Over two hundred years ago a woman called Nangeli fought for her freedom and that of other lower caste women in Tranvancore (one of the states in British ruled India).
As lower caste they were not allowed to cover their upper bodies, they were levied anytime they did - it was called 'malakaram' also known as breast tax. This was a burden considering they were mostly labourers with low pay.
It was imposed from puberty and paid according to the size of their breasts. This begs the question, were their breasts' size measured by use of scales, sight or touch?
The purpose of malakaram was to differentiate the lower caste from the higher caste. Ezhava, Nadar and Thia were all considered to be lower caste communities.
Most of these women were incapable of paying breast tax. So they walked half naked even though they hated to but not Nangeli.
Nangeli was from Ezhava, which meant she was required to pay breast tax anytime she covered her upper body, but she vehemently refused.
She continuously spoke against this discriminatory practice in her community. #GBVSeries71
When the tax officer in charge heard she was protesting against paying tax, he came to her house with his men, unannounced.
He aimed to force her to remove her cloth covering or she pays a ridiculous amount as tax for "she had broken the law of the land".
Nangeli had already promised herself never to expose her breasts in public and to men who weren't her husband. If it meant she was breaking the law, so be it.
When they demanded payment, she refused and then did the unthinkable.
Brave Nangeli without any form of anaesthesia took a sickle then proceeded to cut her breasts which she put in a plantain leaf. She gave it to the tax inspector.
Take a moment to visualize her pain and suffering at this point but she stood with her head up high as she presented her breasts to him even as she bled uncontrollably.
I imagine she said...
"Take them. Your perverted eyes will never be pleasured by the sight of my naked upper body. Your filthy hands will never collect tax from me again".
Unfortunately, Nangeli died from blood loss, her husband protested with women of the lower caste against this oppressive tax before his death.
He committed suicide by entering her pyre ie a funeral fire.
She fought for the truth she believed in because no one was willing to fight for the rights of the low-caste women.
That was the ultimate sacrifice for women in these communities.
The excruciating pain she bore was not in vain, she knew even in her death transformations would take place.
She knew her sacrifice would give other women the courage to fight for themselves.
She knew it would start a revolution and the authorities will be forced to amend not just malakaram but other unjust taxes.
She knew her story would inspire many generations to come.
Till this day Nangeli's home town is called Mulachhipuram, the land of the woman with breasts in honour of her great sacrifice.
This incident happened in 1803.
Her story has been reduced to folklore like she never existed but she DID!
Leela Amma and Maniyan Velu, both Nangeli's descendants (great grand niece and her cousin's great-grandson) have confirmed this story because it was passed down from each generation.
This was written by yours truly after careful research.
#WWBantFest