Historically, Tulunadu was pro-women: Dr Indira Hegde

SENIOR writer Dr Indira Hegde on Monday said that Tulunadu, or the Tulu-speaking land, which has a matriarchal system, had women like Siri, Ballamahadevi, and Rani Abbakka, who stood against injustice and inequality, and historically, Tulunadu was pro-women.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mangaluru

She was delivering a talk on the topic 'Women's World View in Coastal Culture' during the final day of the four-day Nirdigantha Theatre Festival at St. Aloysius College in Mangaluru. Dr. Hegde said even divorce and remarriage of women was encouraged by the Tulu society. "For example, Rani Abbakka of the Chowta dynasty, who suffered at the hands of her husband, had left him, and she lost the war with the Portuguese due to her husband's treachery. There are references that Ballamahadevi of the Alupa dynasty had even sent buffaloes for the Kambala race. Kambala symbolises fertility a