Mariamma Chedathy
Encyclopedia
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
grandmother, a well-known folklorist from the state of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Mariamma Chedathy died on 31 August 2008.
Folklorist
She was popularly known as Mariamma Chedathy (Chedathy being a respectful way an elderly woman is addressed in the Malayalam language). She was believed to be more than 90 at the time of her demise, though her date of birth was not known. She was an illiterate member of the marginalized Paraya community in Kerala.Discovery
Mariamma had been an unknown sweeper at St. Berchmans CollegeSt. Berchmans College
St.Berchmans' College Changanassery also known as S. B. College, is one of the most reputed Colleges in Kerala, India situated in the town of Changanassery 18 kilometers south of Kottayam. Established in 1922, the college has grown over the years into one of the leading colleges with thirteen...
at Chenganacherry near Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. She was discovered by Prof. Sebastian Vattamattam in course of a literacy campaign. Within four years, a large number of short and very long folk songs from her were published as a book, Manikkam Pennu. She was one of the few living exponents of the traditional art forms Mudi-āttam
Mudi-attam
Mudi-āttam is an art form once prevalent, but now disappearing, in Central Travancore in Kerala. This is performed by the Pulaya and Paraya castes. Originally a fertility-dance, this is now staged as a community entertainment. Young women are the exponents of this. They should have long hair and...
and Kolam-thullal (Mask Dance) of the Paraya people.
Teaching career
Meanwhile she started teaching classes in folklore to the post-graduate students of St. Berchmans CollegeSt. Berchmans College
St.Berchmans' College Changanassery also known as S. B. College, is one of the most reputed Colleges in Kerala, India situated in the town of Changanassery 18 kilometers south of Kottayam. Established in 1922, the college has grown over the years into one of the leading colleges with thirteen...
. She was relieved of her job of a sweeper and appointed as the folklore consultant in the Malayalam Department of the same college.
Retirement
After her retirement Mariamma Chedathy continued to participates in folklore performances in television and other programs. She was converted to ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
at the age of 15. It was before that, that she learned all the folk songs she knew. Even after her marriage to another Christian convert John, she maintained her interest in traditional folklore associated with the animist beliefs of her Paraya people. Her new faith limited her chances of public performances. Mariamma was considered to be the sole authority on Paraya folklore.