JUSTICE OF KERALA IN BEGINNING OF 1900`S
Smārthavichāram (meaning 'inquiry into the conduct'), was the trial of a Nambudiri woman and fellow male adulterers who were accused of illegitimate sexual relations.[1] If the accused women was found guilty, she and the men found involved with her (known as jāran) were excommunicated from the caste (Bhraṣṭu) and banished.[2] The permission of the Mahārāja (king) was necessary to start a smārthavichāram.[3] The practice is nonexistent today and last reportedly took place in 1918.[4]
Dasi Vicharam (Trial of the maid-servant)[edit]
The first stage of this trial procedure is interrogating the 'dāsi', the maid, of the accused female member. If a Nambutiri housewife (antharjanam's) was suspected of sexual misconduct then she was at first placed under restraint, and as a first step, her dāsi, a.k.a. vṛṣali, was questioned. If the dāsi should incriminate her mistress the latter is forthwith segregated and a watch set upon her.
Anchampurayilackal[edit]
If there is substantial evidence (sangayum thurumbum) on the antharjanam's sexual misdeeds, she is isolated to a special cell. After the woman is isolated, the family-head informs the king about the case. The king then sends four lawyers together with a smārthan (judge) and a Brahmin for conducting the trial.
Questioning the Antharjanam[edit]
The third stage involves questioning the antharjanam by the smārthan. During questioning the smārthan sits outside the cell without seeing the accused. This can take up hours or even days depending on the severity of the case and until the woman accepts all allegations and becomes a sāthanam (an inanimate object).
During this period the antharjanam may subject to physical torture if necessary to make her confess. A popular method was to pack the woman in a mat, like a dead body, and roll it from the housetop. At other times, rats, snakes and other poisonous creatures were driven into the cell of the accused.
Once she has accepted all her misdeeds, the smārthan questions the sāthanam face to face to get the names of the jārans (the men involved). She also has to substantiate her accusations by proofs, normally some marks on the private parts of the men, which the smārthan later verifies. The trial would continue until the smārthan is convinced that there are no more jārans.
Swarūpamchollal[edit]
After this, the king would be informed about the men involved. If the accused deny these allegations, they were subject to sathya-parīkṣa (test of truth) at Sucīndram temple.
Dehavichedam[edit]
In this stage, the saathanam and the guilty men are ceremoniously ostracized and excommunicated.
Shuddhabhojanam (pure meal)[edit]
The trial team shares a meal after this. If the accused are found to be innocent, they also take part in it.
Trial of Kuriyedath Thāthri[edit]
The most sensational Smarthavicharam was the one in 1905 that involved Kuriyedath Thāthri, the wife of Chemmanthatta Kuriyedathu Rāman Nambūdiri of Mukundapuram Taluk. Thathri had been married off at an early age to the sixty-year-old Rāman Namboodiri. The trial lasted for six months.[6] The verdict was pronounced on the night of July 13, 1905, indicting Thāthri and the other accused men.[4] Some sources say that there were 65 accused men (jāran) and she was asked to name them and substantiate it by narrating their body marks. The accused were men of high caste, influential and reputed in the society. Thātri's accused paramours included 30 Nambūthiris, 10 Iyers, 13 Ambalavāsis and 11 Nairs.[7] From the accounts of people who recount the tale, the Raja of Cochin stopped the trial since his name was next on her list.[6]
Descendants[edit]
M. G. Ramachandran was the son of Melakkath Gopala Menon who was banished in 1903 Smārthavichāram of a widowed Nambūdiri. Melakkath Menon at the time was a judicial officer in Trissur, and was forced to leave this job and his family, and married Satyabhāma ezhava, belonging to Maruthur family in Vadavannur, Palakkad and migrated to Ceylon.[8]
Film references[edit]
The Malayalam feature film Parinayam and the Malayalam short film 'Thārattu Pattu' are based on this custom.
1.The first Case (1903):
A widowed "Antharjanam" of an Illam near Kunnamkulam was suspected of sexual misconduct. During the "Smaartha Vichaaram" she confessed to have had illicit relations with 15 persons of various communities from Namboothiri to a barber. The verdict resulted in excommunication of all the 15 and the Antharjanam herself.
One of the victims is said to have been Melakkath Gopala Menon, a judicial officer in Thrissur, who had married Meenakshi Amma of Vattaparambil Nair family of Irinjalakuda. He left his family, went to Palakkad where he married a lower caste woman and together left for Sri Lanka. When he died after two sons were born, his widow returned to Tamil Nadu with her children. One of the boys later became a famous film actor, a political leader and top administrator.
2.Kuriyedath Thaathri (1905):
This most sensational Smaartha Vichaaram involved Savithry (Thaathri) the wife of Chemmanthatta Kuriyedathu Raman Namboodiri, and daughter of Kalpakasseri Ashtamoorthi Namboodiri of Mukundapuram Taluk. It resulted in the excommunication of all the 64 persons and Thaathri herself. Another two ("Ambalavaasis") had died and hence not proceeded against.
