men and achieve success in almost all fields. And with the opening of IT
sector, they enjoy maximum economic freedom
By Francis P Barclay
ON March 8, as usual, sitting at one end of the Big Bazaar, near Town Hall, Mayamma sold vegetables and earned about Rs 100. After sundown, she rushed home, to attend to the chores that had been awaiting her. Aged about 60 and mother of three children, she is adamant - never depend on any one to eke out a living.
***
The same day, after cooking food for her husband, who is too weak to work, and finishing the household work, 58-year-old Thangamaniammal left for the canteen where she works in the evening shift. For preparing and serving food she gets Rs 50 a day. Like Mayamma, she is also self-supporting.
****
As role models of modern women, both Mayamma and Thangamaniammal have come a long way to claim their rights and privileges as members of the society. For example, so far, they have not failed to exercise their right to elect their representatives to the state Assembly or local body. But they are not aware of International Women's Day, and also that it is celebrated world over on March 8 with thrust on the need to treat women on a par with men.
``I do not know anything about International Women's Day, as I have not been told about it by anyone,'' Mayamma says.
They are also ignorant about women's liberation movement, and hence has no concern for its ill use either. The question, `is liberation perceived in the wrong sense' is thus irrelevant to them. In fact, they even fail to comprehend the question, and confusion reflects on their faces when asked whether women have not failed to draw their limits vis-a-vis their relation with men.
But ask R Chitra, a law student, what she thinks about man-woman relationship, in the light of the emancipation of women. ``Most women misconceive liberation and kill the virtues in them,'' she says.
Liza, another law student, feels that India is a land of myriad cultures, to which are infused Western concepts as well. In the jumble, a `liberated' woman fails to draw her limits. It is because they are suppressed too much
by the parents and when they come out, they are either rebellious or submissive.
``When liberated, they try to dominate others and see men as enemies. They forget they should respect men also. They hardly pick up the best of Western concepts,'' she adds.
Saradha, also a law student, says that even today women are suppressed. They neither know what is liberation nor aware of their basic rights. At the same time, those who call themselves as liberated blindly follow the West.
They wear modern outfits, go for discotheques and on dating and show no limit in socialising with people, wherein the integrity of Indian culture is lost. Only a few know about their rights and know what is equality and
respect their variants. When it comes to gender and equality, liberation is not a question at all, she says.
Asha R Rao, a gynaecologist at Rao Hospital in RS Puram, feels that a little bit of self-imposed restriction is necessary while enjoying the fruits of liberation. For example, she says that in countries like US and UK, girls start dating at the age of 10. But in India, a country rich in culture and tradition, it is not appreciated. ``Our concept is that a person should be mature enough and self-sustainable before taking advantage of this freedom,'' she points out.
Her advice to the youngsters is that while going through a cultural change, one should not forget the niceties of our ancient joint family system and should draw a limit for the change.
``Our Constitution guarantees women their due rights, from education and employment to equal payment. In fact, opportunities are also open to them, but the truth is that they are not fully grabbed by them. So, the call for things like hike in reservation for women is all but a claptrap,'' Saradha says.
Expressing concern over the rise in pre-marital sex, Liza says ``Certainly we don't want to emulate the life style of our mothers and grandmothers. But it does not mean that we should ape the West. Instead, we should use our freedom for claiming our due rights and use our talents for the cause of the society. The women who have gained eminence through social work should be taken as role models.''
Vanitha Rengaraj, chairperson of Sharanalayam, a home for destitutes, feels that economic freedom, which is attainable only through education, is the first and foremost necessity for women to claim their rights. At the same
time she sounds caution against the lifestyle of IT professionals. ``There are many girls in the IT sector who earn more than Rs 60,000 a month. But a fair chunk of them not only waste their money, but also spoil their life through late night parties, boozings and drugs. Is this what poet Subramania Bharathiyar once dreamt as `Pudhumai Penn'?'' she asks and adds that we should stick to our tradition and culture and earn name and fame.
A supporter to the IT professionals' lifestyle is Nandhini Rangaswamy, secretary, GRD Educational Institutions, who claims that for her, all days in a year are women's day. ``Opportunities are now galore for women and they
enjoy equal rights with men and achieve success in almost all fields. And with the opening of IT sector, they enjoy utmost economical support,'' she adds.
Shanmugapriya, Assisstant Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore East believes that women are empowered enough to achieve anything, though it is upto them to make use of their power. ``Women should be a terror to wrong-doers. She should always stick to ethical and moral values and should also know how to protect herself from abuse. Her personality and attitude will play a great role in her success for which parental care is very necessary,'' she sums up.
