There are stories in the collection that are unique to Kerala culture. The earliest story written in 1931, “In the Shroud” by Lalithambika Antharjanam seems unreal today, especially the ways in which women were subjugated not only by men but also by what the women believed. After reaching puberty a woman was not to see or be seen by any man other than her husband, while it was customary for an upper-caste Namputhiri to take several women as wives. (Brahmins in Kerala are known as Namputhiris.) A man of sixty taking a young woman of twenty as his third or fourth wife was not uncommon.
The main reason for such marriages was the family’s inability to provide the customary dowry to marry off girls and the social pressure to get girls married. The men in the family were forced to find someone, just anyone, even an old man who would marry the girl for little or no dowry.
But the part that was more tragic was what the women believed. They considered their husbands almost as their god and did everything they demanded. A senior wife asks, “He may be old and ugly. But he is her husband, her god for this life. Then why doesn’t she love him and worship him? ” (p.2)
Lalithambika Antharjanam, was one of the few women who gained entry into the upper caste, male dominated world of Malayalam literature during this time. She could write touching stories about the injustice the women had to face in these homes because she was one of them.
The Namputhiris followed Manu’s teaching that a woman does not deserve freedom in the house she is born in or the house she marries into. Lalithambika wrote to draw the attention of the reader to the indescribable way these women suffered with no means to control their destiny.
This practice was changed by the Namputhiri women who were determined to change it, but they could change it only with the help of the men in the community who realized the injustice done to the women. Lalithambika credits her husband for his support and encouragement to express her beliefs fearlessly. Fortunately, twas a time when Kerala was very much involved in movements to change many such social practices. The famous Temple Entry Proclamation by the Maharaja of Travancore, (one of the three geographic units that formed Kerala) Sri Chithirathirunal, was a revolutionary change brought about during this period (allowing low caste people to enter temples to worship.) After India gained independence, laws were passed to prevent many such discriminatory practices.
Achamma Chandersekaran
Blog: http://achammachander.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.achammachander.com/
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This is so interesting, Achamma. Thank you for providing this insight. I look forward to the next edition of the book, to be able to see the stories in the order in which the are written to better understand the changes that occurred in Kerala and Indian society.
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