The final round of the seven-month long inquiry by Smaarthan Pattachomayarath Jathavedan Namboodiri, the Meemaamsakans and others concerned lasted for about a month from mid-June to mid-July. It turned out to be a sensational case for several reasons. The sheer number of persons involved was amazingly high. Some of them were respectable high-class Namboothiris from aristocratic families. Also, this Thaathri could reel out with utmost confidence, the names of the people and detailed description of the events, including identification marks on the body and identification of persons from group parades.
The verdict was pronounced on the night of July 13, 1905, indicting all the accused and of course Thaathri. They included 30 Namboothiris, 10 Iyers (Pattars or Tamil Brahmanans), 13 Ambalavaasis and 11 Nairs. Thaathri was sent to Chalakudy and settled as an intern in a riverside home, under tight security. The 64 victims left their homes humiliated, some living on bare subsistence allowance and some, begging.
It is possible that Thaathri was a victim of circumstances, who later turned a revengeful victimiser, on an avenging spree for some wrong done to her earlier. Otherwise she would not have had the courage to tackle and denigrate so many persons, some of whom were of high social status.
The relevant records kept in the Central Archives in Ernakulam contain the names of all the 66 males indicted in that case, listed and certified by Smaarthan Pattachomayarath Jathavedan Namboodiri dated Mithunam 32, 1080 ME (mid-July, 1905).
3.The Last Case (1918):
The last known case of Smaartha Vichaaram and Bhrashtu involved another Savithri, also called Thaathri, originally of Pazhur Paduthol Illam and married to Elampankodath Aadhyan Vishnu Thraathan Namboodiri of Tripunithura, as his third wife. The victims who were ostracised in this case were Thaathri herself and her four children, Thayyil Raman Menon who was banished from the State (Kochi), Ezhumavil Vasudevan Bhattathiri and Nedumparambil Cheriya Krishnan Namboodiri and his four children, 12 persons in all.
In the case of the last mentioned, (viz, Krishnan Namboodiri) after "Upanayanam", as a "Brahmachaari", he was sent at the age of seven to this Elampankodath Illam to learn Rigvedam under this Thaathri's husband. Several years after he left, the Guru died leaving Thaathri a widow and with four children. She was exceptionally beautiful and charming, but lecherous. Her step-son went and informed the Maharaja of Kochi, Sri Rama Varma, who promptly had a Smaartha Vichaaram conducted by a group led by the same Smaarthan, Pattachomayarath Jathavedan Namboodiri and with two Meemaamsakans, one being Thottakat Kunjan Othikkan, and others. She confessed to have had illicit relations with the other two and in a way implicated also the young boy of earlier times.
Upon hearing the verdict, Nedumparambil Cheriya Krishnan Namboodiri committed suicide by hanging himself. The four children were notionally attached to one Ayiniyil Muringoth Chakiar family and were given new names too. One of them, A M N Chakiar who was 11 years then, grew up to become a brilliant administrator and retired as the Registrar of the University of Kerala, and is now (year 2000) in his nineties. His recent book, "The Last Caste Inquisition" (vide reference below) gives the details and the trauma they all had to go through.
Thayyil Raman Menon (banished) and Ezhumavil Vasudevan Bhattathiri were never seen after they left the place. Thaathri was taken by a Muslim to his house in Vadanappally but did not live too long. Her daughter was married into a Chakiar family and the eldest son married the niece of Chachu Chakiar of Irinjalakuda. The next one became a car driver in the Royal family of Kochi and the fourth died young
(A Voluntary and Non-profit-oriented forum for documenting Namboothiri traditions in web)
Three known cases of caste inquisition ("Smaartha Vichaaram") and consequent excommunication or ostracism ("Bhrashtu") are briefly presented here. All the three were during the first two decades of the twentieth century, 1903, 1905 and 1918.1.The first Case (1903):
A widowed "Antharjanam" of an Illam near Kunnamkulam was suspected of sexual misconduct. During the "Smaartha Vichaaram" she confessed to have had illicit relations with 15 persons of various communities from Namboothiri to a barber. The verdict resulted in excommunication of all the 15 and the Antharjanam herself.
One of the victims is said to have been Melakkath Gopala Menon, a judicial officer in Thrissur, who had married Meenakshi Amma of Vattaparambil Nair family of Irinjalakuda. He left his family, went to Palakkad where he married a lower caste woman and together left for Sri Lanka. When he died after two sons were born, his widow returned to Tamil Nadu with her children. One of the boys later became a famous film actor, a political leader and top administrator.
