Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Women still suffer `forced seclusion' here

By R. Ilangovan

Madurai May 16. A group of women is huddled into a tiny room in the village `manthai' (common place). The space is cramped and suffocating. The women are served food from a distance as they are barred from taking part in any function. The separated women are having their menstrual cycle.

The repulsive custom that keeps women in seclusion is widely prevalent in a cluster of villages in and around Andipatti. They are not allowed to study beyond standard V. "Once they attain the age of marriage, it is not safe for them to go to school outside the village,'' says 60-year-old Arulsamy of Tirumalapuram Kallupatti, which enforces such "black laws'' on women.

The village has only one school, that too up to standard V.

Girls from these villages cannot put in sufficient attendance, as they would be spending five days in a month in seclusion, two full months a year. There is not a single graduate in the village, which has 400 votes.

But elders call this act of `ostracisation' a traditional practice. They refuse to understand the ethical and emotional consequences of the practice. Breaking the custom, they say, will mean incurring the wrath of the Goddess and will lead to excommunication from the caste. Only in the event of a death in her family can a woman come out of her `forced seclusion.'

The villagers belong to a particular caste and do not allow men of other castes to live in the village. "Our traditions will get corrupt,'' fears Kadirsamy of Kallupatti. Hairdressers are allowed to visit the village once in two months. So are washermen, petty sellers and village doctors.

Once their work is over, the `outsiders' should leave immediately. A `cleansing' ritual, which includes sacrificing a lamb, follows. Despite their best efforts the social activists are unable to start a `mahalir mandram' (women's association). "When we tried to screen awareness programmes, video clippings on AIDS and the importance of family planning, we were prevented,'' says an activist. Strangely, most households have cable TV connection.

But the status of women in the neighbouring Karisalpatti is far better. Women here have defied male supremacy to become members of `mahalir mandrams.'

Though men prohibit women from touching the plough and force them into seclusion, they could not prevent them from joining `mahalir mandrams.'

"This has enabled me to venture out of the village for the first time in my life. Now we go to weekly `shandies' in Andipatti,'' says 45-year-old Sakkamma.

The `mandrams' now boast of two tractors for agriculture.

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