THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Award-winning litterateur Vasudevan has said that protests against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple is a move that will take Kerala back by a century.

In an interview to newspaper Deshabhimani, the writer said that what Kerala was witnessing now was shameful to a state that has achieved a great culture through the renaissance movement. "No one who hopes for the state's future would support this move (of the protestors)," he was quoted as saying.

'Fools may consider a blunder committed yesterday as a ritual today, it may become science tomorrow, hence do not give a nod to this, my lord', he quoted poet Kumaranasan. "When we correct our old mistakes and move forward, some are making us walk back. This is very dangerous. These people do not understand history," he said.

MT recalled how the Guruvayoor temple entry was also opposed by a section of people. "The story spread was that Guruvayoor Appan's power would reduce (if temple entry was allowed). But believers know that there has been no such reduction in that radiance. It is foolish to believe that wrongs can continue as wrongs," the writer said.

It is rare that such a progressive court verdict should come from the legal system, MT said. It is government's responsibility to implement it. "The government's move to implement the verdict is a progressive one. These protests are a result of attempts to destroy it. To maintain women as second class citizens, they are using women. Today or tomorrow everyone will have to accept the right way. There would come a day when they realise their mistake. Long ago the noise was about lower castes entering the temple. God's strength is not something that ceases to exist if women or people belonging to lower castes come. It would always be there," he said.