2.Kuriyedath Thaathri (1905):
This most sensational Smaartha Vichaaram involved Savithry (Thaathri) the wife of Chemmanthatta Kuriyedathu Raman Namboodiri, and daughter of Kalpakasseri Ashtamoorthi Namboodiri of Mukundapuram Taluk. It resulted in the excommunication of all the 64 persons and Thaathri herself. Another two ("Ambalavaasis") had died and hence not proceeded against.
The final round of the seven-month long inquiry by Smaarthan Pattachomayarath Jathavedan Namboodiri, the Meemaamsakans and others concerned lasted for about a month from mid-June to mid-July. It turned out to be a sensational case for several reasons. The sheer number of persons involved was amazingly high. Some of them were respectable high-class Namboothiris from aristocratic families. Also, this Thaathri could reel out with utmost confidence, the names of the people and detailed description of the events, including identification marks on the body and identification of persons from group parades.
The verdict was pronounced on the night of July 13, 1905, indicting all the accused and of course Thaathri. They included 30 Namboothiris, 10 Iyers (Pattars or Tamil Brahmanans), 13 Ambalavaasis and 11 Nairs. Thaathri was sent to Chalakudy and settled as an intern in a riverside home, under tight security. The 64 victims left their homes humiliated, some living on bare subsistence allowance and some, begging.
It is possible that Thaathri was a victim of circumstances, who later turned a revengeful victimiser, on an avenging spree for some wrong done to her earlier. Otherwise she would not have had the courage to tackle and denigrate so many persons, some of whom were of high social status.
The relevant records kept in the Central Archives in Ernakulam contain the names of all the 66 males indicted in that case, listed and certified by Smaarthan Pattachomayarath Jathavedan Namboodiri dated Mithunam 32, 1080 ME (mid-July, 1905).
3.The Last Case (1918):
The last known case of Smaartha Vichaaram and Bhrashtu involved another Savithri, also called Thaathri, originally of Pazhur Paduthol Illam and married to Elampankodath Aadhyan Vishnu Thraathan Namboodiri of Tripunithura, as his third wife. The victims who were ostracised in this case were Thaathri herself and her four children, Thayyil Raman Menon who was banished from the State (Kochi), Ezhumavil Vasudevan Bhattathiri and Nedumparambil Cheriya Krishnan Namboodiri and his four children, 12 persons in all.
In the case of the last mentioned, (viz, Krishnan Namboodiri) after "Upanayanam", as a "Brahmachaari", he was sent at the age of seven to this Elampankodath Illam to learn Rigvedam under this Thaathri's husband. Several years after he left, the Guru died leaving Thaathri a widow and with four children. She was exceptionally beautiful and charming, but lecherous. Her step-son went and informed the Maharaja of Kochi, Sri Rama Varma, who promptly had a Smaartha Vichaaram conducted by a group led by the same Smaarthan, Pattachomayarath Jathavedan Namboodiri and with two Meemaamsakans, one being Thottakat Kunjan Othikkan, and others. She confessed to have had illicit relations with the other two and in a way implicated also the young boy of earlier times.
Upon hearing the verdict, Nedumparambil Cheriya Krishnan Namboodiri committed suicide by hanging himself. The four children were notionally attached to one Ayiniyil Muringoth Chakiar family and were given new names too. One of them, A M N Chakiar who was 11 years then, grew up to become a brilliant administrator and retired as the Registrar of the University of Kerala, and is now (year 2000) in his nineties. His recent book, "The Last Caste Inquisition" (vide reference below) gives the details and the trauma they all had to go through.
Thayyil Raman Menon (banished) and Ezhumavil Vasudevan Bhattathiri were never seen after they left the place. Thaathri was taken by a Muslim to his house in Vadanappally but did not live too long. Her daughter was married into a Chakiar family and the eldest son married the niece of Chachu Chakiar of Irinjalakuda. The next one became a car driver in the Royal family of Kochi and the fourth died young.
A widowed "Antharjanam" of an Illam near Kunnamkulam was suspected of sexual misconduct. During the "Smaartha Vichaaram" she confessed to have had illicit relations with 15 persons of various communities from Namboothiri to a barber. The verdict resulted in excommunication of all the 15 and the Antharjanam herself.
One of the victims is said to have been Melakkath Gopala Menon, a judicial officer in Thrissur, who had married Meenakshi Amma of Vattaparambil Nair family of Irinjalakuda. He left his family, went to Palakkad where he married a lower caste woman and together left for Sri Lanka. When he died after two sons were born, his widow returned to Tamil Nadu with her children. One of the boys later became a famous film actor, a political leader and top administrator.
2.Kuriyedath Thaathri (1905):
This most sensational Smaartha Vichaaram involved Savithry (Thaathri) the wife of Chemmanthatta Kuriyedathu Raman Namboodiri, and daughter of Kalpakasseri Ashtamoorthi Namboodiri of Mukundapuram Taluk. It resulted in the excommunication of all the 64 persons and Thaathri herself. Another two ("Ambalavaasis") had died and hence not proceeded against.
