By John Mary

Thiruvananthapuram • It’s chic and modern to espouse equal rights for women. But Anita Nair, the much translated Indian novelist in English, feels traditions can’t just be rubbished. She is pro-tradition, in some cases, even at the risk of being branded politically incorrect as on the raging controversy over young women entry at Sabarimala temple.

At the launch of the literary forum of Trivandrum Press Club here yesterday, Anita Nair asked: “Why do you want to upset large sections of people, tear down customs and claim your right to worship at the Sabarimala shrine”.

The author of Lady’s Coupe and Mistress said the tradition has been on for years. “Let it go on but can women undertake the rigorous penance (41 days) associated with the Sabarimala trek?”

Her sound bytes are a sure affront to a large section of the pro-changers in Kerala.

Temple Affairs Minister G Sudhakaran, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said the other day in unambiguous terms that Kerala government would say, “Yes” to the question on the entry of women at Sabarimala.

The size of intellectuals backing the slogan for women’s entry at Sabarimala is swelling but Anita has stuck her neck out.

Hers is not an orientalist, exotic look at Kerala. She visits the house her father had constructed in the central Palakkad district of Kerala.