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ആത്മകഥയ്ക്ക് ഒരാമുഖം | Aathmakathaykku Oraamukham
ഒരെഴുത്തുകാരിയുടെ സര്ഗജീവിതം വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുന്ന വ്യത്യസ്തമായ ആത്മകഥ
- GenresNonfiction
136 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2012
14 people are currently reading
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ലളിതാംബിക അന്തർജനം | Lalithambika Antharjanam
9 books58 followersകൊല്ലം ജില്ലയിൽ കൊട്ടാരക്കരയ്ക്കടുത്ത് കോട്ടവട്ടത്ത് 1909 മാർച്ച് 30–ന് ജനിച്ചു. അച്ഛൻ: ശ്രീമൂലം പ്രജാസഭാ മെമ്പറായിരുന്ന കോട്ടവട്ടത്ത് ഇല്ലത്ത് കെ. ദാമോദരൻപോറ്റി. അമ്മ: നങ്ങയ്യ അന്തർജനം. വീട്ടിലിരുന്ന് ഗുരുക്കന്മാരുടെ അടുത്തുനിന്ന് സംസ്‌കൃതവും മലയാളവും പഠിച്ചു. ഇംഗ്ലിഷിലും ഹിന്ദിയിലും പരിജ്ഞാനം നേടി. ആദ്യത്തെ ചെറുകഥ "മലയാളരാജ്യ'ത്തിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധപ്പെടുത്തിയ യാത്രാവസാനം. 1927–ൽ മീനച്ചിൽ താലൂക്കിൽ രാമപുരത്ത് അമനകര ഇല്ലത്ത് നാരായണൻ നമ്പൂതിരി വിവാഹം കഴിച്ചു. പ്രശസ്ത കഥാകൃത്ത് പരേതനായ എൻ. മോഹനൻ ഉൾപ്പെടെ ഏഴു മക്കൾ. തിരുവിതാംകൂർ ഭാഗത്ത് നമ്പൂതിരിസമുദായത്തിൽ നടന്ന പരിഷ്‌കരണപരിപാടികളിൽ ആദ്യകാലത്ത് അന്തർജനം പങ്കെടുത്തിരുന്നു. 1973–ൽ കേരളസാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അവാർഡ് (സീത മുതൽ സത്യവതി വരെ) ലഭിച്ചു. അഗ്നിസാക്ഷി എന്ന ഏക നോവലിന് 1977–ലെ കേരളസാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അവാർഡ്, കേന്ദ്ര സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി അവാർഡ്, ഓടക്കുഴൽ സമ്മാനം, ആദ്യത്തെ വയലാർ അവാർഡ്. 1987 ഫെബ്രുവരി 6–ന് അന്തരിച്ചു.
Lalithambika Antharjanam (ലളിതാംബിക അന്തര്‍ജനം) (1909–1987) was an Indian author and social reformer best known for her literary works in Malayalam language. Her published oeuvre consists of nine volumes of short stories, six collections of poems, two books for children, and a novel, Agnisakshi (1976) which won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977. Her autobiography Aathmakadhakkoru Aamukham (An Introduction to Autobiography) is a very significant work.
She was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and social reform movements among the Nambudiri caste led by V. T. Bhattathiripad. Later she contributed to the social reform in her own way. Her writing reflects a sensitivity to the women's role in society, and the tension between the woman as a centre for bonding and the woman as an individual. She was concerned particularly the nature of the sexual contract.
Lalithambika Antharjanam (ലളിതാംബിക അന്തര്‍ജനം) (1909–1987) was an Indian author and social reformer best known for her literary works in Malayalam language. Her published oeuvre consists of nine volumes of short stories, six collections of poems, two books for children, and a novel, Agnisakshi (1976) which won the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award and Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1977. Her autobiography Aathmakadhakkoru Aamukham (An Introduction to Autobiography) is a very significant work.