The final round of the seven-month long inquiry by Smaarthan Pattachomayarath Jathavedan Namboodiri, the Meemaamsakans and others concerned lasted for about a month from mid-June to mid-July. It turned out to be a sensational case for several reasons. The sheer number of persons involved was amazingly high. Some of them were respectable high-class Namboothiris from aristocratic families. Also, this Thaathri could reel out with utmost confidence, the names of the people and detailed description of the events, including identification marks on the body and identification of persons from group parades.
The verdict was pronounced on the night of July 13, 1905, indicting all the accused and of course Thaathri. They included 30 Namboothiris, 10 Iyers (Pattars or Tamil Brahmanans), 13 Ambalavaasis and 11 Nairs. Thaathri was sent to Chalakudy and settled as an intern in a riverside home, under tight security. The 64 victims left their homes humiliated, some living on bare subsistence allowance and some, begging.
It is possible that Thaathri was a victim of circumstances, who later turned a revengeful victimiser, on an avenging spree for some wrong done to her earlier. Otherwise she would not have had the courage to tackle and denigrate so many persons, some of whom were of high social status.
The relevant records kept in the Central Archives in Ernakulam contain the names of all the 66 males indicted in that case, listed and certified by Smaarthan Pattachomayarath Jathavedan Namboodiri dated Mithunam 32, 1080 ME (mid-July, 1905).
3.The Last Case (1918):
The last known case of Smaartha Vichaaram and Bhrashtu involved another Savithri, also called Thaathri, originally of Pazhur Paduthol Illam and married to Elampankodath Aadhyan Vishnu Thraathan Namboodiri of Tripunithura, as his third wife. The victims who were ostracised in this case were Thaathri herself and her four children, Thayyil Raman Menon who was banished from the State (Kochi), Ezhumavil Vasudevan Bhattathiri and Nedumparambil Cheriya Krishnan Namboodiri and his four children, 12 persons in all.
In the case of the last mentioned, (viz, Krishnan Namboodiri) after "Upanayanam", as a "Brahmachaari", he was sent at the age of seven to this Elampankodath Illam to learn Rigvedam under this Thaathri's husband. Several years after he left, the Guru died leaving Thaathri a widow and with four children. She was exceptionally beautiful and charming, but lecherous. Her step-son went and informed the Maharaja of Kochi, Sri Rama Varma, who promptly had a Smaartha Vichaaram conducted by a group led by the same Smaarthan, Pattachomayarath Jathavedan Namboodiri and with two Meemaamsakans, one being Thottakat Kunjan Othikkan, and others. She confessed to have had illicit relations with the other two and in a way implicated also the young boy of earlier times.
Upon hearing the verdict, Nedumparambil Cheriya Krishnan Namboodiri committed suicide by hanging himself. The four children were notionally attached to one Ayiniyil Muringoth Chakiar family and were given new names too. One of them, A M N Chakiar who was 11 years then, grew up to become a brilliant administrator and retired as the Registrar of the University of Kerala, and is now (year 2000) in his nineties. His recent book, "The Last Caste Inquisition" (vide reference below) gives the details and the trauma they all had to go through.
Thayyil Raman Menon (banished) and Ezhumavil Vasudevan Bhattathiri were never seen after they left the place. Thaathri was taken by a Muslim to his house in Vadanappally but did not live too long. Her daughter was married into a Chakiar family and the eldest son married the niece of Chachu Chakiar of Irinjalakuda. The next one became a car driver in the Royal family of Kochi and the fourth died young.
I began seeing the picture of MGR's mother,Satyabhama,somewhere around 1972,when MGR started writing his autobiography,in the Tamil weekly Ananda Vikatan.Her image and the stories of the family's poverty were an integral part of the pages of the magazine,and,I never saw an image of his father,Melakkath Gopala Menon.I never expected to see it for two reasons:Menon was ostracized by the society,by a caste inquisition.Hence,his first wife's descendants might not be keen to publish it.Secondly,MGR never liked his father's first family.But there is one picture,for posterity.
 |
| MGR's Father,Gopala Menon |
Palakad Nallepully Melakath Gopala Menon was a Court official at Thrissur,when he was implicated in an adultery case with a Nambudiri widow.I had interviewed a victim of the last caste inquisition(Smartha Vicharam),A M N Chakyar in 1999,and he had told me that Menon was not a victim of the sensational trial of Kuriyedathu Thatri,in 1905,but of the first trial of the century,in 1903.It is described very briefly,in his book,Avasanathe Smartha Vicharam(The Last Caste Inquisition).I quote:
There is an interesting story in circulation,related to the Kuriyedathu Thatri incident.Among the people ostracized,there was a law officer of Thrissur,who was married;he left the place,married a lower caste woman from Palakad.They migrated to Ceylon, lived there for some time and he died after two sons were born.The insecure widow came back to Tamil Nadu,became a maid servant in several towns,to look after the children.One of the children became a very reputed film actor,a politician and a top administrator.
