Dr. MUTHULAKSHMI REDDI: SOCIAL REFORM AND WOMEN’S UPLIFTMENT-A STUDY Thesis submitted to BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY, TIRUCHIRAPPALLI in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN HISTORY Submitted by G. GOWRI, MA., Guide & Supervisor Dr. N. RAJENDRAN DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY TIRUCHIRAPPALLI -620024 JUNE-2011 Dr. N.RAJENDRAN, MA., MPhil, PhD., Professor & Head DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY BHARATHIDASAN UNIVERSITY TIRUCHIRAPPALLI -620024 CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the Ph.D. thesis entitled “Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddi: Social Reform and Women’s Upliftment –A Study” is a Bona Fide record of the research work carried out by G. GOWRI under my guidance and supervision for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History in the Department of History, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli during the period 2006-2011 and that the thesis has not previously formed the basis for the award of any Degree, Diploma, Associateship, Fellowship or other similar title anywhere and this thesis is an original and independent work of the candidate. (Dr. N. RAJENDRAN) Supervisor DECLARATION I hereby declare that the thesis entitled “Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddi: Social Reform and Women’s Upliftment –A Study” submitted to the Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History is a record of original and independent research work done by the undersigned, during the period 2006-2011, under the supervision and guidance of Dr. N. Rajendran, Professor & Head, Department of History, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli and that it has not previously formed the basis for the award of any Degree, Diploma, Associateship, Fellowship or other similar titles. (G. GOWRI) CONTENTS Page No. CHAPTERS Preface Introduction 1 I Early Life 12 II Women’s Movement 29 III Social Reform 58 IV Political Life 92 V Crusade Against Social Evils 127 VI Health and Medical Services 151 Conclusion 180 Bibliography 190 Appendix 214 PREFACE The present thesis entitled, “Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddi: Social Reform and Women’s Upliftment –A Study” is the result of the research work carried out by me for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History, under the scholarly guidance and supervision of Dr. N. Rajendran, Professor&Head, Department of History, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli. I am greatly indebted to my supervisor, Dr. N. Rajendran for his valuable guidance, suggestions, criticism, advice and encouragement that enabled me to complete this research project. I express my thanks to the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, for permitting me to do Ph.D. in the Department of History. My thanks are due to the teaching faculty of the Department of History, Bharathidasan University for their constant support in the course of my work. The theme of this thesis required extensive research in archives and this would not have been possible without the generous financial assistance from the Bharathidasan University and the Indian Council of Historical Research. I would like to thank them. I am thankful to the librarian and staff members of Tamil Nadu State Archives of Historical Research Centre, Bharathidasan University Library, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Theosophical Society, Adyar Cancer Institute and Avvai Home for providing me the necessary records and documents. I am glad to offer my sincere thanks to Dr. J.Gayathri, Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli and Dr. J. Sathya, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Sri Sarada Arts and Science College for Women, Salem, Ms. M.Nageswari, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Seethalakshmi Ramasami College, Tiruchirappalli, Dr.Swaminathan, Assistant Professor, Department of History, Thiruvalluvar Government Arts College, Rasipuram and C.RamaLakshmi, Research Scholar, Department of English, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli. I would like to thank my friends, Mrs. Bhararthi Loganathan, S. Ravichandran, for helping me to complete this work. I place on record my sincere thanks to Professor Mohan Gnana Oliyu for improving the quality of the presentation through his proof-reading and quality- enhancing interventions. I whole heartedly thank my Co-Research Scholars, students and my father, K. Govindasamy, mother, G. Poornam, sister, G. Ganga and brother, G.Chandrasekar for their constant encouragement in completing my work. (G. GOWRI) Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddi (1886 – 1968) 1 INTRODUCTION ‘We must think positively about how the position of women in their own societies and in international affairs could not only be improved but their large potential contribution be better utilized for the benefit of all.’1 - Kurt Waldheim, Secretary General, United Nations, 1975. Dr. Muthulakshmi was chosen as the topic for research by the Scholar because she