She was greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and social reform movements among the Nambudiri caste led by V. T. Bhattathiripad. Later she contributed to the social reform in her own way. Her writing reflects a sensitivity to the women's role in society, and the tension between the woman as a centre for bonding and the woman as an individual. She was concerned particularly the nature of the sexual contract.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 15, 2013
Lalithambika Antharjanam’s “Aathma kadhaykku Oramugham” is a literary autobiography ( autobiographies or memoirs by literary figures). Lalithambika Antharjanam(1909-1987) is a notable author in Malayalam with so many credentials; one of the foremost feminist writer, nationalist, social reformer, and so on.
Lalithambika Antharjanam was a feminist writer. She was born in a Brahmin family at a time the community was from top to the bottom, patriarchal. Women were not allowed to go out from their homes, not been able to meet their own father and brother once they grew up. They had to spend the entire life time in the shadow of “Marakkuda (an umbrella made with the leafs of some tree).” They were often married to very old members in the community, maybe because of poverty in the family, or due to some pressure from the socially powerful groups. Once their husband dies (which often happens since they are marrying very old guys, but they themselves will be only ten or fifteen years old), they need to remain as widows the entire lifetime, without being able to participate in any social activities. If anyone of the female members were alleged to have any illegitimate relation with anyone, the community would conduct “smarthavichaarm” and disown the woman. It was the right of the lower caste men to take possession of these kinds of women and were entitled to do anything to them, even prostitution. The “smarthavichaaram” was conducted by the elite members of the community, and the arguments of the defendants were often or always neglected. The rules of the community were based on Bhargava Smriti and Sankara Smriti, which were crueler than Manu Smriti in its pro-patriarchal stand. Lalithambika Antharjanam was born in the community at a time where there was a great unrest against these inequalities. V.T. Bhattathirippat, MRB, and others started reacting against these inequalities openly through activities and through the publication of the play, “Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathekku” and “Marakkudakkullile Mahanarakam” respectively. They conducted widow remarriage and other programs. The period was also witnessed Mahatma Gandhi’s intervention and this fuelled the situation. Lalithambika Antharjanam took courage from these and participated in the social reformation through activities and writing. Her fiction “Agnisaakshi” is a work in which the protagonist is a woman from the Brahmin community. This work is an open criticism against all the ideas propagated by the community. In her autobiography also, Lalithambika question the stand of the society which discriminates women.
Some instances from the autobiography- The author talks about many women members who suffered during that period. She mentions “Kuriyedathu Thathri” and also her own family members. One of the women members of her family helped her family to overcome the difficulties when some of the elder members died unexpectedly. She looked after her little brothers and got back the lost prestige of the family. When the brothers grew up and got married, there began unrest. Their wives complained about the elder sister to their husbands due to jealousy. Then the brothers questioned the elder sister and openly told that since she is a woman, she has no right in the property. Out of anger she replied that then she will leave the home, but contrary to her expectation, her brothers asked her to go. She went out of the home hoping that they will call back, but they didn’t. Once she crossed the gate, they closed it. At night, as she could not go anywhere, she returned and called them. The servant in the family replied that since she left the home without accompanying any maid, she would be an outcaste and so they would not take her back. She knocked every side of the house crying, “Parameshwara, Narayanaaa”, but nobody responded. At last, the “antharjanam” (the common name of all elder female members of Brahmin community) left the place. Nobody knew how she died and where.
Another instance she narrates is that of a young girl who married to an old man. As per Brahmin rules at that time, the married woman can enter her husband’s room only on the fourth day of the marriage. On the third day, this girl’s husband died. She was forced to have the fourth day night’s ceremony with the husband with an image of him made in grass. The rest of her life, she had to remain as a widow.
Lalithambika Antharjanam is undoubtedly a nationalist, a nationalist in action and in writing. Her autobiography is filled with awe and admiration towards Gandhi. She writes how Gandhian values influence her life and what was the price she paid. The orthodox community could not digest Gandhi’s teaching and they compared him with Kali, the total destroyer, whereas his followers replied this argument by writing “Gandhyashtakam”.
Through her autobiography, we can understand the social, religious, literary ideas of her lifetime.
