpost. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ "Why Sabarimala has restrictions on women, Rahul Easwar explains". 14 January 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Will Fight For Lord Ayyappa's Right To Privacy, Says Activist Rahul Easwar". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ Rautray, Samanwaya (29 September 2018). "Women of all ages can enter Sabarimala Temple, rules Supreme Court". The Economic Times. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Arrest for protest 'Plan B' & 'Plan C'". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Arrested for Sabarimala remark, Rahul Easwar was earlier in news for supporting Hadiya". The Indian Express. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "Rahul Easwar, face of 'Save Sabarimala' campaign, on a fast in prison". The Hindu. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Court denied bail to Rahul Easwar". The Hindu. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Sabarimala Row: Court Orders Activist Rahul Easwar's Re-arrest for Defying Bail Condition". News18. 15 December 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2020.