Chennai :
Showering praise on Tamil poet-saint Kothai Andal, BJP MP Tarun Vijay on Wednesday said the Vaishnavite icon had challenged male supremacy 1300 years ago, inspiring women to assert their rights to make personal choices.
Not only did he mention the lone woman saint of Vaishnavite tradition at the Women in Parliament Global Summit 2015 held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he also presented a portrait of Andal to the global chairperson of the summit, Sylvana Koch.
Tarun Vijay said Andal’s legacy must be followed by women across the continents to make this planet happier and safer for women. “Gandhi said women don’t need protection, but a freedom to make choices and freedom to make decisions. Poetess Andal, who was born in Tamil Nadu 1300 years ago is a great symbol of that power. Making choices for her and challenging male domination in that era”, the BJP MP said.
“India’s legacy is to respect women. I begin from Andal to Lal Dyad of Kashmir and to Sister Nivedita and Rani Gaidinliu, who fought against the British at the age of 16, and Indira Gandhi to our present day world boxing champion Mary Kom, India is a saga of women empowerment in a sea of gender discriminations.”
He said India was leading the world with highest number of micro level women members of gram panchayats which is about 1.4 million. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign to help women resulted in a mission to build 12 million toilets helping girls and women. Revolutionary Jandhan scheme empowered women most and just a signature enabling exercise made them feel good and empowered.
“I was in Ladakh to inaugurate this scheme when a bank manager asked a woman to sign on a form. She was perplexed and said, but sir, only big and influential people sign, I can merely write my name. When manager taught her to sign, that was a defining moment for her and she felt empowered. A mere opportunity to put a signature brings about a change in her life. Its the decision making power that she enjoys”, Tarun Vijay said. Place technology in the hands of women to change the world for betterment, he added.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / March 26th, 2015