Where There Is A Wheel Summary | Notes

Introduction


The essay “Where There Is A Wheel” is taken from the book ‘Everybody loves a good drought’ written by P. Sainath a noted Indian journalist who writes columns regularly in leading journals on issues such as social problems, rural problems and poverty post globalization.

Theme / Summary 

This essay is about a social movement through cycling in Pudukkottai district of Tamilnadu in 1992 where over 100,000 rural women took to cycling. Most of them were neo-literates who used cycling as a symbol of independence, freedom and mobility. According to P. Sainath, cycling has given new meaning and social identity to women, agricultural workers, quarry labourers and village health nurses. Even balwadi and anganwadi (baby sitter) workers, gem cutters and school teachers have joined the bandwagon. There are also gram sevikas and mid-day meal workers who have joined the new movement.

The Arivoli Iyakkam (Light of Knowledge Movement) that led the community literacy movement successfully found a new source of inspiration in cycling to make women further become independent and confident. Very large number of trained women volunteered to help new learners. They strongly believe that all women ought to learn cycling. The very idea was the brainchild of the popular former district collector, Sheela Rani Chunkath. She took it as a personal challenge to promote the cause of cycling. This was because by training female activists literacy could be reached out to women easily. She included mobility as a part of the literacy drive. Surprisingly, every woman wanted to learn. Muthu Bhaskaran, a male Arivoli activist even wrote the famous cycling song which has become their anthem.

Cycling for these women has helped in several ways: they sell their agricultural products; their waiting time is saved; they are now able to cover large areas and they have more leisure. More than economic aspect, cycling has given these women a sense of self-respect.  This humble vehicle is a metaphor for freedom which has given neo-cyclists the feel of goodness and freedom.

Conclusion

Social change through cycling is indeed a lesson to learn. The women of Pudukkottai have proved that the need to change the way  we live can transform societies. This inspirational story of a revolution from a backward district in  India paves way for new opportunities for the rural women and socially marginalized people. 

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