🛑 Ending a Centuries-Old Injustice: Karnataka’s Step Against the Devadasi System

One of India's most persistent social evils—the Devadasi system—is finally being addressed with renewed urgency.

Historically, the Devadasi system forced young girls from marginalized communities to be “offered” to temples under the title servant of god. While it once carried cultural and artistic respect under royal patronage, the system later turned into one of deep exploitation, especially during colonial times. These girls were expected to serve temple officials, often facing lifelong sexual abuse, social isolation, and denial of basic rights.

Although the practice has been legally banned in post-independence India, its underground presence still persists, especially in parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.

Now, Karnataka is planning a new law to strengthen protections for affected women and their children. This legislation aims to:

Recognize inheritance and property rights of children born to Devadasis

Enable paternity DNA testing to legally identify fathers

Uplift the social and legal status of the Devadasi community

This is more than a legal reform—it’s a step toward restoring dignity and correcting a historical wrong that has gone unaddressed for far too long.

The question we must all ask: how can society ensure that such practices don’t just get banned on paper but end in practice too?

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