IndulekhaPerhaps the only novel to have been reprinted nearly every year for over a hundred years, Indulekha (1889) is widely held to be the first Malayalam novel. Often called an 'accidental' and 'flawed' work, at its core lies a love story. The setting of the novel is the Nair community of Kerala, which had for centuries practised polyandrous matriliny, a most unusual form of inheritance through the woman whom both property and authority flavoured. It gives us glimpses of prevalent social practices much debated amongst a people already under colonial pressure to change their ways of life. Written by a Nair, Indulekha is not a grandiose outpouring but the author's effort to achieve certain social goals: firstly, to create a novel much like those of the English authors he had read, and secondly, to illustrate Nair society at that time, both of which met with success. The novel influenced the deliberations of the Malabar Marriage Commission which it predated, and of which Chandum enon was a member. This novel will appeal to general readers interested in Indian writings in translation. Students of literature, history and culture, political and legal theory, and gender studies, will also find it useful. |
Contents
An Angry Mans Oath | 30 |
Panchumenons Anger | 40 |
Panchumenons Anxiety | 50 |
Copyright | |
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Ammu bath house beautiful believe betel Brahmins called caste ceremony Chambazhiyot Chandumenon CHATHARAMENON Cherusseri CHERUSSERINAMBUTHIRI Congress custom decided desire doubt English education everything father feel felt girl gold Gopalan Gopinath Banerjee Govindan Govindankutty GOVINDANKUTTYMENON GOVINDAPANIKKAR happen happy heard Hindus husband immediately India Indulekha intelligent Kalyanikutty karanavan Karuthedam kathakali Keralam Kesabchandra KESAVANNAMBUTHIRI komatti KUNJIKUTTYAMMA Lakshmikutty LAKSHMIKUTTYAMMA laughed leave legislation letter look Madhavan Madras Malabar Malayalam Malayali malika marriage Marumakkathayam matter meal Moorkillatha mother Nair women Nambuthiri NAMBUTHIRIPAD novel opinion palanquin PANCHUMENON PARVATHIAMMA PATTAR person podamuri polyandry Poovally Poovarangu reason sambandam Sanskrit sayiv SHANKARAMENON Shankarashastrikal Shastrikal SHER ALI KHAN Shinnan Shinupattar Shiva sleep sloka sorrow speak STATIONMASTER stood story stupid talk taravad telegram tell temple THASSANMENON things thought told tomorrow translation upstairs wife woman words write