The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : “Women always in the forefront of change”

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Monday, Feb 25, 2008
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Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“Women always in the forefront of change”

Special Correspondent

‘Pride of India’ Award for The Hindu

— Photo: R. Shivaji Rao

MOMENTOUS OCCASION: Paul A. Netzel presenting the ‘Pride of India’ Award for The Hindu to its Editor-in-Chief N. Ram at a function held in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: The ‘Pride of India’ Award, instituted by Rotary International 3230, was presented to The Hindu on Sunday.

The award was given to the newspaper, founded in 1878, for “striding the Indian journalistic scene for close to 130 years, maintaining its pre-eminent position as one of the nation’s most respected, trusted and credible newspapers…and never deviating from the guiding principles of fairness and justice as envisaged by the founders.”

The award was the highlight of the second day of “Vanavil 2008,” the district conference of Rotary International 3230.

Earlier, speaking on the “Role of women in social renaissance,” Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi said women had historically proven to be more concerned and appreciative of grassroots issues. Whether it was environment or health, they were in the forefront of social change.

Citing the success of self-help groups, she said these organisations led by women were engaged in social work at many places and stood up not just for the rights of women but also for those of local communities.

“The best way to start [moving for equitable gender equations] is for men to look upon women as individuals with intelligence who share common space in terms of rights, work and life.” And if laws still stood in the way of women’s emergence in any sphere of life, they needed to be axed or amended, she said.

During an interactive session, when someone asked about the role of women in upholding cultural values and tradition, Ms. Kanimozhi wondered why it was women who should always bear the onus of preserving values. Looking around, she remarked that while women were in the traditional attire (sari), most men sported suits. “We’ll soon have 50 per cent representation in governance. We started with 33 per cent so as to not scare men.”

Why can’t she take the initiative for ushering in a new political culture by greeting Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jayalalithaa on her 60th birthday? Quick to sense the potential mischief in a seemingly innocuous suggestion, Ms. Kanimozhi responded with a birthday greeting not only to her party’s political rival but also to “everyone whose birthday falls today.”

What would you do that your father (Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi) has done and what would you not do that he did? Momentarily stumped, Ms. Kanimozhi, however, quickly came up with this line: “All I will say is that there are a lot of things that my father has done that I will never be able to do.”

Rotary International representative Paul A. Netzel presented the ‘Pride of India’ Award to N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief, The Hindu.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Ram said The Hindu has re-committed itself to its larger societal and public service mission. He spelt out as the vital set of functions of serious newspapers the credible-informational, the critical-investigative “watchdog” function, the educational, and agenda-building functions.

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