Chakyar adds:Everything in the story is true,except the reference to Thatri.The names and details of the 66 adulterers in the Thatri incident are there in the archival records at Ernakulam,signed by SmarthanPattachomayarath Jathavedan Nambudiri,on 1080 Mithunam 32(1905 July 15),but there is no name with the caste, Menon.It has been gathered from reliable sources that the Menon in reference,is Melakath Gopala Menon.He had married Meenakshi Amma of Vattaparambil Nair family,Irinjalakuda.They had two daughters.He was punished in another caste trial and had to flee the place,and leave the family.The rest of his story,begins at Palakad.He might have been ostracized in the 1903 inquisition,conducted at an Illam,near Kunnamkulam.It was a mix up of two trials that happened within few years,and his name got included in the notorious one.
In the 1903 trial,the widowed Antharjanam confessed to having slept with 15 men,from Nambudiri,to Barber.The 15 and the widow,were excommunicated.The incident has been reported in the Malayala Manorama of June 27,1903,but the place name in it is,Kunnamkulangara.The report records that the trial was conducted at Tripunithura and she was accompanied to Chalakudi by soldiers,and was interned there.It laments that none of the 16 were allowed to put forward their arguments.
Here is the report:
The King of Cochin got a report to the effect that a widowed Antharjanam,close to Kunnamkulangara,in Cochin state,had a defect of prostitution, she was summoned to Tripunithura,and was put to trial,by priests,under the supervision of the King.In the trial,it was proved the allegations were true,and she was excommunicated by clapping,and then accompanied by soldiers to an uninhabited home on the bank of the Chalakudi river,where it was certain,she would live isolated,at the expense of the Government.Since it has been proved by this cargo(Sadhanam-term for the woman under trial),by her own admission and the trial of the priests,no one would be there to grieve on her life imprisonment. She has confessed to having relations between 10-16 males,and accordingly,the 16 have been excommunicated and have been banned from entering the temples and temple ponds,by the King,by orders to the Peshkar.In this case too,the arguments of the two sides have not been heard into,following,precedence.Everyone has the impression that this is sad and sans justification.This lecherous cargo may have implicated a few gentlemen out of vengeance,or by prodding.Among the 16 who have been excommunicated,there are people from Nambudiris to barbers.There are a lot of gentlemen,people who are married,and few government servants.It is impossible to redeem them from the punishment,by someone else,or an apology.Since the decision is for them to stay away from the wife and children,and the Hindu society,no need to say,the decision is arbitrary.
As a Journalist,I salute the democratic values,followed by the then King of Cochin,Rajarshi Rama Varma.A news paper was free to criticize the King,in 1903.Today,unfortunately,while I write this,Journalists are silenced by bullets,by Muslim fundamentalists,in France and Germany.
Here is the report:
The King of Cochin got a report to the effect that a widowed Antharjanam,close to Kunnamkulangara,in Cochin state,had a defect of prostitution, she was summoned to Tripunithura,and was put to trial,by priests,under the supervision of the King.In the trial,it was proved the allegations were true,and she was excommunicated by clapping,and then accompanied by soldiers to an uninhabited home on the bank of the Chalakudi river,where it was certain,she would live isolated,at the expense of the Government.Since it has been proved by this cargo(Sadhanam-term for the woman under trial),by her own admission and the trial of the priests,no one would be there to grieve on her life imprisonment. She has confessed to having relations between 10-16 males,and accordingly,the 16 have been excommunicated and have been banned from entering the temples and temple ponds,by the King,by orders to the Peshkar.In this case too,the arguments of the two sides have not been heard into,following,precedence.Everyone has the impression that this is sad and sans justification.This lecherous cargo may have implicated a few gentlemen out of vengeance,or by prodding.Among the 16 who have been excommunicated,there are people from Nambudiris to barbers.There are a lot of gentlemen,people who are married,and few government servants.It is impossible to redeem them from the punishment,by someone else,or an apology.Since the decision is for them to stay away from the wife and children,and the Hindu society,no need to say,the decision is arbitrary.
