Protestant Missionaries and Female Education in Kerala

Abstract

Today the women of Kerala have distinguished themselves in various sectors of public life in India and abroad. But in the 19^th century Kerala, the situation was entirely different. In fact the birth of a girl was not usually a welcome event. It was definitely a patriarchal society and women had no freedom either at home or in the society. Women were totally subject to men. The 19^th century Kerala woman was very much bound by the rules and customs of society. Kerala was in the cusp of social evils and practices during 18^th and 19^th centuries. Many social evils like child marriage, sati, smartha¹, pulapedi and mannapedi², dowry etc. tortured the women folk of Kerala. Their economic condition was also deplorable. They had no share of the family property. They were married off at an early age and dowry given to her become the property of the husband. She was supposed to do the duties at home, be a good wife and mother. She had no right to go for a job and earn money. Education of women was considered as profane and immoral.

 This paper is an attempt to analyse the educational initiatives of Protestant Missionaries which contributed largely to the social awakening of Kerala. When the traditional Kerala society denied fundamental rights to its women members, the Christian missionaries strived hard to attain these rights for them. Even though they were led by some selfish motives, their efforts proved beneficial to the womenfolk of Kerala. They wanted to improve the social position of the girls, provide them with knowledge and skills. They attempted to give employment opportunities through vocational education and to eradicate the social evils prevailed in the society. They used education as the main instrument to attain all these goals. So they started educational activities for the upliftment of women in Kerala. Girls’ schools were opened with the aim of giving girls enough general knowledge along with training in piety, etiquette, morals and home management techniques.