Voices from the Margins: Nangeli and the Struggle Against Casteist and Patriarchal Norms

A blog by Surya V S, GHRH Young Expert

We often view history as a narrative shaped and told by the privileged, particularly by the knowledge-producing class. In countries like India, where history is often written and analyzed by wealthier sections of society–those who hold socio-cultural capital, mobility, and educational resources—the perspectives of the marginalized are frequently overlooked. In the contemporary period, the voices of the oppressed are increasingly diminished, and the stories of the marginalized fade further into obscurity as time progresses. 

India, known to be a culturally diverse land of the globe also deals with multifaceted problems associated with complex societal dynamics- including caste, class, gender, ethnicity. It was only in the 19th and the 20th century, when the resistance and anti caste movements started to echo. One among them is the greatest, yet forgotten woman ‘Nangeli’ who showed not only individual resistance but fought for a structural change in the casteist gendered society in Kerala in the 19th century. This blog talks about the representation and perspectives of Nangli and the community she comes from. 

Kerala, is a southern state in India; also known as god’s own country. Historically speaking, the same land had pursued a rigid caste system, similar to the rest of India. The complexity of the Indian Caste hierarchy has birthed an unchangeable inequality based on birth and profession. Especially for women- the caste system intensifies their obligations and barriers and dictates their life. The upper caste hindus kept the 

lower caste isolated in educational, social, economic and political spheres. The already ascribed status of the backward castes prevented people from getting educated and their upward mobility. The oppression was multifaceted for women. Lower caste women were denied to cover their breasts. They were forced to pay a tax called “Mulakkaram” on their breasts if they desired to cover their breasts with an upper cloth. The purpose of the breast-tax was to maintain the caste structure. The story of Nangli, who belonged from the ‘Ezhava’ community voices against the infamous imposed tax. Refusing to pay the tax, she chopped off her breasts, revolted against the harassment by the pravathiyar (village officer) who came to her home to survey her breasts and collect the breast tax. 

It was not just a revolt against harassment but also an act of defiance. Instead of giving in to the state’s demands, she stood against the very oppressive structure of the then society. Her act of resistance gave birth to Channar Lahala, a revolt led by women a decade later who fought for the right to wear upper-body garments, facing fierce opposition from upper-caste elites. In Nangeli’s day, no woman thought her virtue depended on whether or not she covered her breasts. In a way Nangeli uses her body to revolt against the atrocities of the state and the upper caste men. 

Her sacrifice was a revolutionary act as it not only challenged the system of levying tax on breasts but was also seen as her revolution against the caste system that further divided men and women. She challenged the patriarchal ideology that hitherto shaped the dominant norms, upper caste men dictating lives of women. She was a heroine of all who were poor and weak. 

After her death, the breast tax system was supposedly annulled in Travancore, soon afterwards and the place she lived had come to be known as Mulachiparambu (meaning land of the breasted woman). In today’s world, Nangeli’s historic contribution to social justice is still not known and largely forgotten. In

Cherthala, where she lived and died, few remember her name. However, her legacy lives on in the stories passed down by her community. Her brave act of defiance and resistance continues to build resilience for the marginalised women and communities to fight the struggle for dignity and equality. 

References 

Sundararajan, A. (2020). Nangeli: A radical act of defiance against oppression. Shanlax International Journal of English, 8(4), 54–59. 

https://shanlaxjournals.in/journals/index.php/english/article/view/4037/3062 

hooks, b. (2017). Nangeli: The forgotten Dalit woman who stood up against Travancore's breast tax. bell hooks books. 

https://bellhooksbooks.com/articles/nangeli-the-forgotten-dalit-woman-who-stood-up-against-travancores -breast-tax/ 

Raj, S. (2021, March 15). The legend of Nangeli. Open Magazine. 

https://openthemagazines.com/cover-story/the-legend-of-nangeli/ 

Raghavan, S. (2023, April 20). Reimagining history: Politics, representation, and memory. Economic and Political Weekly. https://www.epw.in/engage/article/reimagining-history-politics-representation 

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, December 6). Nangeli. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nangeli#:~:text=The%20fictional%20story%20of%20Nangeli,against%20a %20tax%20on%20breast.