As a Journalist,I salute the democratic values,followed by the then King of Cochin,Rajarshi Rama Varma.A news paper was free to criticize the King,in 1903.Today,unfortunately,while I write this,Journalists are silenced by bullets,by Muslim fundamentalists,in France and Germany.
 |
| Rajarshi Rama Varma |
Smartha Vicharam was a ritualistic trial of a Nambudiri woman and fellow male adulterers,accused of illegitimate sexual relations.The accused were,excommunicated,ostracized and banished.
 |
| MGR's First Wife at 8 |
The banished Gopala Menon,married Satyabhama,of Maruthur,an Ezhava family of Vadavannur, 15 Kilometers from Palakad,in Chitur Thaluk. They migrated to Ceylon,where,both worked as laborers in tea plantation.Erik Barnouw,who was Professor Emeritus of Dramatic Arts at Columbia University, interviewed MGR in 1961,and recorded in his book,Media Marathon that Menon was a School Principal and he died when MGR was just two.Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran(1917-1987),was born in a squalid tea estate 'line room',in Nawalapitiya,38 Kilometers away from Kandy and 112 kilometers from Colombo.If Menon was a Principal(quite unlikely)it would have been an elementary School for the Indian laborers in the tea estates.Nawalapitiya is primarily a tea plantation area,with no great school to boast of.The story that Menon had been a Magistrate in Candy,too is a fiction.M G Chakrapani was the eldest and MGR the younger,with a girl child in between.The girl child died soon after the death of Menon.The child MGR was a devotee of Murugan,whereas his mother,of Guruvayoorappan.She used to call MGR, Mudikalan,meaning,the hairy little demon!
 |
| V N Janaki |
With the chief bread winner gone,Satyabhama,with her two sons,returned to India.I have read in a Tamil magazine that first they came to Kerala,sought the help of Menon's first wife,Meenakshi and her family,who drove them away.I have also read,Meenakshi Amma then had two daughters,Kanaka Lakshmi and Sumitra,and a son,Balakrishnan.But,now it appears that she had a daughter,Ammu and a son.Ammu is a nick name.Vattaparambil Meenakshi was the daughter of Parameswara Menon and Pappi Amma,and they had 11 children.The first five among them,are,Kochukutty Amma,Narayana Menon,Parameswara Menon(?),Karunakara Menon,and Kalyanikutty Amma.
 |
| Sheela |
It is said, the poverty stricken Satyabhama went with her children to Burma, came back to Erode,and settled down in Kumbakonam,with her elder brother's help,during,1919-1920.Chakrapani was 9 and MGR,3.She could not think of sending her children to school,and MGR joined the drama company,Madurai Original Boys Company of S M Sachidanandam Pillai,at age 7,together with his brother."We were given food,clothes and 25 paise a week,which we did not need at all",MGR reminisced years later.He was afflicted with cholera,when he was 10,and with his unemployment and illness,Satyabhama spent her days in penury and prayer.His debut in films was,when he was 19,in Ellis Duncan's Sathi Leelavathi in 1936 and he was an extra in M K Thyagaraja Bhagavathar's 1941 movie,Ashok Kumar.
 |
| Satyabhama |
Tamil politics had been a road block to the Malayali in MGR,forcing him,at times,to claim a Mandradiyar or Mannadiyar ancestry.I quote a moment of MGR speaking to actor,Arurdhas,from,Arurdhas' book,Naan Mugam Partha Cinema Kannadikal(The Cinema Mirrors that I Looked At):
One day in the make up room when we were alone,MGR told the following:"Everyone believe that I am a true Malayali.I'm telling this to you.That's wrong!There isn't anything inferior in identifying oneself a Malayali.But as for me,it is not true.My ancestors belonged to Kongunadu region and were from Mandradiar caste.Their ancestral town was Pollachi.During the period of Hyder Ali,who ruled Mysore,he passed an edict that Hindus should convert themselves as Muslims.Scared by this,many Hindu families turned into Muslims.Those who were not willing to convert,left Pollachi and passed Coimbatore and via Palakad valley,settled in the villages around that region.Among those settled,my father's ancestor was one".
On December 7,1962,there was a switch on function of the power supply facility,enabled to the Maruthamalai Temple by Sando M M A Chinnappa Thevar,MGR's producer.The Minister for Co Operatives,Nalla Senapathi Sarkarai Mandradiar presided over the function,and MGR claimed,he too was a Mandradiar!
After the DMK split,Karunanidhi and Kannadasan were harping on the Malayali ancestry of MGR and he had no choice other than to vehemently deny it,and to speak to his Malayali friends,secretly in Malayalam.
Still there is an attempt among the descendants of Chakrapani to deny MGR's Malayali connection,saying his father was not Melakkath Gopala Menon,but Maruthur Gopalan.Among Nairs,it is the matrilineal system,to use the family name of the mother,for the children.So in MGR's case,the Maruthur is not Menon's family,but mother's family.
Even in the marriage of both MGR and his brother,the Malayali root is visible.MGR married thrice:first wife,Chitarikulam Bhargavi /Thankamani died early;second wife,Sathanandavathi(Ammukutty),daughter of Kuzhalmannam Kadukunni Nair and Mookambika Amma, died of TB.MGR,as Chief Minister,visited Sadananthavathi's home,Chandranantha Nilayam,Kuzhalmannam in 1986.The family had preserved the cot used by MGR in earlier days;he sat on the same cot and cried.He spent money to renovate the home.