ON March 8, as usual, sitting at one end of the Big Bazaar, near Town Hall, Mayamma sold vegetables and earned about Rs 100. After sundown, she rushed home, to attend to the chores that had been awaiting her. Aged about 60 and mother of three children, she is adamant - never depend on any one to eke out a living.
***
The same day, after cooking food for her husband, who is too weak to work, and finishing the household work, 58-year-old Thangamaniammal left for the canteen where she works in the evening shift. For preparing and serving food she gets Rs 50 a day. Like Mayamma, she is also self-supporting.
****
As role models of modern women, both Mayamma and Thangamaniammal have come a long way to claim their rights and privileges as members of the society. For example, so far, they have not failed to exercise their right to elect their representatives to the state Assembly or local body. But they are not aware of International Women's Day, and also that it is celebrated world over on March 8 with thrust on the need to treat women on a par with men.
``I do not know anything about International Women's Day, as I have not been told about it by anyone,'' Mayamma says.
They are also ignorant about women's liberation movement, and hence has no concern for its ill use either. The question, `is liberation perceived in the wrong sense' is thus irrelevant to them. In fact, they even fail to comprehend the question, and confusion reflects on their faces when asked whether women have not failed to draw their limits vis-a-vis their relation with men.
But ask R Chitra, a law student, what she thinks about man-woman relationship, in the light of the emancipation of women. ``Most women misconceive liberation and kill the virtues in them,'' she says.
Liza, another law student, feels that India is a land of myriad cultures, to which are infused Western concepts as well. In the jumble, a `liberated' woman fails to draw her limits. It is because they are suppressed too much
by the parents and when they come out, they are either rebellious or submissive.
``When liberated, they try to dominate others and see men as enemies. They forget they should respect men also. They hardly pick up the best of Western concepts,'' she adds.
Saradha, also a law student, says that even today women are suppressed. They neither know what is liberation nor aware of their basic rights. At the same time, those who call themselves as liberated blindly follow the West.
They wear modern outfits, go for discotheques and on dating and show no limit in socialising with people, wherein the integrity of Indian culture is lost. Only a few know about their rights and know what is equality and
respect their variants. When it comes to gender and equality, liberation is not a question at all, she says.
Asha R Rao, a gynaecologist at Rao Hospital in RS Puram, feels that a little bit of self-imposed restriction is necessary while enjoying the fruits of liberation. For example, she says that in countries like US and UK, girls start dating at the age of 10. But in India, a country rich in culture and tradition, it is not appreciated. ``Our concept is that a person should be mature enough and self-sustainable before taking advantage of this freedom,'' she points out.
Her advice to the youngsters is that while going through a cultural change, one should not forget the niceties of our ancient joint family system and should draw a limit for the change.
``Our Constitution guarantees women their due rights, from education and employment to equal payment. In fact, opportunities are also open to them, but the truth is that they are not fully grabbed by them. So, the call for things like hike in reservation for women is all but a claptrap,'' Saradha says.
Expressing concern over the rise in pre-marital sex, Liza says ``Certainly we don't want to emulate the life style of our mothers and grandmothers. But it does not mean that we should ape the West. Instead, we should use our freedom for claiming our due rights and use our talents for the cause of the society. The women who have gained eminence through social work should be taken as role models.''
Vanitha Rengaraj, chairperson of Sharanalayam, a home for destitutes, feels that economic freedom, which is attainable only through education, is the first and foremost necessity for women to claim their rights. At the same
time she sounds caution against the lifestyle of IT professionals. ``There are many girls in the IT sector who earn more than Rs 60,000 a month. But a fair chunk of them not only waste their money, but also spoil their life through late night parties, boozings and drugs. Is this what poet Subramania Bharathiyar once dreamt as `Pudhumai Penn'?'' she asks and adds that we should stick to our tradition and culture and earn name and fame.
A supporter to the IT professionals' lifestyle is Nandhini Rangaswamy, secretary, GRD Educational Institutions, who claims that for her, all days in a year are women's day. ``Opportunities are now galore for women and they
enjoy equal rights with men and achieve success in almost all fields. And with the opening of IT sector, they enjoy utmost economical support,'' she adds.
Shanmugapriya, Assisstant Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore East believes that women are empowered enough to achieve anything, though it is upto them to make use of their power. ``Women should be a terror to wrong-doers. She should always stick to ethical and moral values and should also know how to protect herself from abuse. Her personality and attitude will play a great role in her success for which parental care is very necessary,'' she sums up.
