The Feminist Maharani of Travancore: Sethu Lakshmi Bayi's Reform Legacy

History has often overlooked the contributions of women, leaving many of their achievements in the shadows. But there were some who had such a positive impact on the society, that their legacy stands till today. Pooradam Thirunal Sethu Lakshmi Bayi (1895–1985), the senior Maharani of the kingdom of Travancore might have come to power as a regent, but her hold was equivalent to those of a sovereign ruler during her regency from 1924 to 1931.Her nephew Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the "Heir apparent to the throne of Travancore" was a minor. The Travancore royal family followed the Marumakkathayam system, according to which the succession of the throne did not pass from the father to the son. The power would instead go to the eldest nephew,

the son of the king's sister. She ruled on his behalf, and her reign was marked with series of social, educational, administrative and religious reform. One of the her most important contributions was the abolition of the exploitative practise of the Devadasi system in 1926. The institution that began as a sacred practise in South India, some time in 3rd century turned into a system of widespread sexual exploitation. Under the Devadasi system, girls, often from lower-caste communities, were dedicated to the service of a deity or temple for life. While Devadasis initially held a respected position in society and played important roles in religious and cultural traditions, their status gradually declined with the weakening of royal patronage of temples. Over time, the institution became increasingly exploitative, and many women associated with it were subjected to social and economic hardship. Under Sethu Lakshmi Bayi's administration, the system was abolished in Travancore temples. The official recognition of the institution was ended. Historians regard this as one of the earliest major state-led interventions against the practice in southern India.Read More: The Queens of Mysore Who Became the Face of Smallpox Vaccination in 19th-Century IndiaIt was during her reign that the minorities were given a thought. "She created spaces for women in society (providing police protection to Kerala’s first low-caste film actress, and sending women across caste divides into a representative council) but presented herself as the ideal of orthodox femininity—one middle-aged colonial agent even had to reluctantly get married because the maharani thought it scandalous to entertain a bachelor. But the tightrope she walked between tradition and modernity endeared her to her people, and it was precisely this popularity that impressed Vellodi and Menon decades later," wrote Manu S Pillai.She also appointed a woman to head the medical department. The appointment of Dr. Mary Poonen Lukose was a pathbreaking milestone. Sethu Lakshmi Bayi also played an important role during the Vaikom Satyagraha, one of the most important anti-caste movements in modern Indian history. The agitation challenged caste restrictions that prevented lower-caste communities from using roads surrounding the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. In 1924, Mahatama Gandhi had travelled to Travancore, and met with Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, and opened the doors of the temple to all castes. According to reports, Gandhi had called the initiative a "bedrock of freedom". Even though full temple entry was not granted during her regency, the decision represented a significant weakening of caste-based restrictions. Public spaces in which lower castes were not allowed, and opening them up was regarded as an important milestone in Kerala's social reform movement.Her administration remains one of the most reform-oriented periods in the history of Travancore. Her legacy rests on her efforts to modernize the state. During the time, navigating the complex social and political realities of her time took a lot of courage.