Question

Why were Shanar women attacked by the upper caste Nairs during May 1822?

Answer 1

Hint:
The shanaras were also referred to as nadaras. They were the community of toddy tappers and have migrated from the southern Travancore to work under Nair, who were the landlords.

Complete step by step solution:
The Shanar women converts began to wear the tailored blouses and clothes for covering themselves like the upper castes in 1822. Complaints were filed in the court against this dress change by Shanar. But this did not prevent Shanar Christian women and even the Shanar Hindus from adopting the blouse similar to the upper caste women.
They were tortured, attacked and beaten too. They also refused to adhere to the caste norms which also demanded them to dress differently.
The abolition of slavery was done in Travancore during 1855. It led to riots and attacks on the Shanar women by the upper caste people. Their houses were looted and even chapels burned. At last, a proclamation was passed to permit the Shanar women to wear jackets, but not like the women of high caste.

Additional Information:
• Shanar women don't have any of the right to cover their upper body.
• The government passed that proclamation in 1829 for the ban of the use of blouses by Shanar women.
• They were considered of low caste and hence not allowed to dress like the upper caste.
• The Nairs thought that Shanar was going out of control.


Note:
Unable to bear such practices, many Nadar women converted to Christianity and started wearing long clothes, almost similar to what the high-class women wore.