Paathai Amaithavargal

About the book

After the invention of the wheel, the most significant invention man has ever made would be the printing press. "It is a press...like a new star it shall scatter the darkness of ignorance, and cause a light heretofore unknown to shine amongst men", said Gutenberg who invented the press. The power of the printing press empowered the women who were otherwise oppressed and sidelined. The period between the 1850s to the 1950s – a century in South India saw a boom in women's emancipation through education.

This book is a collection of biographies of 30 such pioneering women in politics, STEM and other fields who chose to carve out paths of their own. They are the 'firsts' in their chosen field, who fought for their rightful place and earned it through determination and hard work. Featured in this book are the country's first woman psychiatrist, first woman cost accountant, first woman author of a Tamil book, first woman venereologist and so on. Armed with degrees, how these women paved way for others to tread on is a lesson every woman should read from history.

About the author

Nivedita Louis writes on history, archaeology, anthropology and ethnography. Resigning from her Central Government job, she chose writing as an alternate career. She conducts heritage walks, lectures on history, and coordinates lec-dems on subaltern music and literature. She is the co-founder of Her Stories, a publication house that also runs the webpage www.herstories.xyz. She has won the Laadli Award Special Mention. Her book Vada Chennai Varalarum Vazhviyalum has won the Puthumaipithan Padaippilakkiyam Award (cash prize of Rs.1,00,000) by SRM Tamizh Perayam and Tha Mu E Ka Sa's K Muthiah Thonmaisar Nool (cash prize Rs.10,000). She is passionate about feminist rights and writes about the marginalised and oppressed in society.

Books: Muthal Pengal, Adhichanallur Muthal Keezhadi Varai, Magizhchiyin Desam, Sindhuveli Nagarigam Kandupidikkappatta Kadhai, Ariyappadaatha Christhavam, Paadhai Amaithavargal, Kalaga Puthagam and Ammakannuvuku Neelanai Pidikkadhu.

More of Nivedita Louis’s work and rights: niveditalouis.in