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200 years of Thol Seelai Porattam
March 10 , 2023
499 days
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- Tamil Nadu and Kerala Chief Ministers came together in Kanyakumari’s Nagercoil on March 6, to commemorate 200 years of the Thol Seelai Porattam or Maaru Marakkal Samaram.
- It is a decades-old struggle by women of the oppressed castes in erstwhile Travancore to cover their upper bodies.
- Travancore was comprised parts of present-day south Kerala and south Tamil Nadu.
- Wearing clothes to cover chests was at the time – early 19th century – deemed a right only enjoyed by women of the dominant castes.
- In 1812, the Maharani of Travancore gave order that allowed the depressed class women who converted to Christianity to wear a blouse.
- Social reformer Ayya Vaikunda Swami began the struggle, bringing together women and holding meetings with them.
- The first stage of ‘Upper Cloth Revolt’ held between 1822-1823.
- The second stage of the revolt happened between 1827-1829.
- It was during the third stage of revolt held between 1958-1859 that the women, irrespective of class, caste and religion, were allowed to wear the upper cloth.
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