Women writers meet in Tirupati calls for protection of rights of oppressed

Tirupati: Noted Malayalam writer KR Meera underlined that “Real feminism is not about women alone but about all those who are oppressed, who are denied of their rights or privileges by birth and gender. Feminism is not about fighting men or destroying men, rather it is all about destroying the notion of that power.”

She delivered a keynote address at ‘North-East and Southern Women Writers meet’ organised by Sahitya Academi in collaboration with Department of English, Sri Padmavathi Mahila Visvavidyalayam (SPMVV), Tirupati on Friday. Several eminent writers from two regions have been attending the two-day event.

Meera said that not all women are feminists and not all men are misogynists. When women voice their legitimate rights, men should not feel that they are against them, she said. If they think so, it says that they fear losing the slaves, she said and added the women can communicate to each other through their experiences and memories of slavery.

She suggested that this type of meets should not describe them as ‘women writers’ and call them as writers only and there is no need to differentiate them in terms of their geography. Meera added that North-East India is known for cultural heterogeneity and a diversity of outlook without which India as a nation is not complete.

“Singing National Anthem in cinema theatres and streets will not inculcate the love for the country in people. The people will love the country only when there is integration of ideas,” she asserted.

Eminent Tamil writer G Thilakavathi explained the genesis of Tamil poetry from ages and how it transformed from century to century. She said in a society that was heavily loaded in favour of male, women writers have started emerging with courage and dimensions. Little is known about North East writers in these parts of country and the attempt made by Sahitya Academi will expose their writings more, she opined.

SPMVV Vice Chancellor Prof V Durga Bhavani described, “We are introduced to world by mother and we see the world from the eyes of writers and they look the world in a different way with social relevance which is important.”

Convenor of Telugu Advisory Board of Sahitya Academi Dr K Siva Reddy said though women are suppressed and discriminated, still they are educated, courageous and their writings can enrich the knowledge. Sahitya Academi secretary K Sreenivasa Rao said the representation for North-East writers was less compared to other regions and these types of meets will rectify the imbalance.

Prof T Bharathi of SPMVV English Department proposed a vote of thanks and the meet will comprise sessions on Contemporary Women’s writings, Multilingual Poet’s meet and short story reading. The Sahitya Academi also arranged a book exhibition on the occasion.