Thread on BREAST CLOTH Controversy and MULAKKAM in Travancore conveniently combined and projected as BREAST-TAX.

Surprisingly, breast-tax find earliest mention only 48 years ago. However, there are no such records whatsoever in 300 years old history.

1/n

Mentions of Breast-Tax in chronology
1972 Book by TKRavi.
1973 Book by TKRavi.
2000 Book by SN Sadesivan
2011 Book by A. Raju
2016 BBC
2017 Indiatimes,Scroll,theHindu
2018 Deccanchronical,Indiatoday.,Movie by Pagare
2019 books by Menon, Emmanuel T, Subhrashis, S pillai

2/n

Surprising to see sudden spurt in a story being pushed as an EVIL collectively by several people. Books are being written on a fake story. This needs an appropriate action and deletion of all such stories (without any backing).

Let us see what it is actually in next thread
3/n

MULAKKAM and THALAKARAM were actually HEAD MONEY payable by Malayarans (unpriviledged) upon achieving working age that too limited to few villages in travancore not to entire south as widely propelled & propagated.

4/n

Kerala tropical weather doesn;t suit lot of cloths
Clothing was luxury for some (due to tax structure)
https://twitter.com/i__Mystic/status/1276149114473000962?s=20
Baring bosoms was initially a respect to higher class (who could afford luxuries). Few pics from past. (incl. Queens and other)
Do u see oppression?
5/n

Nadar's once belonging to ruling class became abjected to poverty and social disapproval.

A thread from antiquity
https://twitter.com/i__Mystic/status/1276083054222557185?s=20

They lost their identity and glory since 1450 AD when Vellas warned them to stay away from RULING COUNTRY
https://twitter.com/i__Mystic/status/1276083101811093504?s=20

6/n

However, with conversion to Christianity by some, they got some recognition and social status.
With start of NEW Tea plantation in Ceylon and Sugar factories, Nadar's started to earn and save some money to afford 'CLOTH' a luxury. Some turned land owner and few tree owners.

7/n

A decree from Synod allowed converted christianity to follow untouchability while it was punishable in rest of the world. (Divide with convenience?)

Surprisingly, converted unprivileged to Christianity still follow caste system.

https://twitter.com/i__Mystic/status/1275097406757986314?s=20

8/n

During the period British gaining power, Col Munro in 1812 and 1814 Govt of Trav. permitted some clothing to the converted unprivileged not same as syrian christians & moplahs. (UNFAIR & divisive)
This triggered the UPPER CLOTH MOVEMENT
9/n

The Nadar's unrest got further momentum when seasonal migrant Thirunelveli Nadar covering upper body have to bare in Trivancore. The Upper cloth movement can be categorised in 3 phases (in pic)

10/n

While some rich NADAR wore upper clothes and poorer not
A DIVIDE was created not on CASTE lines but Poor and Riches
Finally, a Royal Proclamation was issued on 26,July 1859, abolishing all restrictions on covering upper parts by Shanar woman except not to imitate high class
11/n

Thus a long UPPER Cloth controversy came to an end.

Requesting @HRDMinistry @GoI_MeitY to act on removing all fictional stories published during last 48 years on mixing Cloth controversy with Tax issue.
https://twitter.com/i__Mystic/status/1276511944199921664?s=20
cc @TIinExile @Aabhas24 @ShefVaidya
END OF THREAD