Recalling the various efforts of Tamil scholar Thiru.Vi.Ka for the progress of women, DMK Treasurer Thalapathi M.K.Stalin on Aug 21 asked the Centre to come forward to adopt the 33 percent Women’s Reservation Bill.
He was delivering a special address on the topic ‘Thiru.Vi.Ka who respected the honour of women’ at the ‘Muthamilzh Vizha’ function organised by Manavazhagar Mandram in Chennai. It was inaugurated by DMK General Secretary Prof K.Anbazhagan in which former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Justice P.R.Gokulakrishnan, DMK Deputy General secretary SP Sargunapandian and functionaries of the Mandram participated.
In his address, Thalapathi M.K.Stalin said that this Mandram was started in 1957 and referred to Prof K Anbazhagan stating proudly that it was in that year that the DMK contested elections for the first time and he was elected to the State Assembly. Stalin said he was a child in 1957 and now at 61 he was glad to participate in the 58th anniversary of the Mandram.
He told the functionaries, particularly Justice Gokulakrishnan, that he would attend the functions of the Mandram even if uninvited because he considered it a privilege. He recalled that Kalaignar once said that “Manamakizh Mandrams (recreation clubs) were functioning for time pass (bghGJngh¡F) for Tamils but Manavazahagar Mandram was helping for the dawn (bghGJ éoaš)”. Stalin said though he had participated in the functions of this Mandaram, this was the first time he was getting an opportunity to speak on a topic and thanked the organisers for it.
Tracing the life of Thiru.Vi.Ka, Stalin said born in a poor family he lived a simple life and became an unparalleled writer, very good orator, editor of a magazine and established himself in various fields like politics, social reform, religion, literature etc., He has the credit of founding trade unions for workers for the first time in Asia. He tirelessly strove for eradicating superstitions and blind customs. Though he was born in Tiruvarur he started his early life in Chennai, and served in Spencer administration, teacher in Wesley School and as Tamil professor in Wesley College.
He was married to Kamalambigai and had two sons and after the demise of his wife he lived in renunciation. As he followed the policies of Karl Marx he dedicated his whole life for the cause of the working class and in oraganising them and fighting for their rights. He worked in Congress party and in Congress Working Committee he remained as the right hand man of Thanthai Periyar and participated along with him in ‘Gurukulam struggle’.
Thiru.Vi.Ka. worked for the progress of women and all through his life fought for abolishing their backward status. There were some pioneer leaders who dedicated their lives for the upliftment of women like Mahatma Gandhi, Thanthai Periyar, Moovaalur Ramamirtham Ammayar and Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy and Thiru.Vi.Ka. was one among those who stood with them, he noted.
Respecting the honour of women, Thiru Vi Ka strove for removing hurdles and difficulties faced by them. In addressing, writings and speeches he first referred to women followed by men. He changed the saying ‘Even if you vilify mother don’t vilify water’ as ‘Even if you vilify water don’t vilify mother’. Similarly he altered many sayings that degraded women. It was Devenayagam Pillai who changed the traditional understanding that women drew identity through men and said on the other hand men earned credit due to women. Thiru Vi Ka said women were greater than men.
Thiru Vi ka and Periyar were good friends but ideologically differed in certain respects. Thiru Vi Ka was a believer whereas Periyar was an atheist. When Periyar’s wife Nagammaiyar died, Periyar invited Thiru Vi Ka for the unveiling of her portrait, Stalin recalled.
He said many resolutions for the progress of women, particularly equal property rights for them were adopted at the first Self-Respect conference in 1929 at Chengleput presided over by Periyar. 60 years later during the rule of Kalaignar in 1989 equal property rights for women was legislated. Similarly Kalaignar implemented several welfare measures for women such as 30 percent reservation for women in government jobs, financial assistance for pregnant women, widows rehabilitation scheme, women in police force, financial aid for inter-caste marriages and for women in poor families etc.,
Women’s Self Help Group was first started in Dharmapuri during DMK rule in 1989 and for the first time in India 33 percent reservation for women in local bodies was implemented in 1996 during DMK rule. He wanted all political parties in the country to support and adopt Women’s Reservation Bill for providing 33 percent reservation for them in Parliament and State legislatures as a tribute to those who strove for their progress like Thiru Vi Ka.