represents a fascinating facet of the Women’s Movement in Tamil Nadu. She represents the Women’s Movement in its formative stage in Tamil Nadu. She was particularly interested in transforming Woman into a Political Subject and hence she foregrounded the importance of Women Education to facilitate her entry into the political process of the day. A keep into the history of the human race reveals that there were distinct stages of rise and fall in the status of women affecting their role in all matters.2 Child Marriage, Sati, Polygamy, Prohibition against Widow’s Remarriage, Lack of Franchise, Purdha and a host of other abominable rites and ceremonies plagued the society for ages and led to 1 Sharma and B.D. Bhatt, Women’s Education and Social Development (Delhi: Kanishka Publishing House, 1992) p.1. 2 Yosoda Bhatt, Beyond the Threshold: Indian Women on the Move (New Delhi: B.R. Publishing Corporation, 1995) p.38. 2 the reduction of women to the position Subordinate Citizens. The women sank to the bottom of degradation and slavery under male domination, ruled as they were, by their husbands, elders and in laws with an iron hand. Due to denial of education, vocation, social, economic and political rights, women were wholly pushed into seclusion inside the four walls of the house. The great pioneer, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, for the first time, came out in 1818 against the savage customs of Sati and Polygamy by highlighting the degeneration of Indian Society which was responsible for the pitiable plight of women and pleaded for their property rights. His mobilization of Hindu Reformist Opinion against Sati led to the enactment of a Law in 1829, which banned this inhuman custom and subsequently led to the Widow Remarriage Act of 1856. Attempts at more reforms continued.3 As early as 1903, Women Social Reformers started their campaign against Child Marriage and tried to fix the minimum age limit at 12 years for girls and 18 for boys. In 1909, these were raised to 16 and 25 respectively. There was vigorous agitation all over India against raising the age limits for marriage. But the British Government was hesitant and the evil of Early Marriage persisted all over the country, which was responsible to a great extent for the high rate of death among girls. For instance, a cruel tragedy took place in Madras in 1926 due to Child Marriage. The age of the girl was 13 years and that of 3 M.S. Gill, Great Women Of the World (New Delhi: Sarup & Sons, 2004) p.27. 3 the husband was 25 years. The wife met with a premature death4 because she was not old enough to go through the experience of consummation. The impact of Higher Education prompted women to realize the importance of improving their privileges and status. The status of women in any country depends upon their ability to earn their position in the society. The first condition for acquiring this ability is the attainment of education and knowledge adequate for establishing their status, whether at home or society as a whole.5The Nineteenth Century witnessed tremendous changes in the social outlook. The Reformist realized the need for improving the women’s status and consequently the importance of women’s education as an essential instrument to bring about such improvements.6 Madras was one of the progressive provinces which was the home of the great Reddi, a well – known and successful Medical Practitioner, a pioneer and fighter for the cause of women and children. She was widely respected as a devoted social worker. Under her leadership, the women of the Province, who were advanced in education, took an active part in public life.7 Another woman of the Madras Presidency was Sister Subbalakshmi Ammal, born in Thanjavur. She was studious in her childhood. She got married when she was eleven years old. She was known for her forward thinking and enlightened outlook and 4 R.K. Tandon, State of Women in India (New Delhi: Indian Publishers Distributors, 1998) pp.156- 157. 5 Nitin Dosi, Towards Empowerment of Women (New Delhi: Cyber Tech Publications 2007) p. 184. 6Nirmala Jeyaraj, ed., Women and Society (Madurai: Lady Doak College, 2001) p. 362. 7Ashine Roy, Development of Women (New Delhi: Rajat Publications, 2003) pp.205-206. 4 unfortunately she became a Child Widow. Widow’s conditions were very pitiable at that time .Then her parents decided to send her to school. Their community reacted so violently that Subramania Iyyer, Subalakshmi’s father, decided to move to Madras where he taught his daughter English at home and then sent her to a Convent School. She completed her Matriculation and enrolled herself in the Presidency College, Madras. As the first Hindu widow in Madras to study for B.A, she was threatened with excommunication, harassed in streets and ostracized in the class room. She completed her degree in 1911.8Afterwards she worked as a teacher9 and became a Social Reformer for Widows Emancipation. It was against this background of social changes, Muthulakshmi was born to a Brahmin father and Devadasi mother in 1886. She was the First Woman Medical Graduate from the Madras Presidency.