Mari Main Page Mari Soap The Mari Seminar Text in English Without Photos Malayalam Text
The Mararikulam Self-Reliance Pledge
The highlight of the Mararikulam Seminar Inaugural Session of 11 May 2002 was the
recitation of the Self-Reliance Pledge by the 30,000 women attendees from the Neighborhood
Groups of the eight panchayats of the area. Kerala feminist author Sara Joseph led the
pledge:
We stand united. Our sweat is our salt and our rice. Our blood is all of one color. Labor is the source of our wealth. We know the thieves who have stolen the fruits of our labor, produced by our sweat.
We will protect our coconuts, our coir, our fish. We are determined to follow the path of self-reliance pointed out by the father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
We dream of a better tomorrow. Women’s liberation, our country’s liberation, depend on our strength, our standing on our own feet. We believe it is our prime responsibility to protect our liberation with our unity. Our unity is our strength. With this organized strength we will build a new world. We are beginning the activities for a better tomorrow under the leadership of our panchayats and our neighborhood groups.
Our Mari soap made from our coconut oil is the first step. We pledge to use only Mari soap. We recognize this soap to be the key to open the door of each household towards a new national consciousness. On our soil we pledge that we will create a new model of sustainable development.
(English translation by
Richard W. Franke and K. M. Thomas)
Mari Seminar of 12-13 May 2002
Printable Copy of the Pledge Without Photos