Reshma Nishant, who stirred controversy by announcing her decision to go to Sabarimala, has resigned her job. She cites “threat to her security”' and “concerns of her family” as reasons for the resignation.
“I expressed my wish to resign to the college authorities yesterday over phone and they readily agreed,” she told The WEEK.
According to her, it was impossible to step out once her decision was made public. “There were many who staged protests outside my house and I have not stepped out ever since. My family is also worried about my safety if I go to college,'' she said.
Reshma is an associate professor in IT at a self financing college in Kannur.
According to her, she decided to resign as it was not possible to ask for leave as exams are going on at the college. “As a teacher, it would not be proper to ask for leave when my students are having exams. Hence my decision to resign,” she said.
Reshma, however, insisted that her resignation should not be read as a step backward. “I have resigned my job. But no body should think that they have succeeded in scaring me and go back on my decision to go to Sabarimala. I will go to Sabarimala when I complete my 41 days of vratam,'' she said.
Reshma, a 32-year-old teacher, had announced on Facebook on Sunday that she has been taking the rigorous 41-day vratam (vow for abstinence) taken by devotees of Lord Ayyappa before the annual pilgrimage to the hill shrine. She began the 41-day vow on October 8, days after the apex court’s landmark verdict.
When asked whether her decision to resign was a hasty one, she said one can find another job easily. “Right now, it is not job that is important for me, but one's integrity,” Reshma said. “Going to Sabarimala is more important for me than my job,'' she added.
