Centre of Indian Trade Unions(CITU) pay respectful homage to Comrade Mythily Shivaraman, one of the leading figures in the early years of CITU in Tamilnadu, a revered leader of the women’s movement in India, a committed Marxist who passed away today, 30 May 2021 in Chennai at the age of 81. She had Alzheimer’s for the last ten years and succumbed to Covid.
 
Joining the left movement influenced by the anti Vietnam War movement Mythily has lead many struggles of the marginalized sections in Tamil Nadu. She has organized the workers, especially the women workers on the question of minimum and equal wages, sexual harassment of women etc. She has led many unions of CITU including metal box, union carbide, garments, pharmaceuticals and quarry workers unions in the 70s.
 
She was one of the leading figures of the struggle for justice for the dalit agricultural workers who were brutally massacred for raising their voice for wages, in Keezhvenmanai in 1968. She has also led the struggle of the victims of the infamous ‘Vachathi’ incident where the tribals of an entire village were assaulted and raped.

Mythily was one of the founders of AIDWA in Tamil Nadu and was its national vice President. She had authored many papers and books on issues and struggles of the oppressed sections, especially that of women.

A charismatic person with unusual courage, Mythily had influenced many lives and organized various sections of the people. Mythily will be remembered as one of the tallest women leaders our country. With the passing away of Mythily, both the trade union movement as well as the women’s movement suffers irreparable loss.

CITU expresses its respectful homage to Mythily and joins comrades Karunakaran, her husband and Kalpana her daughter and other family members in their hour of loss and grief.
 
Issued by
(Tapan Sen)
General Secretary