The caged bird sings with fearful trill
of the things unknown but longed for still
and his tune is heard on the distant hill 
for the caged bird
sings of freedom..!

Maya Angelou, author of “I know why the caged birds sing” passed away yesterday at the age of 86. She was an African-American author, poet, historian, filmmaker, singer, dancer and civil rights activist. She is best known for her six autobiographical works, among which her most acclaimed was ‘I know why the caged birds sing’, which tells the story of first seventeen years of her life. She was nominated for Pulitzer Prize in 1971 for her volume of poetry. She served as northern coordinator of Sir Martin Luther King Junior’s southern leadership conference. Maya Angelou also recited a poem at Bill Clinton’s 1993 presidential inauguration.

But it is not her achievements that matter to the people. It’s her life, and the way it inspired them. A revolutionary at heart, she fought against racism, raised her child as a single mother and faced many hardships that are precisely described in her autobiographies. She was a tough and real womaniya in every true sense of the word.

Maya Angelou endorsed women empowerment and inspired millions of women through her words and her actions. She also used to appeal women to take care of her health. Her own words: “Women should be tough, tender, laugh as much as possible, and live long lives.”

Oowomaniya thanks her for inspiring thousands of women all over the world.

 “It’s the fire in my eyes, and the flash of my teeth, the swing in my waist, and the joy in my feet. I’m a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.”

Contributed by :

Abhimanyu Acharya