Chennai: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (Ficci) women’s wing FLO conducted ‘Politics and Poetry,’ in conversation with MK Kanimozhi on Thursday where the women quizzed the MP about role that politics and poetry plays in her life.
Kanimozhi got candid with the women, answering questions about her early education, her strict mother and lenient father who only paid heed to her marks in Tamil.
Narrating a story of how her father, late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi was appalled when he visited her college for an event, Kanimozhi made the whole audience roar with laughter. “I had participated in an essay writing competition I didn’t think much of. I just wrote it and left. Weeks later, my professors informed me that I had won the competition and that there would be a presentation ceremony for the same,” she recalled. “I knew my dad was the chief guest for the event. He did not. On the day, Appa was shocked to hear my name, and then laughed as he handed the award to me,” she said.
Urging women to step out more into realms like politics, Kanimozhi said that women should continue to push for their own spaces. “We need to hold out hands and do it together,” she said.
A unique thing that one could notice when they walked into the room was that most of the FCCI women were clad in red and black.
Chairperson, Anupama Shivaraman, however, denied any political affiliations. “Women love to dress up, and we always have colours that connect with our speakers. This year, our theme is ‘Avatars of a Woman’ and we’re exploring the idea through dress codes and varies speakers,” she said.
