Tributes were paid by speakers to Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy, noted social worker and women's rights activist on the occasion of her birth anniversary at a function organised by Thilagavathiar Tiruvarul Adheenam here on Saturday.
They said that the late Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy was a great visionary who sacrificed her life for the overall development of women and recalled her services in the cause of cancer patients by establishing the cancer institute at Adyar.
Sri Dayananda Chandrasekaran, head of the Ahdeenam, said that the late Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy fought for the protection of women's rights. She launched a stiff battle in the cause of women and children and introduced the legislation abolishing the ‘devadasi' system in 1929. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and Annie Besant, the late Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy worked hard at a time when women did not enjoy their fundamental rights.
He said that Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy's services for the cancer-afflicted patients had resulted in the establishment of the Adyar cancer institute.
D. Thangalakshmi, correspondent of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy elementary school, said that Dr. Muthualakshmi Reddy had several firsts to her credit: she was the first woman to pursue higher education in men's college of H.H. The Rajah's College in Pudukottai; she was the first woman legislator nominated in India.
Valliammai Subramanian, president of Maharani Rotary Club, outlined her selfless services by successfully persuading the government to establish exclusive wards for women and children in hospitals.
S. Ramadoss, chairman of Ponmari group of educational institutions; P. Pazhaniammal, principal of Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy elementary school and M. Krishnamurthy, consumer activist, participated. Earlier, they offered tributes to the life-size statue of Dr. Reddy here by garlanding it.
