October 6, 2026 · THIS IS TAMIL
Avvaiyar and Valliammai: two strong Tamil women
Tamil history is often told through kings and dynasties. Yet some of the voices that still resonate today belong to women. Two of them are at the heart of our Strong Women collection.
Avvaiyar – words that outlive kings
“Avvaiyar” means something like “venerable woman”. Several poets from different eras are known by this name. The early Avvaiyar of the Sangam age was adviser and friend to the chieftain Athiyaman, who, as legend tells, gave her a rare amla fruit that promised a long life. A later Avvaiyar wrote the short maxims Aathichoodi and Kondrai Vendhan, with which Tamil children still learn to read – such as “அறம் செய விரும்பு”: “Take delight in doing good.”
Thillaiyadi Valliammai – fearless at 16
Valliammai was born in Johannesburg in 1898 to Tamil immigrants. In 1913, as a teenager, she joined Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent resistance against discriminatory laws in South Africa and was sentenced to hard labour. She fell seriously ill in prison and died in 1914, only 16 years old. Gandhi later wrote that she had deeply inspired him. In Tamil Nadu, schools, streets and a memorial bear her name today.
Courage has many names
Avvaiyar stands for knowledge, Valliammai for courage. Together with AMMA, our tribute to Tamil mothers, they tell what Tamil women have carried for centuries: strength, dignity and a voice.