Speaking up for the Renaissance values, lakhs of women gathered across Kerala - from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram - to take part in the government initiated Women’s Wall on Tuesday. CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat started the chain at Vellayambalam in Thiruvananthapuram, with other women standing in a line that covered more than 600 kilometres. 

Irrespective of religion and caste, commoners, as well as leaders and members from political parties, socio-political organisations and progressive Hindu organisations, took part in the event. Several men, too, joined in support, to express their commitment to gender equality. A few tourists and transgender persons from Kudumbasree, too, joined the chain.   

The prominent personalities included Left leaders Annie Raja and KK Shailaja, top women bureaucrats and police officers like Thiruvananthapuram Collector K Vasuki, Thrissur Collector Anupama TV, Additional Chief Secretary Asha Thomas, Principal Secretary (Education) Usha Titus and Sheela Thomas. Actor Rima Kallingal, Dalit activist Dhanya Raman, artist Vindhu Vincent,  dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi, writer Deedi Damodaran and TV star and chef Lakshmi Nair, too, joined others in the chain. 

After a trial run, the event commenced at 4 pm, where the women took an oath to uphold Renaissance values, stand for equality for women and fight for secularism.

Image courtesy: Sreekesh Nair, Lenin CV, Mohanan Parameswran, Najeeb KK