Date:19/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/19/stories/2006061901721002.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Citizen Kannagi

Kannagi may be praised for her courage in fighting for a cause before a mighty king. But to project her as a role model for women or cultural symbol of Tamils is a design of selfish men.

Nirmala Asokan,
Chennai

The comparison between the walls that surround justice with a commoner's access to the king's court to question his verdict is relevant.

The Pandian King was right in ending his life. Kannagi stands on the Marina in Chennai with an anklet in hand, reminding the powers that be to act impartially or go the Pandian king's way.

Ramaswamy Krishnan,
Fremont, California

There is a factual error in the article. The author says Kovalan returned home one year after he went off with Madhavi. Kovalan married Kannagi when he was 16 and lived with her for eight years. Thereafter, he lived with Madhavi for 12 years and got back to Kannagi at the age of 36 (from the Foreword by Dr. Sa.Ve. Subramanian in his book Silappathikaram-Moolam, Manivasagar Pathippagam, Chennai).

S. Nallasivan,
Tirunelveli, T.N.