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Women who MATTER
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The District Panchayath recently honoured 10 women who have left their imprint in their chosen fields of activity. SUNANDA KHANNA takes a peek at their lives.
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ELIAMMA JACOB grew up in a house with sprawling fields in the backyard and well-manicured lawns in the front. Very matter-of-factly the young girl absorbed the details that define a hollyhock and differentiates it from a hyacinth. Eliamma is one of the fortunate few who have turned their passion into a profession, without ever needing the tag of a formal degree.
For years now she has been associated with the Muvattupuzha Horticultural Society where for the last eight years she romped home with the rolling trophy in the competition for large gardens. Given to experimentation, she recently brought large tracts of land under the current rage of vanilla cultivation, still under manual pollination. This horticulturalist was recently honoured by the District Panchayat as one of the 10 women who have made a mark in their chosen fields.
They are the quintessential femmes, nurturing and compassionate. Drawn from different lines of work yet all fired in the same kiln, they also reinforce the faith in women as master managers.
In her dynamic, full of zip life, Sarah K. A. Mathew has juggled many roles and learnt to wear multiple hats; from rearing a mentally retarded daughter to playing a keen role in church activities and occupying the hot seat as managing director of OEN when her husband passed away in 1986, she's done it all.
Whether an entrepreneur or an advocate, these women symbolise the changing role and status of women in the contemporary world. Ms. Mathew has since passed on the baton to her elder daughter Pamela and now basks in the satisfaction of knowing that the large women-force of her company is well taken care of. The K. A. Mathew Foundation, of which she is the chairperson, supports heart and cancer patients; provides midday meals to children of the poorer section and assists schools for special children.
At the heart of it they share a common bond; their spirits beat strong when it comes to contributing their mite to the betterment of society. Saramma Paily Pilla would often follow her husband as he went around meeting people, listening to their woes and issuing orders. As panchayat president for close to 18 years he took his job seriously; alleviating deprivation is in his blood.
Some of that humanitarianism has rubbed off and Saramma goes about doing the good work in her own quiet way. Her efforts are concentrated in Poothrika Panchayat where she acts as an intermediary between the government and the people; helping the latter obtain their ration cards, ensuring an unfailing water supply in the locality and assisting the Balwadi and Anganwadi projects. In the past she has held important posts such as president of Mahila Samaj Union and chairperson for social work in Ernakulam.
A firebrand protagonist of women's rights K. N. Ummani doesn't shy away from organising rallies and dharnas protesting against drunken husbands who beat up their wives and blow up hard-earned money. An authorised agent of the National Savings Scheme herself she has educated the women in Bhoothathankettu Panchayat about savings, guaranteeing that even as they improve their living conditions there's still some money left for the rainy day. The first woman member of the panchayat she has used her office to spread communal harmony in the area.
Others who were lauded include advocate Anjeli Cyrus, sports instructor Hema Prabha, ophthalmologist Elizabeth Thariyath, writer Rosy Thomas and freedom fighters Gauri Gopinath and Gandhi Karthiayini. A special vote of appreciation was accorded to Mary Varghese as the senior-most panchayat member from Kalady.
A peek into the lives of these triumphant women and you know that success is no more just a distant glimmer. They are only a part of the growing number of ordinary women who are changing the way the world sees them.
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