Aathukku Poganum

Siruvaani Vaasagar Meiyam

(Previous Edn by Kalacchuvadu, Nagercoil, 2011)

Cover Credit: Artist Jeeva (Jeevanathan)

Aathukku Poganum is a novel in Tamil by Kaaveri (pen-name of Lakshmi Kannan) which takes up the theme of the disinheritance of daughters from their rightful share in ancestral property, even after the Hindu Succession Act of 1959, which gives them a legal right to an equal share in the family property. 

It was translated into English as Going Home by the author for Orient Blackswan, New Delhi, 1999.

In both the languages, the novel generated a lot of debate about the issue of property to daughters. During a book discussion on Going Home in Delhi, Justice Leila Seth (1930 – 2017) shared her experience of arguing for this litigation in courts. Whenever she asked the sons why they grudge a share of the property going to their sisters while they don’t fight so much if a share goes to their brothers (their only issue being ‘how much)’, she got no answer from any of the men!