Many first generation Malayali feminists remained invisible because they were overshadowed by their male relatives who had easy access to public life, but K R Narayani Amma was overshadowed by her famous sister, the formidable K R Gouri Amma, the stellar communist and public figure whose presence filled the history of twentieth century politics in Kerala. Here is a short essay on her by M A Anooj, which throws light on this remarkable woman from the early twentieth century:
Continue reading “K R Narayani Amma: A Forgotten Pioneer”Tag: K R Gouri
Communistkaary Without Membership: Howlath Beevi
[This is a translation of the autobiographical essay on the life of Howlath Beevi, a communist activist whose political life spans the decades from the 1950s to the present titled ‘Membershippillaatha Communistukaari’ in Alosyius D Fernandes and D M Scaria, Urumbettavar: Poraattangalile Sthreejeevitam, Alappuzha: Janajagrthi Publications, 2011, pp. 7-16. Howlath Beevi was a close aide of the legendary K R Gouri and followed her when she exited the CPM to form her own party.
Continue reading “Communistkaary Without Membership: Howlath Beevi”Cabaret Dancing and the Malayali Feminists’ Moral Burden – K R Gouri Amma from the 1970s
[On 27 February 1974, K R Gouri Amma called for attention under Rule 16 in the Kerala State Legislative Assembly, drawing attention to the ‘menace’ of ‘naked dancing’ in Kerala. The translated version of her speech is below. It was perhaps one of the few matters on which the right and left, men and women who claimed to be decent, were all in public agreement – ‘naked dancing’ lowers the moral standards of a culture. This page from the records of the Kerala State Legislative Assembly does not give us any clue of who these ‘naked dancers’ were – they seem to have been a group of women with a male manager. They had actually secured permission from the local government authorities for their performances.
Continue reading “Cabaret Dancing and the Malayali Feminists’ Moral Burden – K R Gouri Amma from the 1970s”Training Midwives: K R Gouri Amma
[Proceedings of the Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly, 3rd Session, 1952, pp. ]
Discussion on the Travancore-Cochin Nurses and Midwives Bill 1952 Continue reading “Training Midwives: K R Gouri Amma”
Swatantryavaadini 