Kollam:KSLMA heralds new renaissance of women

Kollam: As the issue of women entry in Sabarimala has kindled heated debates on gender equality, the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority has published a booklet on 'Women in Renaissance Movement'.

The book intends to impart awareness on the equal role led by women in the history of social evolution of Kerala.

The book contains brief descriptions on the major events involving women which shaped the renaissance movement of the State.

 The book opens with the Channar Revolt also called 'Maru Marakkal Samaram' - the fight from 1813 to 1859 of Nadar women in the erstwhile Travancore kingdom for the right to wear upper-body clothes to cover their breasts - terming it as the first protest by women vanguards in the history of Kerala.

The book has description and caricatures on various topics including social evils like slave trade, thirandu kalyanam, puli kudi, and kettu kalyanam against which the women led successful rebellions along with other historical movements that uphold the rights of women.

"The Mission expects the move to mark the beginning of a new renaissance in the wake of Sabarimala issue in which women entry is opposed by a section of people in the society in the name of safeguarding rituals and tradition," Literacy Mission Director Dr. P.S. Sreekala said.

The 24-page booklet is part of the Mission's social literacy programme.

 The Instructors and Preraks of various projects undertaken by the Mission will be given orientation on the book followed by classes for candidates registered for equivalency courses with the Mission.

Classes based on the book will be organised later for the public by lining up literacy workers under the Mission.