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Readings on Kerala

10
Short story

Daughter of Humanity
Lalithambika Antharjanam

INTRO

Lalithambika Antharjanam (1909 – 1987) was a renowned Malayalam novelist and short
story writer. She was also a social reformer who exposed the pitiable plight of Namboothiri
women who were denied every right.
The story Manushyaputhri (“Daughter of Humanity”) was written in an age of
transition in the social history of Kerala, after the Communist government had enacted the
land reforms in 1959. The law put an end to the Janmi system in the state. It also liberated
thousands from bonded labour. But it had some unexpected outcomes. The Namboothiri
illams broke up. In the story, a woman from a Namboothiri household, Kunhathol Amma,
visits a party leader and requests him to admit her grandson to a school so that he would get
at least a meal every day. It is a moment of startling realisation for him.

ESSAY 1
1. “Illam was ruined by its own generosity.” Elucidate this in the light of 1959 land
ceiling laws.

The story Daughter of Humanity by Lalithambika Antharjanam tells the story of an

illam that was ruined by its own generosity. Written after the state government had enacted
the land reforms in 1959, it portrays what happened to a Namboothiri illam.
Kunhathol Amma is a representative character. She is very pious, generous and
compassionate. Helping the poor is considered to be her primary duty. Kunhathol has helped
all sorts of people. When Govindankutty and his family are in trouble after his father’s death,
it is Kunhathol Amma who comes to their rescue. It is she who has made him what he is.
Even after the ruin of the illam as a result of the reforms, its generosity continues.
When there is no money to feed the poor, the land is sold to continue the practice. Then they

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resort to loans. After that, parts of the house are sold to maintain the custom. Finally, the
illam itself is sold.
One day Govindankutty sees the illam which was his refuge when he was a helpless
boy. The area is filled with weeds and thorns. The tank is dried up, and its walls crumbled.
The people who accompany him say that the illam is ruined by its own generosity.
In the story, Kunhathol Amma appears like a woman who looks like an odd creature
from an eighteenth-century story book. A little seven-year-old boy clings to her knees. She
approaches Govindankutty to request him to admit her grandson to a school so that he would
get at least a meal every day.

PARAGRAPH

1. Kunhathol Amma looked like an odd creature. Why?

Kunhathol Amma looked like an odd creature. She was in her traditional dress. She
was completely enveloped in a mundu. She held an old palm-leaf umbrella. Her earlobes
dangled as she walked. She looked like a character from an eighteenth-century story book. A
little seven-year-old boy clung to her knees. The leader Govindankutty felt something
familiar about her. He got up from his chair and came near her. He asked her where she came
from and what she wanted. The woman raised her head and the mundu covering her head slid
down. He saw her face. It was Kunhathol Amma who had made him what he is.

2. "We starve because we do not have enough to eat. Why do you starve?" What made
Lakshmikutty utter these words?
Lakshmikutty said this when she saw Kunhathol Amma fasting during Ekadashi,
Pradosham and every Monday. Kunhathol used to starve herself regularly. She fasted almost
twenty days in a month. However, on all those days she cooked and served food for others.
After her fast, with a smile on her face, she would sing to her deity. Then, one day,
Lakshmikutty asked Kunhathol why she fasted and remained hungry. She also said that she
starved because she had nothing to eat. Kunhathol replied that poverty was a terrible thing.
She wanted to share the sorrow of those who were in need.

3. "Govindankutty is a sinner." What made him think like this?

When Govindankutty was very busy, a woman who looked like an odd creature came
to see him. Enveloped in a mundu, with an old palm-leaf umbrella, she looked like a
character from an eighteenth-century story book. A little seven-year-old boy clung to her
knees. Then Govindankutty realised that it was Kunhathol Amma, the great mother who
made him what he is today. She requested him to admit her grandson to a school so that he
would get at least a meal every day. Her illam having ruined, she was struggling even for a
meal. Govindankutty felt very sad; he thought he was a sinner.

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4. Character of Kunhathol Amma.

Kunhathol Amma, the protagonist of the story "Daughter of Humanity", is a very
pious, generous and compassionate woman. She fasted almost twenty days in a month.
However, on all those days she cooked and served food for others. When Lakshmikutty asked
why she fasted, Kunhathol said that poverty was a terrible thing. She wanted to share the
sorrow of those who were in need. When Govindankutty and his family were in trouble after
his father’s death, it was Kunhathol Amma who came to their rescue. Now that her illam
having ruined, she was struggling even for a meal.

SHORT ANSWER
1. Who is the daughter of humanity?
The daughter of humanity is Kunhathol Amma

2. "Do you want to kill me? Tell her that l am a human." Who said this?
Govindan Kutty, the party leader, said this to his secretary when the latter told him that a
poor old woman from far away was waiting to see him.

3. Govindankutty controlled his irritation and smiled pleasantly to everyone though he

was tired. Why?
Govindankutty controlled his irritation and smiled pleasantly to everyone though he was tired
because he was the chief of the political party in power.

4. Who was the unexpected guest who came to see Govindankutty?

The unexpected guest was Kunhathol Amma who had made him what he is.

5. Whose voice was sweeter than delicious food for Govindankutty?

Kunhathol Amma's voice was sweeter than delicious food for Govindankutty.

Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

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