Chennai

Following Madhavan’s talk was the panel discussion on “Women Breaking Barriers Through Sports.”

Madhavan who was received with roaring applause said that he was thankful for the love shown by the students. He attributed his deep-rooted respect for women to his growing up years in Jamshedpur. “I was born and brought-up in Bihar and studied in a school called DBMS. If anyone asked me what it was, I’d say Data Base Management School. Actually it is Dakshin Bharat Mahila Samaj (DBMS). It was run by women of South India Samaj,” he says adding his mother was closely associated with it. He elaborated on incidents that revealed his mother’s boldness. “She was the Chief Manager at Bank of India and a woman of steel. I was awestruck when I saw her putting up a stiff resistance to goons who wanted to shut the bank.  

Talking about the research they had conducted before making of the movie Irudhi Suttru , he said that it made them realise that most women who took up boxing belong to the lower economical background. They did it just to get into government jobs. They worked hard to compete and take up a job, just to raise the standard of living of their families. 

Boxer Thulasi Helen, was part of the panel discussion, based on whose story, the movie was inspired. However, she made it clear that she never fell in love with her coach.” 

Actor Madhavan with sports champions Dipika Pallikal, Thulasi Helen and Rochelle  M Macfar

Dipika Pallikal, International squash champion, spoke about why she didn’t participate in the Senior National Championship for five years. She openly voiced her protest against the huge difference in the price money given to woman winners when compared to men. Only now the gap has been bridged.  Rochelle M. Macfar  lane, student athlete, explained that she had voiced her concern with her coach about how there was negligible representation of girls in the Youth Olympics. “The next time I went, I was part of a contingent that comprised 20 woman athletes. 

Interestingly, all the medals won by India were by women.”  Other speakers were Dr Glory D. Margaret, Principal, YMCA College of Physical Education and L Amudha, Director of Sports, MOP Vaishnav College for Women spoke about their struggles. Eric Lund, Cultural Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General Chennai was the moderator.

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