MGR,in 1956,eloped with V N Janaki,actress and a Malayali from Vaikam, who later divorced her husband,Ganapathi Bhat,a make up man, to marry MGR.Some relatives of Janaki have married from Vadavannur.Janaki(1923-1996)was the daughter of Rajagopala Iyer,elder brother of Papanasam Sivan,and Narayani Amma of Vaikam.Her brother,P Narayanan was an educationist.MGR in his autobiography,has written that she was earning double her income in the 1940s and '50s.She had a son,Surendran,at age 16,from Bhat.She succeeded MGR as Chief Minister.She always resented Jayalalitha,with whom,MGR was romantically involved.In 1967,when C N Annadurai picked up MGR to contest the assembly elections,MGR asked,how much he should contribute."I don't need money",Anna said,"your face is worth millions".He won the election from hospital bed,because the actor,M R Radha had shot him.
 |
| Sadananthavathi's home in Kuzhalmannam |
MGR,in 1956,eloped with V N Janaki,actress and a Malayali from Vaikam, who later divorced her husband,Ganapathi Bhat,a make up man, to marry MGR.Some relatives of Janaki have married from Vadavannur.Janaki(1923-1996)was the daughter of Rajagopala Iyer,elder brother of Papanasam Sivan,and Narayani Amma of Vaikam.Her brother,P Narayanan was an educationist.MGR in his autobiography,has written that she was earning double her income in the 1940s and '50s.She had a son,Surendran,at age 16,from Bhat.She succeeded MGR as Chief Minister.She always resented Jayalalitha,with whom,MGR was romantically involved.In 1967,when C N Annadurai picked up MGR to contest the assembly elections,MGR asked,how much he should contribute."I don't need money",Anna said,"your face is worth millions".He won the election from hospital bed,because the actor,M R Radha had shot him.
 |
| MGR with Sathanandavathi |
I have always felt that mixing up MGR's father with Thatri,was but natural because,a few artistes were involved in her life:She cherished the famous Kathakali artist,Kavungal Sankara Panikkar sleeping with her in the attire of Keechaka.Other famous Kathakali artists of the time,Katalathu Narayanan Nair,Panankavil Govindan Nambiar and Ranathu Achyutha Poduval had to leave the land and stage.The Kathakali singer,Kunjiraman Nambisan left for Kasi.Thirty years later,in 1935,when Kavungal dressed up to perform,in the silver jubilee celebrations of Palakad Government College,his companions refused to accompany him.Malayalam actress Sheela is Thatri's grand daughter.
In the infamous 1905 trial of Kuriyedathu Thatri,64 males and Thatri were excommunicated.Two,Thonallur Krishna Warrier and Guruvayur Njarakattu Pisharath Achu Pisharodi, had died before the trial.Among the punished,there were 30 Nambudiris,including Desamangalam Vasudevan Nambudiripad(I had spoken about this to AKTKM Guptan Nambudiripad,at Kozhikode,in 1983-he admitted and said it was there in the unpublished family history) and one Kaplingad Bhattathiri, 1o Tamil Brahmins,13 Ambalavasis and 11 Nairs.During the trial,the cash rich Desamangalam Nambudiripad,sent some people to Thatri's place,to silence her.The area was cordoned off,and the attempt boomeranged on him. The King of Cochin,Rajarshi Rama Varma who had permitted the trial,stopped the trial,when she spelt out 65 names,fearing his name would be the next.
He was a gentleman,who abdicated the throne in 1914.He has confessed in his Autobiography that he had a relation ship with a 16 year old married girl,after his first wife died. Thatri was the wife of Chemmanthatta Kuriyedathu Raman Nambudiri and daughter of Chalakudi Kalpakancherry Ashtamurthy Nambudiri.She was 18,when she was married off to a 80 year old Nambudiri.She had been raped,when she was just 10.
 |
| Maruthur house,Vadavannur |
He was a gentleman,who abdicated the throne in 1914.He has confessed in his Autobiography that he had a relation ship with a 16 year old married girl,after his first wife died. Thatri was the wife of Chemmanthatta Kuriyedathu Raman Nambudiri and daughter of Chalakudi Kalpakancherry Ashtamurthy Nambudiri.She was 18,when she was married off to a 80 year old Nambudiri.She had been raped,when she was just 10.
