@article{ART002723149},
author={Lee Dongwon},
title={Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi},
journal={Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University},
issn={1598-3021},
year={2021},
volume={78},
number={2},
pages={83-121},
doi={10.17326/jhsnu.78.2.202105.83}
TY - JOUR
AU - Lee Dongwon
TI - Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi
JO - Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
PY - 2021
VL - 78
IS - 2
PB - Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
SP - 83
EP - 121
SN - 1598-3021
AB - This paper examines the discourse on women’s reform in colonial India, focusing on a devadasi’s autobiographical writing. As ‘a female servant of god’, a devadasi was dedicated to a temple through symbolic marriage with the gods. Devadasi served her god through dancing and singing at rituals and festivals; however, as the additional duty of sexual service to priests and donors were added, they became powerful symbols of the corrupt Hindu society during the colonial period. Tācikaḷ Mōcavaḷai (1936, “Web of Deceit”) is an autobiographical novel of Muvalur Ramamirtham (1883- 1962), a social reformer and a former devadasi, which promotes the abolition of the devadasi system. With her firsthand experience, Ramamirtham accuses the devadasi as a social evil who deceives young men, as well as Otherized as a target of moral reform in contrast to the ‘reformed’ female characters. Based on the ideology of the Self-Respect Movement (1925), Ramamirtham argues that caste, patriarchy, and Brahminism are the reason for the corruption of the devadasi; this played an important role in the illegalization of the practice in 1947. In addition to being a milestone in the Devadasi Movement, Ramamirtham’s autobiographical novel expanded the field of women’s autobiographical writing in India, addressing the cause of devadasi’ degradation, and advocating self-respect marriage for women’s reform. As such, Tācikaḷ Mōcavaḷai can be said to have led to a rise of public awareness of devadasi as well as the illegalization of the practice in 1947; in addition to being a milestone in the Devadasi Movement, it also expanded the field of women’s autobiographical writing in India.
KW - Devadasi;Women’s Reform;Self-Respect Movement;Muvalur Ramamirtham;Tācikaḷ Mōcavaḷai;Tamil Literature
DO - 10.17326/jhsnu.78.2.202105.83
ER -
Lee Dongwon. (2021). Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 78(2), 83-121.
Lee Dongwon. 2021, "Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi", Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, vol.78, no.2 pp.83-121. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.78.2.202105.83
Lee Dongwon "Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 78.2 pp.83-121 (2021) : 83.
Lee Dongwon. Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi. 2021; 78(2), 83-121. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.78.2.202105.83
Lee Dongwon. "Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 78, no.2 (2021) : 83-121.doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.78.2.202105.83
Lee Dongwon. Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 78(2), 83-121. doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.78.2.202105.83
Lee Dongwon. Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University. 2021; 78(2) 83-121. doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.78.2.202105.83
Lee Dongwon. Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi. 2021; 78(2), 83-121. Available from: doi:10.17326/jhsnu.78.2.202105.83
Lee Dongwon. "Discourse on Women’s Reform in Colonial India: An Autobiography of a Devadasi" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 78, no.2 (2021) : 83-121.doi: 10.17326/jhsnu.78.2.202105.83
