The Hapless Life of Namboodiri Women and the Ripple of Changes by Antharjana Samajam

Asha L Revi

Abstract: The study entitled The Hapless Life of Namboodiri Women and the Ripple of Changes by Antharjana Samajam intended to reveal the pathetic life and conditions of Namboodiri women. It also portrays the roles plays by Antharjana Samajam and its leader Parvathy Nenmeni Mangalam in emancipating the Namboodiri community. Namboodiri women were popularly called as Antharjanams. The term Antharjanam means those who belong to inside or the inside people. The present study recounts the suffering of Antharjanams and role of Antharjana Samajam in their reform movements. Antharjana Samajam was an organization founded by Namboodiri women for emancipating themselves and to eradicate the social evils. Parvathy Nenmeni Mangalam raised the first voice from among the Antharjanams for community reforms. She along with other leaders fearlessly throw away the ghosha and marakkuda, two traditional symbols of a Namboodiri women and began to appear in public platforms.

Keywords: Antharjanams, Menstruation, Marriage, Antharjana Samajam, Community Reforms