VELUPILLAI PIRABAHARAN
Women's International Day Message
March 8, 1996
"Our struggle shines as a superb paradigm of women's ability to accomplish
anything. So that our race may honor humanness which is beyond masculinity
and femininity, womankind is extending its hand of love and friendship. Only
when man as a gender grasps this loving hand with deep awareness will
equality between men and women be a reality."
Women's Struggle in Thamil Eelam: The Volcanic Child of the
Liberation Movement
Our society is continuing to metamorphose. The tornado of ideological war
gusting in the shape of our liberation struggle is eradicating the giant trees
of hoary dogmas deeply rooted for eons in our soil. The superstitions ensconed
in the dark recesses of our mind are being expelled. There is blooming a new
outlook in our universe of social ideas. New awakenings are occurring
constantly. There is revolutionary change taking place in our societal
relations.
 The
women's liberation movement is forging ahead as an integral part of our greater
struggle. The ideal of women's liberation is the fervent child that had its
genesis in the matrix of our national liberation movement. Its rise and progress
is an incomparably unique chapter in history. For the awakening of the nation
and the salvation of the women, the Thamil Eelam revolutionary woman has
transformed herself into a tigress! Fierce and fiery, she has taken up arms to
fight injustice.
It is our movement itself that paved the way to this historic transformation.
The women's rights struggle continues on its journey in its quest after
equality. Gender based inequalities in relationship took shape during our past
in society. This inequality in human relationship has been pervasive in all
societies, in all forms of culture at all times. The womankind of the world has
today raised the battle flag in opposition to this inequity of the society which
relegated women to an inferior status. The physical differences of the sexes are
nature's gift as an allure in the interest of the propagation of the species.
But society has now fashioned a web of discriminatory relationships based on
these physical differences created for reproductive purposes. The gender
distinctions, and cultural norms based on these distinctions, the imposed
stereotypes and prejudices are standing as obstacles to the equality of man and
woman. The human race transcends gender differences.
Humanness is beyond maleness and femaleness; it comprehends all of humankind.
Humanity's abilities are not determined by physical differences; humanness
inheres equally in womankind. Humanity's marvellous abilities and unique
characteristics are not commensurable by the measuring rod of gender.
Our struggle shines as a superb paradigm of women's ability to accomplish
anything. So that our race may honor humanness which is beyond masculinity and
femininity, womankind is extending its hand of love and friendship. Only when
man as a gender grasps this loving hand with deep awareness will equality
between men and women be a reality.
(Translated from Erimalai, March 1996, by Sanmugam,Florida)
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