Question

With reference to caste system in Kerala, consider the following statements: Which of the statement/statements is/are correct?

1. 'Mannappedi' and 'Pulappedi' were abolished by Sri Kerala Varma of Venad by issuing an order
2. 'Sankara Smriti' is a text dealing with caste rules and practices.
3. 'Channar' agitation was a caste movement

• A. i only
• B. All of these
• C. iii only
• D. None of these

Answer 1

Answer:

B. All of these

Mannapedi and Pulapedi

• These were customs by which men of the Pulaya and Mannan castes could ‘pollute’ women of higher castes(like Nairs), and make them their own.
• If a man of a lower caste touch or throw something(like a stone or a stick) at a woman of higher birth, she would be declared as defiled.
• Then the women is  The man who polluted the woman would become her 'owner'.
• Hence the upper caste women were ritually prohibited from going out in public since if they happened to be caught, they were immediately declared outcastes
• The ritual was observed every year, on a particular day, during the month of Karkidaka
• It was abolished in Travancore by an edict in 1696, issued by the Venad King
  Unni Kerala Varma, who was also known as Kottayam Kerala Varma.
• The edict of 1696 inflicted severe punishments on those who violated the edict

Sankara Smriti

• Sankara Smriti  is a 14th century text dealing with the social religion and cultural customs peculiar to Kerala.
• It is also known as ''Laghudharmaprakasika
• In 12 chapters it defines extraordinary customs peculiar to Kerala 
• The text contains 1376 stanzas

Channar Revolts

• Channar Revolts, also called 'Maru Marakkal Samaram' was the series of revolts from 1813 to 1859 happened in Travancore
• It was the protest of Channar women in the Travancore kingdom for the right to wear upper-body clothes to cover their breasts.
• Upper-caste women are only allowed to cover their upper body with a piece of material known as the ;Melmundu;
• Lower-caste women who wore clothes that covered ther upper body with a piece of material known as the ;Melmundu; had to pay a punitive breast tax to the state.
• Uneasy with their social status, a large number of Channars embraced Christianity and started to wear 'upper cloths'
• In 1813, Col. Munro, British dewan in the Travancore court, issued an order granting permission to women converted to Christianity to wear upper cloth.
• The order was withdrawn when upper-caste people complained about this.
• The women continued the fight for the right to wear upper cloth.
• This led to increasing violence in the 1820s against Channar women, and also the burning of schools and churches.
• On 26 July 1859, under pressure from Charles Trevelyan, the Madras Governor, the king of Travancore issued a proclamation giving the right for all Channar women to cover their breasts.
• Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma was the king of Travancore at that time.