[Khurlxgq]

The Last Samurai, Hollywood movie made in 2003 starring Tom Cruise. An American military advisor who embraces the Samurai culture he was hired to destroy after he is captured in battle. The samurai were the warriors of pre modern Japan. They later made up the ruling military class that eventually became the highest-ranking social caste of the Edo Period 1603-1867.

Little known was “The Last Samurai” of Namma Chennai born in early 19oo. I cannot see any valid reason why the illustrious of daughter of Chennai, Tamil Nadu failed to be part of any news until today on Chennai Forums. We remember people for all the wrong reasons.

What make news today are sexual headlines like “Vishal and Trisha Sizzle”, “Kissing on the sets tough”, “Sameera Reddy impresses Vishal”. Most of us are peeping toms. The moment news with such headlines appears we cannot resist our curiosity in knowing who does what and with whom.

While I always expressed that the older generations should set awe-inspiring examples for future generations to follow, it has been brushed aside and ignored. Then who cares what our future generations do when we are dead and gone. Am I the only person here to have such radical thoughts and no one else to second them? Well! Who cares?

The Last Samurai of Chennai breathed last on the 23rd July 2012 at 97 years of age, born Lakshmi Swaminadhan on October 24, 1914 in Madras to S. Swaminadhan, a talented lawyer, and A.V. Ammukutty, a social worker and freedom fighter (and who would later be a member of independent India’s Constituent Assembly).

Each stage of the life of this extraordinary Chennai-ite represented a new stage of her political evolution – as a young medical student drawn to the freedom struggle; as the leader of the all-woman Rani of Jhansi regiment of the Indian National Army; as a doctor, immediately after Independence, who restarted her medical practice in Kanpur amongst refugees and the most marginalized sections of society; and finally, in post-Independence India, her life as a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), years that saw her in campaigns for political, economic and social justice.

“Freedom comes in three forms”, the diminutive doctor goes on to say on camera in her unadorned and direct manner.

“The first is political emancipation from the conqueror, the second is economic [emancipation] and the third is social…India has only achieved the first.”

With Captain Lakshmi’s passing, India has lost an indefatigable fighter for the emancipations of which she spoke and Chennai the worst loser. Three minute Silence for this great Lady of Chennai?