Shaping of Rights: State, Jati and Gender
Keywords:
Namboothiri community, widow remarriages, abandoning of Ghosha, state and jati, Namboothiri Women
Abstract
In this paper, attempts are made to trace out the activities of some women among Namboothiri community,who were not backed up by the stalwart patriarchs–the
leaders of reforms among Namboothiris, yet fought their causes and possessed their rights during the early decades of 20th century. These were, though not among the celebrated activities–such as widow remarriages, marriage of younger brothers of Namboothiri families, abandoning of Ghosha, etc.–important in constructing the perspectives of rights among the women among Namboothiris. The demands and the activities to materialize those by these women were very much associated with the everyday lives and thus were mainly focused on sustenance, which the state and jati, in different contexts were forced to accept.
References
1. P.S. Manoj kumar, ‘Malayali Hindu Patriarchy: Gender and Jati’
in Social Orbit, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2016, pp. 114-141.
2. Ibid., pp. 119-124.
3. Sheeba K.M., ‘Some Aspects of Women’s Consciousness Among
Namboodiris in Keralam in the Nineteenth and Twentieth
Centuries’, (Unpublished M.Phil Dissertation), Centre for
Historical Studies, SSS, JNU, New Delhi, 1995.
4. SVR Bundle No: 9.
5. Smartha vicharam records (henceforth SVR) with respect to the
trials of Tathrikutty are kept in the Ernakulam Regional Archives.
6. N.P. Unni, Sankarasmrti (Laghudharmaprakashika) (hereafter
Sankarasmrithi), Ashtamadhyaya (8th Chapter), pp. 119-122 and
pp. 259-262.
7. Smartha vicharam records (henceforth SVR) with respect to the
trials of Tathrikutty are kept in the Ernakulam Regional Archives.
8. Cited by Sheeba K.M., ‘Jati, Sexuality and the State: The Changing
Lives of Namboodiri Women in Keralam in the Twentieth Century’,
(Unpublished Ph.D Thesis), Centre for Historical Studies, SSS,
JNU, New Delhi, 2002, p. 88.
9. Ibid.
10. Sankarasmrithi, VII Chapter.
11. The role of King as the patron of the Brahmins is attested by
the acts of the rituals associated with the temple for which the
resources are met from state exchequer. See CF No. 294/ 1855- 68
File No: 355/1855 dtd 1855; File No: 2118/ 1865 dtd 1.12.1865;
File No: 1007/1868 December 1868; No. 5205/ 1868 December 1868
kept in the Trivandrum Central Archives. In the letter written by
the Dewan to the British Resident, it has been recorded as the
expression of the Rajah of Travancore: “utmost possible exertions
will be used to prevent all unnecessary or wasteful expenditure in
connection with the approaching moorajeppem, ceremony as has done on the last occasion though His Highness feels that he cannot,
under existing circumstances, discontinue any part of a ceremony
performed by a succession of His Highness’ predecessors. (.le No:
5205/ 1868 December 1868)
12. P.K. Gopalakrishnan, Keralam Samskarika Charithram,
Trivandrum: Keralam: Bhasha Institute, 1976, pp. 343-344; p.397.
13. Ibid., p. 369. Also see N.M. Namboothiri, Vellayude Charithram,
Sukapuram: Vallathole Vidyapeetam, 1998 for details on what the
e.ects of Mysorean Interlude was on the existing socio- political
and economic situations.
14. The Migration of Brahmins and upper jati people to Cochin and Travancore following the invasions of Mysore rulers and the
insecurity brooded among the native Brahmins of Travancore
and Cochin following the socio- political and economic curbing of
the Brahmins by Marthanda Varma in Travancore and ShakthanThampuran in Cochin necessitated this dependency.
15. “The charitable institutions which serve out a scanty fare just
enough to prevent the Brahman from starving are maintained in
respect to the sacerdotal character and in the spirit of fostering
talent and morality”–A. Sankariah, Report on the Census of Native
Cochin, Madras: Graves, Cookson & Co., 1877, p.32.
16. Susan Bayly, The New Cambridge History of India, IV. 3: Jati,
society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the
Modern Age, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999,
p.77-78.
17. Samuel Mateer, The Land of Charity: A Descriptive Account of
Travancore and its People, London: John Snow & Co., 1871, pp.
168, 170,181-182.
18. Ibid., pp. 167-168. Those acts on the part of the King of Travancore
can in no way seen as acts by king rendered upon a Brahmin,
for Azhvanchery Thamprakkal being a Brahmin. It was rendered
by the King as the o.ce of Azhvanchery Thamprakkal was much
honoured. The prostration and felling to feet of Azhvanchery
Thamprakkal by the King had a very di.erent meaning for the
fact that the Rajahs of Travancore never fell on the feet of the
Brahmins whomever they met.