Lalithambika Antharjanam was a feminist writer. She was born in a Brahmin family at a time the community was from top to the bottom, patriarchal. Women were not allowed to go out from their homes, not been able to meet their own father and brother once they grew up. They had to spend the entire life time in the shadow of “Marakkuda (an umbrella made with the leafs of some tree).” They were often married to very old members in the community, maybe because of poverty in the family, or due to some pressure from the socially powerful groups. Once their husband dies (which often happens since they are marrying very old guys, but they themselves will be only ten or fifteen years old), they need to remain as widows the entire lifetime, without being able to participate in any social activities. If anyone of the female members were alleged to have any illegitimate relation with anyone, the community would conduct “smarthavichaarm” and disown the woman. It was the right of the lower caste men to take possession of these kinds of women and were entitled to do anything to them, even prostitution. The “smarthavichaaram” was conducted by the elite members of the community, and the arguments of the defendants were often or always neglected. The rules of the community were based on Bhargava Smriti and Sankara Smriti, which were crueler than Manu Smriti in its pro-patriarchal stand. Lalithambika Antharjanam was born in the community at a time where there was a great unrest against these inequalities. V.T. Bhattathirippat, MRB, and others started reacting against these inequalities openly through activities and through the publication of the play, “Adukkalayil Ninnu Arangathekku” and “Marakkudakkullile Mahanarakam” respectively. They conducted widow remarriage and other programs. The period was also witnessed Mahatma Gandhi’s intervention and this fuelled the situation. Lalithambika Antharjanam took courage from these and participated in the social reformation through activities and writing. Her fiction “Agnisaakshi” is a work in which the protagonist is a woman from the Brahmin community. This work is an open criticism against all the ideas propagated by the community. In her autobiography also, Lalithambika question the stand of the society which discriminates women.
Some instances from the autobiography- The author talks about many women members who suffered during that period. She mentions “Kuriyedathu Thathri” and also her own family members. One of the women members of her family helped her family to overcome the difficulties when some of the elder members died unexpectedly. She looked after her little brothers and got back the lost prestige of the family. When the brothers grew up and got married, there began unrest. Their wives complained about the elder sister to their husbands due to jealousy. Then the brothers questioned the elder sister and openly told that since she is a woman, she has no right in the property. Out of anger she replied that then she will leave the home, but contrary to her expectation, her brothers asked her to go. She went out of the home hoping that they will call back, but they didn’t. Once she crossed the gate, they closed it. At night, as she could not go anywhere, she returned and called them. The servant in the family replied that since she left the home without accompanying any maid, she would be an outcaste and so they would not take her back. She knocked every side of the house crying, “Parameshwara, Narayanaaa”, but nobody responded. At last, the “antharjanam” (the common name of all elder female members of Brahmin community) left the place. Nobody knew how she died and where.
Another instance she narrates is that of a young girl who married to an old man. As per Brahmin rules at that time, the married woman can enter her husband’s room only on the fourth day of the marriage. On the third day, this girl’s husband died. She was forced to have the fourth day night’s ceremony with the husband with an image of him made in grass. The rest of her life, she had to remain as a widow.
Lalithambika Antharjanam is undoubtedly a nationalist, a nationalist in action and in writing. Her autobiography is filled with awe and admiration towards Gandhi. She writes how Gandhian values influence her life and what was the price she paid. The orthodox community could not digest Gandhi’s teaching and they compared him with Kali, the total destroyer, whereas his followers replied this argument by writing “Gandhyashtakam”.
Through her autobiography, we can understand the social, religious, literary ideas of her lifetime.
