Is breast tax true story?

The “breast tax” (or Mulakkaram in Malayalam) was a head tax imposed on the Nadars, Ezhavars and other lower caste communities by the Kingdom of Tranvancore (in present-day Kerala state of India). According to local beliefs the breast tax was imposed to lower class women if they covered their breasts.

What is breast tax history?

The breast tax, also known as “Mulakkaram”, became popular in Travancore kingdom. It was an Indian practice put in place to keep the old caste system. According to traditional demands, the lower caste women were expected to expose their breasts.

Who imposed Mulakaram?

“Mulakaram”, Tax for Breast If Never Paid, Let Them Bare: Believe it or not, during the early 1800’s, in the area over, a “mulakaram” or “breast tax” was imposed on women in the state of Travancore. The area was one of the 550 states in India controlled by Britain.

Who is Nagali?

Nagli Rotla: In Gujarat, ragi or finger millet is known as nagli and the tribals of the state love their nagli rotlas. Grown in predominantly tribal hilly district of Dang, the millet is a great source of nutrients. The healthy rotlas can be served as part of regular meals or as a snack with jaggery and butter.

Who started breast tax in Kerala?

Legend. According to the popular narrative, in the early years of the 19th century, the pravathiyar (village officer) of Travancore came to Nangeli’s home to survey her breasts and collect the breast tax. Nangeli revolted against the harassment; chopping off her breasts and presenting them to him in a plantain leaf.

Where is Travancore?

Travancore, former princely state in southwestern India, now part of Kerala state. Travancore was in the kingdom of Kerala, or Chera, in the early centuries ce and traded with distant parts of the world.

What is Mulakaram or breast tax?

Breast Tax or Mulakaram: During the early 1800s, a new tax named Mulakaram (or) “breast-tax” was levied by the king of the Travancore state (The modern-day state of Kerala on the southern coast of India), one of the 550 princely states which existed in India, then controlled by the Britishers.

Who is the leader of channar revolt?

On 26 July 1859, under pressure from Charles Trevelyan, the Madras Governor, the king of Travancore issued a proclamation proclaiming the right for all Nadar women to cover their breasts, either by wearing jackets, like the Christian Nadars, or tie coarse-cloth around their upper-body, like the Mukkavattigal (fisher- …

What is Mulakaram tax?

Is Nangeli a real story?

The village-legend of Nangeli is about an Ezhava woman who lived in the early 19th century at Cherthala in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore in India and supposedly, cut off her breasts in an effort to protest against a caste-based “breast tax”.

When was Travancore breast Tax Abolished?

Widely viewed as an urban legend among scholarly circles, the story of Nangeli has gained widespread attention since the publication of a 2016 BBC Asia article on it.

What is the mulakaram tax?

During the early 1800s, a new tax named Mulakaram (or) “breast-tax” was levied by the king of the Travancore state (The modern-day state of Kerala on the southern coast of India), one of the 550 princely states which existed in India, then controlled by the Britishers. The British empire often pressured the local kings to pay hefty taxes.

Did you know that women in Kerala had to pay breast tax?

Believe it or not, but there was a time in the early 19 th century when women in Kerala had to pay a Mula karam or breast tax to be able to cover their chest with a cloth. Fast forward to 200 years later and the tussle between making a Muslim woman wear a burqa and trying to force her out of it is still on.

What is Mula Karam?

The breast tax or the Mula Karam, which was one among the many oppressive taxes levied on the lower caste, meant that a woman was granted the right to cover her breasts only if she paid a fee to the government. In the year 1803, Nangeli was brave enough to unflinchingly defy the orders of the state.

What were mulakkaram and thalakkaru?

The kingdom had to pay a protectorate fee towards the British for their services. For this the kingdom implement both Mulakkaram and Thalakkaram – basically ‘Woman tax’ and ‘Man tax’. The landlords were supposed to pay these taxes according to the number of laborers they had in their service.

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