19. A. Sankariah, op. cit., p.34.
20. SVR Bundle 7- File No: 141B.
21. The word used by the Brahmins to denote the note from King is
kalpana which means order. They acknowledge the right of the King
to deliver orders upon them- which itself is an act acknowledging
the superiority.
22. Letter of consent from Smarthan for trial of ordeal at Sucheendram
Temple.
23. SVR Bundle No: 3- Explanation .led by Smarthan Moothamana
Bhattathiri on 1081 Dhanu 16th.
24. SVR Bundle No: 3- Explanation .led by Pazhayatha Somayaji of
Brahmaswam Madom and others on 1081 Vrischikam 22nd.
25. File No C. 15887/ 1826, dated 12th June 1827- Memorandum from
the Dewan of Travancore; Central Archives, Trivandrum
26. File No C. 15887/ 1826- Ghee Ordeal- Correspondence; Political
Department- No.225 dated 6th July 1844; Central Archives,
Trivandrum
27. SVR Bundle No: 3- Explanation .led by Smarthan Moothamana
Bhattathiri on 1081 Dhanu 16th.
28. SVR Bundle No: 3- Copy of the petition .led by Thrissivaperoor
Vadhyan Nambudiri and others dtd 1081 Dhanu 8th.
29. SVR Bundle No: 3- Correspondence from Kottaram
Sarvadhikaryakkar dtd 1081 Dhanu 14th.
30. SVR Bundle 7- File No: 141B. Nammude used in this letter is not
to be taken as a token of intimacy or dearness. The nature of the
letter is highly o.cial and the letter is highly precise and matter
of fact. In the letter, nothing more than what the Smarthan should
do, is stated. The tone of the letter is highly commanding and gives
the full weight of a communication from a power center to the
subordinate. Because of these reasons, it could be rightly assessed
that the King/ State was expressing its power of possession over
the person to appoint him to the post of Smarthan.
31. VR Bundle No: 6- Letter from Sarvadhikaryakkar to the Sub
Magistrate, Chalakkudy dtd 1905 July 14th.
32. P.S. Manoj kumar, op. cit.119-124.
33. V.T. Bhattathirippad, VTyude Sampoornna Kruthikal, Kottayam:
DC Books, 2010, pp.322-328.
34. P.S. Manoj kumar, op. cit.
35. Mathrubhumi Weekly, Vol.10, Issue 16, 11th July 1932.
36. Mathrubhumi Weekly, Vol.10, Issue 18, 25th July 1932.
37. Mathrubhumi Weekly, Vol.10, Issue 25, 12th September 1932.
in Social Orbit, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2016, pp. 114-141.
2. Ibid., pp. 119-124.
3. Sheeba K.M., ‘Some Aspects of Women’s Consciousness Among
Namboodiris in Keralam in the Nineteenth and Twentieth
Centuries’, (Unpublished M.Phil Dissertation), Centre for
Historical Studies, SSS, JNU, New Delhi, 1995.
4. SVR Bundle No: 9.
5. Smartha vicharam records (henceforth SVR) with respect to the
trials of Tathrikutty are kept in the Ernakulam Regional Archives.
6. N.P. Unni, Sankarasmrti (Laghudharmaprakashika) (hereafter
Sankarasmrithi), Ashtamadhyaya (8th Chapter), pp. 119-122 and
pp. 259-262.
7. Smartha vicharam records (henceforth SVR) with respect to the
trials of Tathrikutty are kept in the Ernakulam Regional Archives.
8. Cited by Sheeba K.M., ‘Jati, Sexuality and the State: The Changing
Lives of Namboodiri Women in Keralam in the Twentieth Century’,
(Unpublished Ph.D Thesis), Centre for Historical Studies, SSS,
JNU, New Delhi, 2002, p. 88.
9. Ibid.
10. Sankarasmrithi, VII Chapter.
11. The role of King as the patron of the Brahmins is attested by
the acts of the rituals associated with the temple for which the
resources are met from state exchequer. See CF No. 294/ 1855- 68
File No: 355/1855 dtd 1855; File No: 2118/ 1865 dtd 1.12.1865;
File No: 1007/1868 December 1868; No. 5205/ 1868 December 1868
kept in the Trivandrum Central Archives. In the letter written by
the Dewan to the British Resident, it has been recorded as the
expression of the Rajah of Travancore: “utmost possible exertions
will be used to prevent all unnecessary or wasteful expenditure in
connection with the approaching moorajeppem, ceremony as has done on the last occasion though His Highness feels that he cannot,
under existing circumstances, discontinue any part of a ceremony
performed by a succession of His Highness’ predecessors. (.le No:
5205/ 1868 December 1868)
12. P.K. Gopalakrishnan, Keralam Samskarika Charithram,
Trivandrum: Keralam: Bhasha Institute, 1976, pp. 343-344; p.397.
