Women Labour in Colonial Malabar's Modern Industries: A Study
By Shapna K.P.
Summary
This study examines the emergence of modern industries and women's labor in Colonial Malabar during the early 20th century. It highlights how small-scale industries, including those established by the Basal Evangelical Mission and later indigenous entrepreneurs, employed significant numbers of women, who constituted over 30% of the workforce. Despite their contributions, historical labor narratives often overlooked women's roles, focusing instead on male perspectives. The research explores the socio-economic conditions of women industrial workers, including their recruitment, migration from rural areas, gender-based division of labor, and participation in strikes and unionization. It also analyzes the caste-dominated Malabar society, where women from marginalized castes like Ezhavas and Cherumas were predominantly employed in menial or industrial work. The study emphasizes the challenges faced by women, including limited access to urban industries and societal restrictions, while also noting the growth of factories in Malabar compared to other regions in the Madras Presidency. Tables provide data on industrial distribution, workforce demographics, and recruitment patterns in mission-owned factories, revealing the prominence of religious affiliation in employment. Overall, the paper sheds light on the often-overlooked contributions of women in Malabar's industrial development and the broader socio-economic constraints they navigated.
Conclusion
This study highlights the significant yet overlooked role of women in Colonial Malabar's modern industries, revealing their substantial participation (over 30% of the workforce) despite societal marginalization. It challenges the male-centric historical narrative by emphasizing their dual burden of industrial labor and domestic responsibilities, often within rigid caste and religious frameworks. The research underscores how missionary-led industries initially prioritized religious affiliation in recruitment, while later shifts toward technical training and industrial schools provided some pathways for skill development. However, the absence of documented records and the socio-economic constraints of illiterate, lower-caste women further obscured their contributions. The findings call for a more inclusive labor history that acknowledges women's agency and resilience, while also addressing the systemic inequalities that shaped their industrial experiences.