Ha! Not an accolade Dadi Janki Kripalani normally quotes on her biodata CV ... but worthy of inclusion here, perhaps.
sify.com wrote:Human rights panel serves notice on Brahmakumaris by Narad in Bhopal Tuesday, 13 January , 2004, 02:39
Close on the heels of the alleged murder and burning of a young Brahmakumari in Agra, the Madhya Pradesh State Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) has served a notice on the women-dominated cult of Brahmakumari Ashram in Bhopal to explain the holding of the marriage of 28 young women to Lord Shiva solemnised in the State capital on January 4.
Describing the dedication of maidens to Lord Shiva as a revival of the abhorrent Devdasi practice, the Ashram has been asked to explain the bizarre nuptial arrangement. Collector, Bhopal has also been issued a notice in this regard.
The maidens were dedicated to Lord Shiva during Karuna Evam Sahyog Mahotsav of Prajapita Brahmakumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya organised at Dussehra Maidan in the city on January 4. On the basis of news published in newspapers Human Rights Commission has issued show cause notice to district collector and director of Prajapita Brahmakumari Vishwavidyalaya.
The marriage of young women to Lord Shiva during a two-day grand ceremony in Bhopal was attended by the top leadership of the Brahmakumari movement that has its headquarters in Mount Abu in Rajasthan.
Besides, the national head of the movement, Dadi Janki, has also been served with the notice.
Last Friday, MPHRC member Shakuntala Sharma ordered the issuance of notices.
"The marriage had traits of the despicable Devdasi tradition that was practiced down South," she said. Under the medieval Devdasi practice, young women were married to the presiding deity of a temple and usually exploited sexually by priests under the garb of service to the Lord.
"We cannot allow revival of rituals of the dark ages," Sharma said. The practice of incarnating Devdasis was outlawed in Bombay Presidency in 1934, in Tamil Nadu in 1947 and in Andhra Pradesh in 1958