13. Ibid., p. 369. Also see N.M. Namboothiri, Vellayude Charithram,
Sukapuram: Vallathole Vidyapeetam, 1998 for details on what the
e.ects of Mysorean Interlude was on the existing socio- political
and economic situations.
14. The Migration of Brahmins and upper jati people to Cochin and Travancore following the invasions of Mysore rulers and the
insecurity brooded among the native Brahmins of Travancore
and Cochin following the socio- political and economic curbing of
the Brahmins by Marthanda Varma in Travancore and ShakthanThampuran in Cochin necessitated this dependency.
15. “The charitable institutions which serve out a scanty fare just
enough to prevent the Brahman from starving are maintained in
respect to the sacerdotal character and in the spirit of fostering
talent and morality”–A. Sankariah, Report on the Census of Native
Cochin, Madras: Graves, Cookson & Co., 1877, p.32.
16. Susan Bayly, The New Cambridge History of India, IV. 3: Jati,
society and Politics in India from the Eighteenth Century to the
Modern Age, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999,
p.77-78.
17. Samuel Mateer, The Land of Charity: A Descriptive Account of
Travancore and its People, London: John Snow & Co., 1871, pp.
168, 170,181-182.
18. Ibid., pp. 167-168. Those acts on the part of the King of Travancore
can in no way seen as acts by king rendered upon a Brahmin,
for Azhvanchery Thamprakkal being a Brahmin. It was rendered
by the King as the o.ce of Azhvanchery Thamprakkal was much
honoured. The prostration and felling to feet of Azhvanchery
Thamprakkal by the King had a very di.erent meaning for the
fact that the Rajahs of Travancore never fell on the feet of the
Brahmins whomever they met.
19. A. Sankariah, op. cit., p.34.
20. SVR Bundle 7- File No: 141B.
21. The word used by the Brahmins to denote the note from King is
kalpana which means order. They acknowledge the right of the King
to deliver orders upon them- which itself is an act acknowledging
the superiority.
22. Letter of consent from Smarthan for trial of ordeal at Sucheendram
Temple.
23. SVR Bundle No: 3- Explanation .led by Smarthan Moothamana
Bhattathiri on 1081 Dhanu 16th.
24. SVR Bundle No: 3- Explanation .led by Pazhayatha Somayaji of
Brahmaswam Madom and others on 1081 Vrischikam 22nd.
25. File No C. 15887/ 1826, dated 12th June 1827- Memorandum from
the Dewan of Travancore; Central Archives, Trivandrum
26. File No C. 15887/ 1826- Ghee Ordeal- Correspondence; Political
Department- No.225 dated 6th July 1844; Central Archives,
Trivandrum
27. SVR Bundle No: 3- Explanation .led by Smarthan Moothamana
Bhattathiri on 1081 Dhanu 16th.
28. SVR Bundle No: 3- Copy of the petition .led by Thrissivaperoor
Vadhyan Nambudiri and others dtd 1081 Dhanu 8th.
29. SVR Bundle No: 3- Correspondence from Kottaram
Sarvadhikaryakkar dtd 1081 Dhanu 14th.
30. SVR Bundle 7- File No: 141B. Nammude used in this letter is not
to be taken as a token of intimacy or dearness. The nature of the
letter is highly o.cial and the letter is highly precise and matter
of fact. In the letter, nothing more than what the Smarthan should
do, is stated. The tone of the letter is highly commanding and gives
the full weight of a communication from a power center to the
subordinate. Because of these reasons, it could be rightly assessed
that the King/ State was expressing its power of possession over
the person to appoint him to the post of Smarthan.
31. VR Bundle No: 6- Letter from Sarvadhikaryakkar to the Sub
Magistrate, Chalakkudy dtd 1905 July 14th.
32. P.S. Manoj kumar, op. cit.119-124.
33. V.T. Bhattathirippad, VTyude Sampoornna Kruthikal, Kottayam:
DC Books, 2010, pp.322-328.
34. P.S. Manoj kumar, op. cit.
35. Mathrubhumi Weekly, Vol.10, Issue 16, 11th July 1932.
36. Mathrubhumi Weekly, Vol.10, Issue 18, 25th July 1932.
37. Mathrubhumi Weekly, Vol.10, Issue 25, 12th September 1932.
Published
2019-12-11
How to Cite
പി.എസ്. മനോജ്കുമാര്. (2019). Shaping of Rights: State, Jati and Gender. മലയാളപ്പച്ച, 5(5), 246 - 261. Retrieved from https://mrjc.in/index.php/malayalapachcha/article/view/86
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