INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY AND AVVAIYAR

Today is International Women’s day and all newspaper headlines scream the message. Meetings and festivities would be organized in workplaces and everywhere hailing the women. In India, some women have reached the pinnacle of glory whilst millions are shackled to a life of poverty and deprivation – most of the construction labourers are women.

News reports have it that this day has been celebrated since 1908 when women challenged the oppression and inequality. Today IWD is an official holiday in many countries and in our country events are held celebrating the role of women.

In some ways this is a western concept – marking a day and attaching all importance to it. Our literature has good place for women and traditionally we are taught to respect elders and mother. Our moral stories are replete with instances of obeisance to mother and femininity holding them in high regard.

One thing that made me feel IWD today. The famous Marina beach is dotted with statues of political leaders and some poets. Many of them remain neglected looking untidy with bird droppings. On days of importance to that particular person, the statues get spruced, political leaders would visit them, garland and bring some glory to the place. This could be more when there is some political leaning attached. This statute would look forlorn generally but there was some activity going on and perhaps was to be garlanded by some today....................................

Avvaiyyar, a great tamil poetess also stands in the marina closer to Queen Mary’s college. Though there could have been more than one person with this name, she is believed to have lived in the southern parts attributed to sangam period. Reverred to be noble besides her extraordinary poetic skills, the term means ' respected old woman' or 'Grandmother'. Her works include Purananuru and Aathichoodi. She had cordial relations with the Kings Pari and Athiaman. Aathichoodi is a collection of single-line quotes written by Avvaiyar and organized in alphabetical order.

In 1953 a tamil film made on her lifestory, starring KB Sundarambal & Gemini Ganesan ran for hundreds of days.  She was greatly attached to Lord Ganesha and advised Muruga appropriately.

Incidentally, if you are wondering about Men’s day – which remains as obscure as ever, Nov. 19th is associated to be IMD inaugurated in 1999 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Happy Women’s Day

With regards - S Sampathkumar.