Bare Upper body as a Rule for Women in Kerala
I participated in a National Seminar Organised by P.S Telugu University, Hyderabad on “Indian Literature and Dalit Culture” on October 29-31, 2012. One session dealt with the Mayalaya Dalits condition and subjudication to various kinds of atrocities especially women.
Can one imagine such things being imposed in a country like India which stands for rich culture, tradition, and heritage? More so with Kerala state-God’s own Land.
We today oppose to various fashion shows, Miss Universe, Miss World Contests, and undervalue if girls are dressed in jeans, or short skirts with spaghetti tops and so on.
One paper by Ms. Maria Kutty Joseph moved me. It was like suddenly shocking jerks I received. I had read some aspects about Kerala Culture, dress, food, status of women and so on. I never imagined the torture on women especially lower caste women would be so horrible in the19th century or prior to it. No doubt, Brahmin women also underwent the same sorts of torture within four walls.
It is known as the Upper Cloth Revolt or Upper Cloth Controversy. The dalit and lower caste women were not supposed to cover their breast or upper body against caste restrictions sanctioned by Travancore kingdom. I recollect my mother telling me once about it, perhaps I could not understand much about this then, the similar practice was imposed in South Tamil Nadu state like Trirunalvelli and surrounding region.
This was supported by another senior Retd Lecture and Scholar Smt Sathyabai Sivadas who narrated her experience as a child. “I lived with my grandparents as my father was a Forest officer and lived far away. I was six then, for one vacation, my grandfather took me to my father’s place. At the garden one dalit women was working. As soon as she saw my grandfather, she removed the thin piece of cloth that she had covered her upper body. I did not understand then and questioned my mother. She replied that was the respect towards my grandfather”. She further stated that It was considered a taboo and impropriety to cover the breasts in 18th and 19th century kerala.south india 'upto 1960 in malabar areas.
She further continued that “The caste law prohibits a Nair lady to cover her breast. There are instances of cruelties inflicted upon the ladies for violating these laws. An Ezhava lady who happened to travel abroad and returned well dressed was summoned by the Queen of Attingal and her breast was cut off for covering them".
In Travancore a riot occurred when a group of upper caste men assaulted a lady of Ezhava caste for wearing cloth below her knees. In 1859 another riot took place in Travancore and continued for several days, when the ladies of Channar caste started to cover the breast. The revolt was called chela kalapam (cloth revolt). It became very important that later scholars regarded it as a part of the struggle for independence.
On 26 July 1859, under pressure from the Madras Presidency , the king of Travancore issued a proclamation announcing the right of Nadar climber women to wear upper clothes but on condition that they should not imitate the style of clothing worn by upper class women
MariaKutty further continued that there also existed a strict code of respect and mannerisms enforced by the state. The women were not allowed to carry pots on their hips or wear clothes that covered their breasts. Baring of chest to higher status was considered a sign of respect, by both males and females. Strict tax imposed fro covering the breast and on the size of the breast.
Brahmin women were also tortured to the similar condition about did not come out of the houses. They also did not come before males of the family.
Perhaps the reason for conversion to Christianity and Islam was seen as a protection and reform measure. In 1859 a royal circulation was passed that, all low caste women should remain naked above waist except those converted to Christianity.
"None other than the Hindu ladies except Brahmins thought that the breast has to be covered and to them to cover the breast was an act of immodesty". 1662-"Nieuhof's Audience with ye Queen of Koylang [Quilon]," from "Mr John Nieuhoff's remarkable voyages & travels into ye best provinces of ye West and East Indies", printed for Awnsham and John Churchill at the Black Swan in Pater Noster Row, London, 1703:
Women had no right on her own body, her body was or she was purely only for sex and had to fullfill this need of High caste men and also to men of lower caste.
How would they all lived with everyday torture, imposement and punishment of breast cut off in violating the rule.
Not much of the literature available on the Cloth Revolt. May be one can get in old Malayalam books. References like Ayyar Vaikundar and other fought for covering upper body in 1819-1819 and so on.
Swami Vivekanandha rightly stated, "Kerala was a mad asylum of castes".
For more information one can contact Ms MariaKutty Joseph at -joseph.mariakutty@yahoo.com and Smt Sathyabaisivadas at - sathyabaisivadas@yahoo.in
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