1/n Lets hear the story of Lundaku Jatav— the forgotten Bahujan hero who stood up against Brahmanical Patriarchal Society of Kerala. Many of us have heard about Nangeli, but we rarely hear the story of Lundaku, the hero of us Bahujans who stood up against the Brahmin criminals.
2/n
Many men have fought and struggled to completely annihilate the deeply-rooted customs and freed other men and those from future generations from suppressive norms. Here, I will talk about one such legend named Lundaku, who fought against the atrocity of the Brahmins
Many men have fought and struggled to completely annihilate the deeply-rooted customs and freed other men and those from future generations from suppressive norms. Here, I will talk about one such legend named Lundaku, who fought against the atrocity of the Brahmins
3/n
Lullakaram meant tax that has to be paid by non-dominant caste men in order to cover their body in public spaces. LC men had no cover of their private parts while working as labourers for their property owning Brahmin masters. To work with clothes on, they had to pay tax
Lullakaram meant tax that has to be paid by non-dominant caste men in order to cover their body in public spaces. LC men had no cover of their private parts while working as labourers for their property owning Brahmin masters. To work with clothes on, they had to pay tax
4/n
LC men were left out of the frame of modern India with when it came to ‘equity &equality’ for everyone. This tax was solely imposed on lower castes, which continued until 1924. Lundaku rebelled against an exploitative regime which charged exorbitant taxes from common people
LC men were left out of the frame of modern India with when it came to ‘equity &equality’ for everyone. This tax was solely imposed on lower castes, which continued until 1924. Lundaku rebelled against an exploitative regime which charged exorbitant taxes from common people
5/n
Reference - 1921
Picture is of daily wage labourers gathering, taking a break from their labour work.
As you can see, those who could not afford the tax, had to work without any clothes on. Similar to Mulakkaram, the breast tax, this was also applied only to LC men.
Reference - 1921
Picture is of daily wage labourers gathering, taking a break from their labour work.
As you can see, those who could not afford the tax, had to work without any clothes on. Similar to Mulakkaram, the breast tax, this was also applied only to LC men.
6/n
Lundaku and his wife Thenmozhi lived in a small village called Varkala, near Coastal Kerala. They worked as agricultural labourers and collected sap from Palm trees. The tax was considered to be a kind of veneration to the Brahmins or ruling classes
Lundaku and his wife Thenmozhi lived in a small village called Varkala, near Coastal Kerala. They worked as agricultural labourers and collected sap from Palm trees. The tax was considered to be a kind of veneration to the Brahmins or ruling classes
7/n
The Rajas ruthlessly extracted some 110 kinds of levies from LC people—on the fisherman, ornaments, moustaches so on. A general tax was levied on men called Talakkaram, literally ‘head tax’; Mulakkaram literally ‘breast tax’; and Lullakaram means private part covering tax.
The Rajas ruthlessly extracted some 110 kinds of levies from LC people—on the fisherman, ornaments, moustaches so on. A general tax was levied on men called Talakkaram, literally ‘head tax’; Mulakkaram literally ‘breast tax’; and Lullakaram means private part covering tax.
8/n
Anyone of LC caste was expected to appear bare-torso in the presence of Brahmins, royalty or generally anyone of higher caste. Traditionally, it was common for men and women of various castes to be bare-clothed—and no shame attached to women’s bare chest or men's bare pelvis
Anyone of LC caste was expected to appear bare-torso in the presence of Brahmins, royalty or generally anyone of higher caste. Traditionally, it was common for men and women of various castes to be bare-clothed—and no shame attached to women’s bare chest or men's bare pelvis
9/n
By the late eighteenth century however, clothing, especially women’s upper-cloth or blouse, and men's pelvis area covering took on pronounced symbolic significance as a marker of social identity. Covering was permitted only to those from high castes
By the late eighteenth century however, clothing, especially women’s upper-cloth or blouse, and men's pelvis area covering took on pronounced symbolic significance as a marker of social identity. Covering was permitted only to those from high castes
10/n
Taxes began to be collected from all LCs-beginning from puberty onward. The parvarthiyar, a local official, would collect taxes, going from door to door. Lundaku was also paying this tax. He often pondered upon the question of one’s own body as their biggest liability
Taxes began to be collected from all LCs-beginning from puberty onward. The parvarthiyar, a local official, would collect taxes, going from door to door. Lundaku was also paying this tax. He often pondered upon the question of one’s own body as their biggest liability
11/n
Johan Nieuhof (1744). 'Voyages and Travels to the East-Indies. This is a picture of Johan Nieuhof's travels to Kerala and a rendition of how lower caste men used to be naked out in the open.
Johan Nieuhof (1744). 'Voyages and Travels to the East-Indies. This is a picture of Johan Nieuhof's travels to Kerala and a rendition of how lower caste men used to be naked out in the open.
