The Chinmaya Heritage Centre in Chetpet hosted a compelling discussion on 2 March 2025 under the banner of VIGIL, a public forum known for fostering informed dialogues on national and cultural issues. The event, titled “Women & Civilization: Western Perspectives, Indian Truth”, featured BJP leader Kompella Madhavi Latha as the keynote speaker.
Madhavi Latha delivered a powerful address challenging global narratives that misrepresent the status of women in Indian civilization. She asserted that Bharatiya culture has always revered women, with deities such as Gayatri Devi and Saraswati embodying supreme knowledge and power. She refuted claims of systemic gender discrimination, arguing that women have historically demonstrated exceptional intellectual grasp, even as men engaged in oral recitations. She criticized modern portrayals of India as unsafe for women, stating that Bharat was once “Sone Ki Chidiya”—a land of wealth and harmony, where gender balance was intrinsic to societal prosperity.
Addressing contemporary challenges, she claimed that efforts to weaken Bharat are directly linked to efforts to suppress women. “To curb a rising Bharat, they must curb its women,” she declared, pointing to global media bias and incidents such as the UK grooming scandal, which she framed as a case of femalephobia rather than Islamophobia. She urged Indian society to reclaim its legacy of respect for women, emphasizing that Sanatana Dharma is not a rigid set of rules but a way of thinking that has always placed women in positions of strength.
The event also featured insights from other speakers, including Kalaiyarasi Ramachandran, founder of Raattai, who highlighted handloom weaving as a means of empowerment, and Aparna Krishnan, who shared her experiences working with self-help groups in Paalaguttapalle to address water scarcity, education, and malnutrition through community-driven initiatives like Ashwagandhadi milk distribution.
With a strong call for restoring traditional values, Madhavi Latha urged grandparents to play a guiding role in shaping the next generation. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, where attendees reflected on the need to counter negative stereotypes and reaffirm India’s civilizational ethos.
VIGIL, which had been a key intellectual platform from the 1990s to 2010, continues to serve as a crucial space for discussions that challenge mainstream narratives and reinforce India’s cultural identity.
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