Lakhs of Kerala women form 620-km long 'renaissance' wall

Lakhs of women from across Kerala formed a 620-km state-sponsored Women's Wall (Vanitha Mathil) on Tuesday upholding gender equality and renaissance values. The decision to form the wall was made in the backdrop of frenzied protests in Sabarimala after the ruling LDF decided to implement the Supreme Court verdict, allowing all women to pray at the Lord Ayyappa shrine.

Around 30 lakh women formed the wall from Kasaragod in north to Thiruvananthapuram in south.

Health Minister K K Shylaja led the chain at Kasaragod and CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat was the last person at the end of the chain in Thiruvananthapuram.

Political leaders, artistes and activists took part in the event at various points. Those took part in the 'wall' were administered a 'renaissance pledge'.

In order to ensure the success of the proposed wall, meetings were held at various levels-from ward level to district and constituency level.

The participants gathered at the designated centres at 3 pm and a rehearsal was held.

The wall was formed between 4 and 4.15 pm. 

Support from London too

A human chain was formed in London in support of the Women's Wall. Hundreds of people took part in the event outside the High Commission of India central London on Monday. Left outfits, writers and Keralite Labour Party members organised the event in the UK.

Ensuring gender equality 

The proposed wall was suggested at a meeting called by the Kerala government in the backdrop of frenzied protests by right-wing parties and a section of devotees over the state's decision to implement the September 28 apex court order, allowing women of all ages into Sabarimala.

"Finding a solution to the issues faced by women is seen as part of the class struggle,"Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Monday, adding that ensuring gender equality was part of class struggle.

In Marxist ideology, class struggle is the conflict of interests between workers and the ruling class in a capitalist society.

"The protests by communal forces against women's entry in Sabarimala prompted the government and other progressive organisations to build Women's Wall in the state," Pinarayi had said, adding that all women, cutting across castes and religions, would join the wall "to save Kerala from the being dragged back into the era of darkness."

The Universal Records Forum, the team which records amazing feats across the globe, is also understood to have reached the state to witness the exercise.

The pledge for the women's wall, which was released by the Chief Ministers office Sunday, calls for upholding gender equality and renaissance values.

It also bats for secularism and to oppose the move to turn the state into a 'lunatic asylum.'

Not by the govt?

The state government had initially claimed that it would extend all support to the proposed wall, it withdrew the order, allotting funds for it, after a controversy erupted.

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Tuesday claimed that the wall was not being organised by the government.

"The government merely supported a decision taken by various outfits. PRD campaigned for it. There is nothing wrong in it.

"It is not the government but the organising committee that is taking care of the finances," he added.

Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran said that even the government officials would take part in the event. He added that precautions have been taken to avoid traffic blocks.

SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan flayed NSS chief Sukumaran Nair for opposing the wall.

While senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has described the initiative as a 'wall of contradiction', UDF MLA M K Muneer had has termed it as a 'communal' wall for inviting participation only from 'progressive Hindu organisations'.

Meanwhile, a bus that was to ferry participants was attacked in Muthalamada in Palakkad. The front window glass were shattered in the attack. Both the driver and the cleaner were sleeping in the bus during the time of the attack.

The government has spared no effort to make the wall a huge success with all ministers given charge of either a district or a particular place for the success of the event.

The event is organised by the ruling CPI(M), along with over 176 other socio-political organisations, including the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) and Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha (KPMS).

The Nair Service Society (NSS), RSS and the right-wing groups have opposed this move and formed Ayyappa Jyothi across the state on December 26 to counter it.

Thousands had taken part in the Ayyappa Jyothi, which was undertaken by the Sabarimala Karma Samiti.

The Kudambashree Mission had earlier informed that it alone will field over 1.25 lakh women on January 1.

Many prominent personalities from all spheres of life are expected to take part in the event.