12/n
Lundaku Jatav finally decided to act against the Brahminical state.
Source -P S Menon, Travels in Kerala 1977
Lundaku Jatav finally decided to act against the Brahminical state.
Source -P S Menon, Travels in Kerala 1977
13/n
Lundaku went inside and brought out two leaves, wrapped and folded in something. The brahmin tax collector didn't understand it at first. But when he looked away for a moment, Lundaku swiftly moved with his sickle and in one swift motion, severed his long hard phallus.
Lundaku went inside and brought out two leaves, wrapped and folded in something. The brahmin tax collector didn't understand it at first. But when he looked away for a moment, Lundaku swiftly moved with his sickle and in one swift motion, severed his long hard phallus.
14/n
The searing pain was unbearable; the wound bled on his body like a fountain. Lundaku offered them his long shaft, mangled flesh that had, a minute ago, formed an integral part of his chiseled body.
The searing pain was unbearable; the wound bled on his body like a fountain. Lundaku offered them his long shaft, mangled flesh that had, a minute ago, formed an integral part of his chiseled body.
15/n
Lundaku succumbed to death after immense blood loss from his pipe. The news of Lundaku's death shattered his wife.She could not bear the loss of her beloved & she jumped into her funeral pyre and took her own life. Another Brahmin ritual called Sati took another bahujan life
Lundaku succumbed to death after immense blood loss from his pipe. The news of Lundaku's death shattered his wife.She could not bear the loss of her beloved & she jumped into her funeral pyre and took her own life. Another Brahmin ritual called Sati took another bahujan life
16/n
Before he bled to death, Lundaku saw, to his great satisfaction, the stricken look on the faces of the parvarthiyar and his men, horror and panic writ large, as well as urgent recognition. He knew in that moment that his sacrifice was not in vain.
Before he bled to death, Lundaku saw, to his great satisfaction, the stricken look on the faces of the parvarthiyar and his men, horror and panic writ large, as well as urgent recognition. He knew in that moment that his sacrifice was not in vain.
17/n
The state official recognized his sacrifice, and wordlessly acknowledged the wrong done to Lundaku and all LCs. Lundaku the hero fighter, passed away knowing that word of his brave deed would spread like wildfire.
The state official recognized his sacrifice, and wordlessly acknowledged the wrong done to Lundaku and all LCs. Lundaku the hero fighter, passed away knowing that word of his brave deed would spread like wildfire.
18/n Combined efforts of Nangeli and Lundaku finally sent shock waves throughout the state. Many villagers started protesting. Within 2 weeks, there was huge uproar in the state.
19/n Lundaku's dying words were recorded by the Brahmin man - " As I lay down here with my chopped phallus, send this message to the King. He should be taking care of us. He charges tax to cover our private parts. No more, No more, no more shall this practice be tolerated"
20/n
The next week, the Rajaji, issued a proclamation revoking Mulakkaram, Talakkaram, and Lullakaram fearing an agitation. The area he lived in came to be known as Lulachiparambu (land of the phallic man).
The next week, the Rajaji, issued a proclamation revoking Mulakkaram, Talakkaram, and Lullakaram fearing an agitation. The area he lived in came to be known as Lulachiparambu (land of the phallic man).
21/n
However, LC men and women were still prohibited from wearing clothing when in the presence of upper castes. Maaru Marakkal Samaram, or Channar Lahala (revolt) burgeoned in the state a decade later—a collective revolt of Dalits fighting for the right to wear garments.
However, LC men and women were still prohibited from wearing clothing when in the presence of upper castes. Maaru Marakkal Samaram, or Channar Lahala (revolt) burgeoned in the state a decade later—a collective revolt of Dalits fighting for the right to wear garments.
22/n
By the late nineteenth century, Dalit struggles on the issue succeeded in Travancore. In Cochin and Malabar, where similar practices prevailed, struggles carried on well into the twentieth century.
By the late nineteenth century, Dalit struggles on the issue succeeded in Travancore. In Cochin and Malabar, where similar practices prevailed, struggles carried on well into the twentieth century.
23/n As a man, Lundaku hardly gets the press and PR Nangeli does. Even in Varkala, most people have forgotten him. His humble hut has long vanished; no memorial was built to commemorate him.
24/n
We hope you will retweet and share this message to all our Dalit brothers/sisters. Amplify stories of defiance against the cruelty of Brahmins. As more of Dalit Literature becomes mainstream, it is essential that we recognize the contribution of our heroes. Jai Bhim 🩵🩵🩵
We hope you will retweet and share this message to all our Dalit brothers/sisters. Amplify stories of defiance against the cruelty of Brahmins. As more of Dalit Literature becomes mainstream, it is essential that we recognize the contribution of our heroes. Jai Bhim 🩵🩵🩵
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