Women must not be portrayed as mere commodities: Katyayani Vidmahe

“Novels are part of the democratic system. Earlier, it was only through novels and other books that people were awakened and enlightened on social issues. The association man and books dates back to the historic period. The written word is eternal,” said Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award recipient Katyayani Vidmahe on Tuesday.

Speaking at a seminar on ‘Telugu Novel after Independence - Social Awakening’ organised by Sri Durga Malleswara Siddhartha Mahila Kalasala on Tuesday, Katyayani said novels were a popular medium to enlighten women in the pre-Independence era who were deprived of higher education.

“In novels, women are depicted as next to goddesses and the Mother Earth. They enlightened women on political, social, economic and various other issues. Discrimination against women has prevailed even after Independence. Social reformers like Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu, the first Telugu novelist, strove to eradicate social evils and stood up for the empowerment of women through his writings during the freedom movement,” Katyayani said.

Katyayani Vidmahe expressed her displeasure over the poor portrayal of women in the media in modern times.

“The portrayal of women as mere commodities should be denounced by one and all. This would help to nullify gender bias,” she said.

Film director and social activist C Umamaheswara Rao, Andhra Arts Academy secretary Golla Narayana Rao and M Ramanadham Naidu from Karnataka State Open University, Mysore, also spoke at the seminar.

Siddhartha Academy joint secretary N Lalitha Prasad, college principal T Vijaya Lakshmi, seminar convener and head of the Department of Telugu A Naga Jyothi and other faculty members were present.