The 2017 November Ockhi cyclone was a terrible disaster that struck the fishing community. Reading about a family devastated by the disaster, a widow with four daughters, left Malayalam’s most powerful writer inconsolable. She took in that family using the prize money she had received. The writer was none other than Dr. M. Leelavathi, whom most respectfully called Leelavathi Teacher who even today on her 98th birthday, has never feared telling the truth boldly. The courage of her mother, Mundanad Nangayyamandal—to denounce and walk out from Punnathur Thampuran’s order to 'remove the shirt' while sitting in the temple for a feast—was carried by her daughter firmly into her life and writing. She entered the cultural arena with an integrity that no one else could claim. She always spoke her mind clearly on literary, social, and political issues. The scholar-teacher imparted the power of language to thousands of students across the many corners of society, at the same time raising her voice against violent politics and communal agendas and standing with empathy for her fellow beings.
Pointing to the increasing violence against women, the Teacher said that the same society that remained silent when Draupadi was humiliated in the Kaurava Sabha still exists today, and she boldly asked what plans the rulers, who are so eager to protect cows, have made to protect the mothers of the country. She asserted that spending thousands of crores on installing statues will not end the hunger of the people of the country. She strongly reacted against sexual assaults on women and against the action of the Kerala Police, which “upheld justice” by stepping on a girl’s hair. She argued that the rights of women, children, the displaced, farmers, and all other marginalised sections of society must be protected. Dr Leelavathi openly declared that what political parties need is not a 'Bill' to accept women, but the 'Will' to do so.
Teacher, who always upheld her belief that what makes a human being different is the ability not only to laugh but also to cry for others, and that one must keep speaking as long as the lips can move and the tongue is not cut off. And now, she is the target of a vile cyber attack by a male mob over the stand she took on the occasion of her birthday. Then came the news that the Teacher, moved to tears, was saying “When I see the children in Gaza holding out their bowls for food, how can my rice go down my throat?” and decided not to have any birthday celebrations this time. It took no time for the forces of hatred to come out with a torrent of abuse.
The images of the children, women and elderly writhing in Gaza are wrenching the conscience of every human being across the globe. What is happening against M. Leelavathi is another chapter of vendetta faced by university students and activists who respond to the genocide being carried out by Israel. While Israel carries out drone attacks on the Freedom Flotilla which has set out to deliver aid to Gaza, led by human rights activists including Greta Thunberg, defying the illegal blockade, the Zionist country's hired forces are unleashing cyber lynching against humanitarians like the Teacher. We also witness those who protest against Israel’s atrocities and call for boycotts of the parties to the war being branded as terrorists and being entangled in cases. There is no doubt that the insults from extremist hate groups, who take 'silver' from fascist communal forces and betray their own community to crucify it, will not shake the Teacher. Even so, the devious tactic of using cyber lynching to target those who take a stand against the fascist regime and communal ideology must not be tolerated in Kerala.
The Teacher, who upholds an unparalleled courage and compassion for fellow beings which even the most powerful rulers and big corporates do not possess, together with the children who say no to sweets smeared with the blood of children in Gaza, and the artists, writers and filmmakers who raise their voices against genocide from award platforms, is forging a new front of solidarity and humanity that is certainly unsettling Israel and its allies. On this birthday we offer our salute to the fearless writer and cultural heroine of our times. As Teacher has called for, we must keep speaking as long as our lips can move and our tongue is not cut off. That will be the most appropriate birthday gift Dr. M. Leelavathi deserves.