He was delivering a special address on the topic ‘Thiru.Vi.Ka who respected the honour of women’ at the ‘Muthamilzh Vizha’ function organised by Manavazhagar Mandram in Chennai. It was inaugurated by DMK General Secretary Prof K.Anbazhagan in which former Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Justice P.R.Gokulakrishnan, DMK Deputy General secretary SP Sargunapandian and functionaries of the Mandram participated.
In his address, Thalapathi M.K.Stalin said that this Mandram was started in 1957 and referred to Prof K Anbazhagan stating proudly that it was in that year that the DMK contested elections for the first time and he was elected to the State Assembly. Stalin said he was a child in 1957 and now at 61 he was glad to participate in the 58th anniversary of the Mandram.
He told the functionaries, particularly Justice Gokulakrishnan, that he would attend the functions of the Mandram even if uninvited because he considered it a privilege. He recalled that Kalaignar once said that “Manamakizh Mandrams (recreation clubs) were functioning for time pass (bghGJngh¡F) for Tamils but Manavazahagar Mandram was helping for the dawn (bghGJ éoaš)”. Stalin said though he had participated in the functions of this Mandaram, this was the first time he was getting an opportunity to speak on a topic and thanked the organisers for it.
Tracing the life of Thiru.Vi.Ka, Stalin said born in a poor family he lived a simple life and became an unparalleled writer, very good orator, editor of a magazine and established himself in various fields like politics, social reform, religion, literature etc., He has the credit of founding trade unions for workers for the first time in Asia. He tirelessly strove for eradicating superstitions and blind customs. Though he was born in Tiruvarur he started his early life in Chennai, and served in Spencer administration, teacher in Wesley School and as Tamil professor in Wesley College.
He was married to Kamalambigai and had two sons and after the demise of his wife he lived in renunciation. As he followed the policies of Karl Marx he dedicated his whole life for the cause of the working class and in oraganising them and fighting for their rights. He worked in Congress party and in Congress Working Committee he remained as the right hand man of Thanthai Periyar and participated along with him in ‘Gurukulam struggle’.
Thiru.Vi.Ka. worked for the progress of women and all through his life fought for abolishing their backward status. There were some pioneer leaders who dedicated their lives for the upliftment of women like Mahatma Gandhi, Thanthai Periyar, Moovaalur Ramamirtham Ammayar and Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy and Thiru.Vi.Ka. was one among those who stood with them, he noted.
Respecting the honour of women, Thiru Vi Ka strove for removing hurdles and difficulties faced by them. In addressing, writings and speeches he first referred to women followed by men. He changed the saying ‘Even if you vilify mother don’t vilify water’ as ‘Even if you vilify water don’t vilify mother’. Similarly he altered many sayings that degraded women. It was Devenayagam Pillai who changed the traditional understanding that women drew identity through men and said on the other hand men earned credit due to women. Thiru Vi Ka said women were greater than men.
Thiru Vi ka and Periyar were good friends but ideologically differed in certain respects. Thiru Vi Ka was a believer whereas Periyar was an atheist. When Periyar’s wife Nagammaiyar died, Periyar invited Thiru Vi Ka for the unveiling of her portrait, Stalin recalled.
He said many resolutions for the progress of women, particularly equal property rights for them were adopted at the first Self-Respect conference in 1929 at Chengleput presided over by Periyar. 60 years later during the rule of Kalaignar in 1989 equal property rights for women was legislated. Similarly Kalaignar implemented several welfare measures for women such as 30 percent reservation for women in government jobs, financial assistance for pregnant women, widows rehabilitation scheme, women in police force, financial aid for inter-caste marriages and for women in poor families etc.,
Women’s Self Help Group was first started in Dharmapuri during DMK rule in 1989 and for the first time in India 33 percent reservation for women in local bodies was implemented in 1996 during DMK rule. He wanted all political parties in the country to support and adopt Women’s Reservation Bill for providing 33 percent reservation for them in Parliament and State legislatures as a tribute to those who strove for their progress like Thiru Vi Ka.
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