Karnataka - Bangalore

`Only when women achieve equality will State be suvarna'

K.S. Vimala

Bangalore: The idea of equality for women was first conceptualised in Karnataka in the Vachana literature of the 12th Century with the radical idea that the soul is neither male nor female. Later however, the dominant Vedic caste system ensured that this great idea was not carried forward. But in 18th-Century Karnataka we find women such as Sanchi Honnamma, Bheemavva and Helavanakatte Giriyamma who raised their voice against the oppressive system.

Today, though society is undergoing changes at a great pace, and life has changed for the better for some sections of women, a large number still face violence and live in perpetual fear. Women, however, continue to raise their voices against oppression and inequality.

When one looks back at the State's women's movement, one can see a shift in the nature of concerns over the years. While in the 50s, the struggles revolved around the right to education as well as against obscurantist practices such as shaving one's head after the death of the husband and so on, the present-day struggles are in the realm of equality.

Pioneering writers

In literature, the pioneers were writers such as R. Kalyanamma, Nanjangud Thirumalamba, and Gowramma from Kodagu. They wrote against child marriage and dowry, and in favour of widow remarriage. Even though the writings of these women were limited by their middle-class and upper-caste background, they laid the foundations for feminist writing.

The major writers in the next phase are Triveni and Anupama Niranjana. While Triveni wrote of sufferings within the family, with the focus on psychological factors, Anupama Niranjana's writings carried a class perspective. She believed that overthrowing the feudal system was the only route to women's emancipation.

The writers from the Dalit and Bandaya movements — B.T. Lalitha Nayak, Sara Aboobacker, Banu Mustaq, Geetha Nagabhushan, Vijayashree Sabarad, K. Sheriffa, Kusumakka and Mallika Ghanti to name a few — wrote against Brahminism and the society built on Vedic culture. Some of them participated in related social struggles, for instance against Kuduremothi nude parade, Chandragutti nude worship and the Devadasi system.

Women's journals were published even before the struggle for unification of Karnataka began. In 1916, Tirumalamba brought out a women's journal. Kalyanamma, Thirumala Rajamma, Shyamala Devi, M.R. Lakshmamma, Venkamma Coimbatore and Sarojini Mahishi worked as journalists. One name that deserves special mention is Saraswathi Rajwade. In 1952, she published "Suprabhata," in which there was a column for girls. She also started "Akkana Balaga," a women's collective.

The State has a history of women leading trade union struggles. Mary Devasia led a militant struggle of government employees in the 60s. The same tradition is continuing even now, particularly among anganwadi workers.

Women participated actively in the freedom struggle, though most of their contributions went unsung. While Kittur Rani Chennamma and Rani Abbakka Devi of Ullal fought in battlefields, Kamala Devi Chattopadhya mobilised women from the State to participate in the Salt Satyagraha.

Reservation for women

While the struggle for reservation for women in legislative bodies like State legislatures and Parliament is going on, the reservation in panchayats in the State is a model for the country. In 1983, for the first time in the country, 25 per cent reservation for women in panchayats was enacted in the State. At present, it stands at 45 per cent.

Some of the important struggles of the 80s include those against nude procession at Hosalli, the murder for dowry of Shashikala of Tiptur and the rape of Sharanavva, an anganwadi worker of Raichur. When Amitabh Bachchan organised the Miss Universe beauty contest in Bangalore, the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), Mahila Jagruthi, Mahila Samskruthika Sanghatane and other organisations waged struggles that took the Government by surprise. Important struggles now include organising unorganised workers and passing the women's reservation Bill and so on.

Continuing concerns

Some issues such as the Devadasi system, child marriage, dowry and domestic violence continue to be the concerns of the women's movement. The crisis gripping the agrarian and industrial sectors has made women more vulnerable to violence. AIDWA is continuing its fight against all these, besides demanding the right to food and livelihood. There are other women's organisations, including Vimochana, Women's Voice, Jagruthi Mahila Adhyaya Kendra, Sumangali Sevashrama, Sthree Jagruthi and Mahila Jagruthi, working for women's causes.

Suvarna Karnataka can be meaningful only when women achieve equality and equal opportunity. This requires strong political will.

(The writer is Karnataka general secretary, AIDWA.)

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