41. Women Empowerment and Equity: Insights from Thirukkural and SDGs

This paper investigates the themes of empowerment and equity through the ancient Tamil literary classic Thirukkural and examines their relevance to the contemporary framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Composed by the sage Thiruvalluvar, Thirukkural offers enduring ethical insights that emphasize social justice, gender equality, and righteous governance—principles that closely resonate with several key SDGs, including poverty eradication, reduced inequalities, and inclusive institutions. By bridging traditional wisdom with modern development goals, this study highlights how the moral and social teachings of Thirukkural can inform and strengthen efforts to achieve sustainable and equitable development in today’s world.