September 2, 2021
ഒരു ബ്രാഹ്മണ കുടുംബത്തിലാണ് അവർ ജനിച്ചത്. ബ്രാഹ്മണ സ്ത്രീകൾക്ക് വീടുകളിൽ നിന്ന് പുറത്തിറങ്ങാൻ അനുവാദമില്ല, വളർന്നുകഴിഞ്ഞാൽ സ്വന്തം അച്ഛനെയും സഹോദരനെയും കാണാൻ കഴിയില്ല, ജീവിതകാലം മുഴുവൻ അവർക്ക് മറക്കുടയുടെ നിഴലിൽ ചെലവഴിക്കേണ്ടിവന്നു. അവർ പലപ്പോഴും സമൂഹത്തിലെ വളരെ പഴയ അംഗങ്ങളെ വിവാഹം കഴിച്ചു. അവരുടെ ഭർത്താവ് മരിച്ചുകഴിഞ്ഞാൽ ഒരു സാമൂഹിക പ്രവർത്തനത്തിലും പങ്കെടുക്കാനാവാതെ അവർ ജീവിതകാലം മുഴുവൻ വിധവകളായി തുടരേണ്ടതുണ്ട്. സ്ത്രീകൾക്ക് ആർക്കെങ്കിലും ആരുമായും അവിഹിത ബന്ധമുണ്ടെന്ന് ആരോപിക്കപ്പെട്ടാൽ, സമൂഹം "സ്മാർത്തവിചാരം" നടത്തുകയും സ്ത്രീയെ നിരസിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും. സമൂഹത്തിന്റെ നിയമങ്ങൾ ഭാർഗവ സ്മൃതിയിലും ശങ്കര സ്മൃതിയിലും അധിഷ്ഠിതമായിരുന്നു. അത് പുരുഷാധിപത്യ അനുകൂല നിലപാടിൽ മനു സ്മൃതിയെക്കാൾ ക്രൂരമായിരുന്നു. ഈ അസമത്വങ്ങൾക്കെതിരെ വലിയ അസ്വസ്ഥതയുണ്ടായിരുന്ന സമയത്താണ് ലളിതാംബിക അന്തർജനം സമൂഹത്തിൽ ജനിച്ചത്. വി.ടി. ഭട്ടതിരിപ്പാട്ടും എം ആർ ബി യും മറ്റുള്ളവരും ഈ അസമത്വങ്ങൾക്കെതിരെ പരസ്യമായി പ്രവർത്തികളിലൂടെയും അടുക്കളയിൽ നിന്ന് അരങ്ങത്തേക്ക്, മറക്കുടയിലെ മഹാനാരകം എന്ന നാടകങ്ങളുടെ പ്രസിദ്ധീകരണത്തിലൂടെയും പ്രതികരിക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങി. അവർ വിധവ പുനർവിവാഹവും മറ്റ് പരിപാടികളും നടത്തി. മഹാത്മാഗാന്ധിയുടെ ഇടപെടലിനും ഈ കാലഘട്ടം സാക്ഷ്യം വഹിച്ചു. ലളിതാംബിക അന്തർജനം ഇവയിൽ നിന്ന് ധൈര്യം സംഭരിച്ച് പ്രവർത്തനങ്ങളിലൂടെയും എഴുത്തിലൂടെയും സാമൂഹിക നവീകരണത്തിൽ പങ്കെടുത്തു. ഈ ആത്മകഥയിലൂടെ അവരുടെ ജീവിതകാലത്തെ സാമൂഹിക, മത, സാഹിത്യ സ്ഥിതി വിശേഷങ്ങൾ നമുക്ക് മനസ്സിലാക്കാം.
November 21, 2025
This book is a collection of essays written by the author during various time periods reflecting on her life. She was preparing to write a detailed autobiography but like some other books she was preparing write this too never materialized.
We get a clear picture of the miserable life of woman in Brahman family who upon reaching puberty was forced to live inside house without meeting any men including father. They were not given any formal education but luckily for the author her parents especially her father was someone who wants to break the shackles of tradition and she too was happy to live at a time when within her own community there was rebel voices to break all these oppressing traditions and taking energy from such movement the author managed to come out and express herself.
This book is an eye opener to us it was not only lower caste who were oppressed in the society but women from upper caste too and shows how powerful men created a society for satisfying their own greed exploiting everyone else.
We get a clear picture of the miserable life of woman in Brahman family who upon reaching puberty was forced to live inside house without meeting any men including father. They were not given any formal education but luckily for the author her parents especially her father was someone who wants to break the shackles of tradition and she too was happy to live at a time when within her own community there was rebel voices to break all these oppressing traditions and taking energy from such movement the author managed to come out and express herself.
This book is an eye opener to us it was not only lower caste who were oppressed in the society but women from upper caste too and shows how powerful men created a society for satisfying their own greed exploiting everyone else.
September 3, 2018
Simple and very touching book.
December 17, 2019
Rated it
August 21, 2022
Good read !! :-)
November 6, 2025
Interesting to know the author beyond their writings.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews