Most people hero-worship famous political leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, and Lenin, or brilliant military commanders such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Napoleon.
I, too, admire many of them. However, my greater heroes are those who remain anonymous. In particular, I salute the brave women of the Indian subcontinent who selflessly and anonymously dedicate themselves to feeding their families and managing their homes on the modest incomes of their husbands or their own earnings. These women perform back-breaking work all day long, including washing clothes, cooking, caring for children, and keeping their homes clean. Additionally, some supplement their family’s income with outside work.
It is estimated that about 57% of Indian women are anaemic, which indicates they do not get enough to eat .
Despite this, they often choose to feed their children and husbands before themselves. Should we not admire them? I regard them as our real heroes.
As I said in an article, it has been established that women are intellectually equal to men.
http://justicekatju.blogspot.com/2012/02/on-womens-emancipation.html
Yet, they are often oppressed and discriminated against. It is because they were not given opportunities that their potential talents could not flower, not because they are inferior to men. Whenever given opportunities, women have proved to be as competent as men, e.g. Madame Curie was the first person in the world to win two Nobel Prizes ( one in Physics and the other in Chemistry ), Queen Elizabeth I of England and Empress Catherine the Great of Russia proved to be great rulers, Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters, Harper Lee and Margaret Mitchell proved to be great writers, etc
It is only a mighty people’s revolution of which I often speak, and which I foresee occurring in 15–20 years, that will establish a social and political order where our women will be truly emancipated, get decent lives and opportunities to develop their potential talents
I conclude by quoting verses from the great Tamil poet Subramania Bharati, who wrote powerful verses around 1908–1910, strongly advocating for women’s emancipation, at a time when the concept was virtually unheard of globally, placing him far ahead of others:
“Gummiyadi Gummiyadi Nadumughudum Kulungida thaikotti Gummiyadi”
“Dance, oh friend, dance; let playing dandiya shake and wake this entire Nation. Celebrate our emancipation from the ghosts binding us for centuries. Those who believed educating women would harm society are gone! Those strange men wanting women locked inside have tasted downfall! So, friends, let’s celebrate the emancipation of women by playing dandiya.”
“Pudhumaip Penn” (The New Woman)
“This world will excel in knowledge and wisdom by treating men and women as equals. Valiant women will soon eradicate the tradition of seclusion in homes.”
“Pengal Viduthalaik Kummi” (Women’s Liberation Song)
“Those who deemed it sinful for women to touch books have perished; The absurd men who wished to confine women inside the home now hang their heads in shame.”
From “Murasu”
“Blinding one eye spoils your vision; similarly, hindering women’s education impairs the world. Educating women will automatically dispel the backwardness engulfing this world.”
“Pattankkal Aazhvadum Sattankkal Seivathum Paarinil Penkal Nadatha Vanthom”
“Women are now attaining degrees, legislating, and ruling the world ”.
I once again salute my Indian sisters. May the day come soon when they do not have to bear such back breaking burdens as they are presently bravely and uncomplainingly bearing , and are given genuine equality with men, decent lives, and opportunities to develop their intellectual, scientific, artistic and other potential talents.
