Conversation

Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
If I were in Kerala today, this is where I would be at. Happy New Year! Towards a progressive society. (some context in Thread) (1/n)
Quote Tweet
CPI (M)
@cpimspeak
Kerala will form ‘Vanitha Mathil’ (Women's Wall) on Jan 1. Over 176 renaissance organisations of Kerala will participate. The ‘women wall’ will be formed from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram, which is a distance of over 600km. CPIM extends its support to this initiative.
Image
4
137
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
This to counter reactionaries who have been mobilising women against the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry for women to the Sabarimala shrine. Over 3 months since the verdict, women of menstruating ages continue to be prevented from entering by RSS-led rightwing groups (3/n)
16
385
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
Malayalam media,initially decent on Sabarimala reportage given their reporters were bashed up by rightwing thugs, have in recent weeks played truant When attacks of being 'communal' (given the subject of mobilisation)wore thin, it was argued that women were being 'forced'...(4/n)
2
12
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(5/n) ...to participate,or that govt employees were 'forced',or worse, that it was funded through diverted Flood Relief Funds etc. Such Fake News -or let's just call it lies- were to be routinely countered. Cause the idea couldn't be opposed, attacks turned progressively sneakier
1
15
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(6/n) critics questioned participation by caste-based outfits and the identity-based mobilisation @vijayanpinarayi said “...fight against casteist forces &gender inequalities is an integral part of class struggle for communists..women’s liberation is part of social liberation.”
1
12
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(8/n) worth noting the Congress' stance on #WomensWall Following its aligning with backward rightwing forces in opposing entry of women to Sabarimala, some sneakily guised as 'instinctive liberalism', the Congress opposes the initiative on grounds that is is 'not inclusive'. HA!
1
20
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(9/n) Yes.
Quote Tweet
Arjun Ramakrishnan ☭
@aju000
The rightful keepers of the #Sabarimala temple, Malayarayas, getting ready to travel and join #VanithaMathil. It's from them that the erstwhile royal family and thanthri family snatched the rights for the temple, and they will take it back. #WomensWall #OurRenaissance
Show this thread
Image
1
11
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(10/n) #WomensWall #vanithamathil in progress, aiming to cover 640 km across Kerala. In many places where turnout is good, two or three rows even. Men are forming a row facing women in Solidarity. getting started! Follow the hashtags for countless proud selfie updates.
2
43
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(12/n) some fools (men, ofcourse) are mocking images of women in headscarf in the #WomensWall #vanithamathil You're missing the point Though the mobilisation is indeed in counter to the rightwing thuggery around Sabarimala, the human chain is about more than entry to one temple
6
17
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(13/n) Agree! But, without underplaying social media too much, I'd like to believe the battles that matter are those fought on the ground. So trending or not, women did well! Liberals can keep their hashtags trends as long as the ground belongs to us!
Quote Tweet
Siddharth
@DearthOfSid
It's pathetic how something as historic and legendary as the #WomenWall in Kerala is being ignored by the larger liberal community. Arguably the largest coming together of women in the world history is not even trending on Twitter. What a shame! #WomenWall #VanithaMathil
1
16
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(14/n) MIND THE (fictional) GAP #WomensWall #VanithaMathil Needless to say, Janam is a BJP-run channel and has been a most regressive element (and peddler of lies and fake news) in this whole sabarimala affair.
Quote Tweet
Nandita Jayaraj
@nandita_j
Drove through from Ernakulam to Alappuzha and saw powerful scenes & amazing turnout. Shocked now to see BJP's Janam TV showing footage only of gaps and declaring it a failure 😵
Show this thread
Image
Image
2
7
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(15/n) Social reformers Ayyankali and Sree Narayanaguru find pride of place at the #womenswall #VanithaMathil Indeed, this is where it's the battle is at: that of progressives and reformers against the reactionaries.
Quote Tweet
The bearded one
@beardedtakes
This two posters says what is this #WomenWall all about. It is about renaissance. It is about reminding Kerala society about the two heroes of renaissance movement. SN Guru and Ayyankali. We have to keep their ideas alive. #VanithaMathil
Show this thread
Image
Image
1
7
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(16/n) Lakhs of women in Kerala: We are marching forward #WomensWall #VanithaMathil Narenda Modi: Chaliye Puducherry Ko Vanakkam. Also, 👇🏾 HAH!
Quote Tweet
Square profile picture
NDTV
@ndtv
“Triple talaq is a matter of gender equality; Sabarimala is about tradition,” says Prime Minister Modi to ANI Watch now on ndtv.com/live and NDTV 24x7
Embedded video
2:07
76.9K views
2
10
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(18/n) Estimates on numbers for #WomensWall between 3-5.5 million Concluding this thread: 1. Kerala is a deeply patriarchal society, something that's always bothered me. That women asserted themselves on an issue as deeply divisive as Sabarimala gives me hope. This is a start!
4
17
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(19/n) 2. Reactionaries apart, critics on the postmodern left put me to sleep all of last week with flaccid critiques for the sake of critiques I sincerely tried to make sense of them but couldn't So wake me up when you learn to mobilize,or when your 'perfect' revolution arrives?
1
12
Deepa Kurup
@deepakurup
(n/n) 3. #WomensWall is a slap not just on the face of fascists but also on the liberal commentariat that kept peddling this narrative on how the 'hinterland' masses are 'illiberal' on whom progressive values are being imposed It's a shame you have such little faith in the people
2
15