The Mirror of Colonial Psychology: A Critical Analysis of Indulekha

Abstract

This paper examines the multifaceted interplay between indigenous identity and colonial psychology in O. Chandu Menon’s 1889 landmark novel, Indulekha. As the first major work of fiction in Malayalam, the novel functions as a vital socio-historical record, reflecting the deep shifts in Malabar’s social structure under British admin. By focusing on the protagonists, Madhavan and Indulekha, this study explores the transition from traditional feudalism to a Western-inflected modernity. Furthermore, it investigates the changing status of women within the Nair community and explores how the emerging local elite began to align themselves ideologically with the structures of colonial rule.