In Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district, a 57-year-old woman named Petchiammal made an extraordinary sacrifice to protect her only daughter. For 36 years, she lived disguised as a man, taking the name “Muthu.”
Petchiammal was from Kattunayakanpatti village. Her life changed forever just 15 days after her marriage, when her husband, Shiva, passed away. She was only 20 years old at the time. A few months later, she gave birth to her daughter, Shanmugasundari.
Raising a child alone was extremely difficult. To survive, Petchiammal worked at construction sites, hotels, and tea stalls. But everywhere she went, she faced harassment, unwanted attention, and sexual remarks. Life became unsafe, and the fear for her daughter’s future kept growing.
One day, she made a life-altering decision.
She cut her hair, wore a shirt and lungi, and introduced herself as a man named Muthu—so the world would leave her alone. From that day on, she lived as a man. Only her daughter and a few close relatives knew the truth.
For 36 years, Petchiammal remained “Muthu”—working, protecting her child, and surviving in a society where a woman alone is often unsafe.
Today, her daughter is married, and the family is financially stable. Yet Petchiammal says she does not want to return to her old identity. According to her, living as Muthu was the biggest reason her daughter stayed safe, and she wishes to live the rest of her life that way.
Recently, she obtained an MGNREGS job card as a woman, but her Aadhaar card, ration card, and voter ID still list her as male.
Her story is not just about identity—it is about a mother’s courage, the cost of safety, and the silent struggles women face every day.
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