Agents Of Social Change

Kerala's history has always seen women in the forefront when it comes to social reformation but the role of women in the social reformation movement during the 19th and 20th century, a period of socio-cultural shift, has largely been ignored, even today.

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History has reduced most of them to mere achievers- the first woman to get a college degree or the first woman to be enrolled in school. With the next Women's Day in sight, these forgotten figures deserve attention both as important social reformers as well as the first generation of feminists in Kerala.

It is in the 21st century that researchers started exploring the world of women reformers in Kerala, and that is how the narrative of male heroes and female damsels in distress was examined. The research brought out a group of very courageous and powerful women, who dared to do what women were not supposed to do at that time, like writing or activism. They managed to stand out in a male dominated sphere with their grit and determination.