A new book examines the emergence of women activists in colonial Andhra Pradesh
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Social reform was not the exclusive preserve of men. With the spread of education and the resultant reform consciousness, women gradually developed an interest in social issues, particularly with an aim to enhance their position in society. Initially, they remained mere “shadows” of their male relatives. With the encouragement provided by reform-minded fathers, brothers, and husbands, women began to take part in reform activities undertaken by their male relatives. Later, they developed an independent voice of their own and successfully moved out of the overarching shadow of men. In their analysis of social issues that adversely affected them, a section of women found men to be responsible for their dismal position and condemned male domination in every walk of life. They took various discriminatory social and religious institutions to task. Even during the heyday of nationalism, when many nationalist men chose to relegate the issue of social reform to the margins, women steadfastly sustained the movement in their own terms. At times, women gave greater importance to social reform than to the national movement.
Kandukuri Rajyalakshmamma (1851–1910) was “undoubtedly the first woman in Andhra Pradesh to plunge into the work of social reform.” Married to Veeresalingam, she contributed significantly to his mission;...