 |
| Chakrapani |
The trial took seven months,in an out house,where the ESI Dispensary operates now,near the Hill Palace,at Tripunithura.Thatri could reel out the names of the males she bedded,with identification marks,and she could identify them,in group parades.She was sent to Chalakudi,interned at a river side home,which was set ablaze by the local people.Desamangalam Nambudiri was invited by Swami Nirmalananda of Ottapalam Sree Ramakrishna Ashram to stay there,and he married a Nair woman.There was great furor after the inquisition,and the King,in consultation with renowned lawyers,changed the system,introducing a hefty deposit from the complainant.There was only one trial after that,in 1918.I had been to Chemmanthatta,near Kunnamkulam once,and saw remnants of her Illam.I rejected an offer by a Nambisan to buy a plot close to it.Even otherwise,Thatri is haunting the Kerala males.I didn't want her to chase me from close quarters!
 |
| Nedumparampu Mana/Tripunithura |
The last inquisition happened very close to my own house in Tripunithura,and I used to walk to my school through the vast compound of Nedumparambu Mana,the victim's home.
The heroine in this incident was also Thatri(Savitri),of Pazhur Paduthol Illam,married to Elampankodath Aadhyan Vishnuthrathan Nambudiri of Tripunithura.She was his third wife.Thatri,her four children,Thayyil Raman Menon,Ezhumavil Vasudevan Bhattathiri and Nedumparambil Cheriya Krishnan Nambudiri and his four children were excommunicated.A M N Chakiar,was one of Krishnan Nambudiri's children,who was a Nambudiri,till he was 11.Krishnan Nambudiri hanged himself same night,and his wife and children were notionally attached to the Ayiniyil Muringoth Chakyar family.Though she had named Krishnan Nambudiri,he had gone to her illam ,when he was just seven,to study Rigveda from her husband.His Guru had even died.Her step son had approached King Rama Varma,against her lecherous activities.
 |
| Sathanandavathi(C.1887-1947) |
Raman Menon and Bhattathiri were never seen after their excommunication.Thatri was taken by a Muslim of Vadanapally,Thrissur.Her daughter was married into a Chakyar family;her eldest son married the niece of the famous Chachu Chakyar of Irinjalakuda.The next son became a car driver to the Royal family and the fourth died young.A M N Chakyar retired as Registrar,Kerala University.
Though the Last Inquisition in Cochin was in 1918,records show that,in Malabar,there was a trial in May-June,1930 at the Appala kothamangalam Illam,Kuruvadissery,Ozhur,Ponnani.There were trials in 1902,1908 and 1914 at Parayath Thekkupram Illam,Sukapuram.Other trials:Ayanamkunnam 1916,Ponnani Irimpiliyam Moothedath 1917,Ponnani Vadakkekad Thekkekat Kolathapally 1917,Mangad Illam 1917(Kavungal Sanku involved),Ponnani Kaladi Peruvur Edamana Veluthedath 1919,Thirunnavaya Padinjarepattu in 1920(name,Kenka),Kookkod Chempakassery 1920,Palakad Thatukassery Pakkath 1922,Keraladhiswarapuram Appala Kothamangalam 1927.
In Travancore,Malayala Manorama of November 16 and 21,1901 reported the trial of a 13 year old girl,of, Kottayam Muttambalam Peringara Illam,at Thrigouthamapuram Vishnu Temple.She was alleged to have a relation ship with Kunjunni Thampan of Koratti Swarupam.When both were excommunicated,she told the Tahsildar that she doesn't need the money of Travancore government for sustenance;she would live with the Thampan.There after,both began living at a rented house called,Puthenpurakkal,at Kodimatha.Thampan got a job at Kottayam Engineer office,at the salary of Rs 12.Her father was generous enough to pay her Rs 25 for the expenses till he gets the first salary.
These records show the zeal of Nambudiri women in chasing their dreams,at regular intervals,there by,challenging the archaic, cruel system and the existing male dominance.But there is a larger question:For MGR,who dabbled with women,on screen and off screen,with his father's DNA, and for Karunanidhi,who married thrice,what was a woman?A cargo?
 |
| MGR/Debut role |
In Travancore,Malayala Manorama of November 16 and 21,1901 reported the trial of a 13 year old girl,of, Kottayam Muttambalam Peringara Illam,at Thrigouthamapuram Vishnu Temple.She was alleged to have a relation ship with Kunjunni Thampan of Koratti Swarupam.When both were excommunicated,she told the Tahsildar that she doesn't need the money of Travancore government for sustenance;she would live with the Thampan.There after,both began living at a rented house called,Puthenpurakkal,at Kodimatha.Thampan got a job at Kottayam Engineer office,at the salary of Rs 12.Her father was generous enough to pay her Rs 25 for the expenses till he gets the first salary.
These records show the zeal of Nambudiri women in chasing their dreams,at regular intervals,there by,challenging the archaic, cruel system and the existing male dominance.But there is a larger question:For MGR,who dabbled with women,on screen and off screen,with his father's DNA, and for Karunanidhi,who married thrice,what was a woman?A cargo?
No comments:
Post a Comment