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S**S
A must read book to learn about this little known cultural nugget of Kerala
The translators have done an excellent job to ensure the memoirs of Devaki Nilayamgode reaches to a wider audience. I really wish I knew to read Malayalam to read the original as well. The essays are very personal in nature but provide an intimate peek into the author’s growing years as an Antharjanam in early 1900s. Descriptions of festivals being celebrated, seasonal vegetables, flowers and food are very fascinating.Chapters like ‘Widows’ ‘Leavings’ make the reader cringe at the anachronistic practices. Chapters ‘A group dance’ , ‘Vistors’ and ‘Clothes’ portrays the innocent excitement of the time. There is reference to bygone practices of harvest, storing perishables and clothes , preparation of food items and battling floods and epidemics. There are several riveting episodes in the book. The one about Namboodiris treating snake-bites is especially intriguing. There is also a brief mention of KP Namboodiri marketing his tooth powder (still hugely popular Danatadhavanachoornam) by travelling on foot to remote villages. Devaki painfully describes the complete negligence towards the women in the Namboodiri community.This book is special for two reasons:1. As claimed by Devaki, this is the first personal account of an Antharjanam.2. The choice of the author to dispassionately narrate her younger years with astounding attention to detail (Devaki first started writing at the ripe age of 75!) without any sense of anger or ill-meaning. She lays her feelings threadbare and calls spade a spade. A life without the burden of judgment or rational analysis of the times. An innocent and poignant insider’s view. Seeing or taking life for what it is and thriving despite oppression. Now this is an endearing and exemplary virtue found in women of substance.
K**I
Good book to read on old customs kerala
Best book ever read on old hindu culture in kerala house activities- we can able to the system prevailed as one cannot get today that meaningful responsibility of housewives in kerala Brahmins, detachment to children, attachment to children at need, amicable relation with co- wives, tolerating male chavainsam etc., The movements of humanity... as a tamilan read the book no of times, debated with malayali for full acquittance.. great book to be preserved
K**T
Very easily, simply written
The price stated on the book is 245, it's more expensive here, and there's a delivery fee!That aside, the book itself was an enjoyable read. Very easily, simply written, with no regrets or hatred for the way she was treated as an antharjanam. I quite enjoyed it, if only for the historic value. It paints a very vivid picture of kerala in those days.
A**K
Read and Feel
Most touching work. Excellent efforts taken by translators is very evident and appreciable.The introduction is the brilliant.Thanks Amazon for placing such worthy books in your online business store..
N**N
Essential Kerala reading.
Absolute essential reading for anyone intending to know Kerala’s culture and history.
D**R
Three Stars
Good book...n received it with a very good packing
P**1
An ordinary retelling of an extraordinary life
An extremely well written and factual insight into a life shielded from the outside world. I for one was unaware of this history of mine and am thankful to having read this book. The translation is done well without embellishment and without losing the spirit of the original work.
Y**I
A great account of Namboodiri culture
This probably is the first and last book written by a women about her own life who had lived in the era herself. I have been in Kerela for more than six years and was looking to read about kerela culture. I bought this book because this was at the top in search results. My decision to buy this book was by no means wrong.Devaki Nilayamgode, a women born in 1930s in an high class, land owner, brahmin family. These families are called Namboodiri. There women are called Antharjanam (literal meaning: born inside). These women spent their life mostly inside an illam (big house) and has little to do with the outside world. Devaki grew up in the time of reform movement and got married into an open minded illam. This was the time when wearing a blouse was a taboo and seen as anti-traditional.The book explores the life of such Antharjanams. The author, herself being an antharjanam, understands every aspect of their lives. As per wikipedia, Namboodiris migrated from Uttar Pradesh to Kerela in 1AD and was settled there by Lord Parshurama. I myself being a brahmin from Uttar Pradesh finds many similarities in the two cultures. However, there are more differences than similarities. For example, in namboodiries, women had no place in the family. They live, eat and sleep in the illam just like pets. There is story when authors mother asked for the medicine of her sick daughter (author's sister) and the males of the family laughed at the request. The sick girl died. I have never seen or heard about any such things in my family.There are shocking stories that tells how males, having no money to feed their family, just disappear (walk away) leaving women and children behind without any food or money. Sometimes they will take loan against their houses and when these houses were confiscated by the lender, women becomes homeless.The book gives a very good account of the namboodiri culture, talks about the cast system in the society, and the downfall of the sect. The good part is that author does does not judge anything. She just tells the stories. She neither complains not agrees to the traditions. Its up to the reader to agree or disagree.
