At a time when women were confined to their homes, Dr Muthulakshmy Reddy, known as the “wonder woman of Madras,” donned many hats and won many laurels. A doctor, legislator, freedom fighter, feminist and founder of many institutions, she was far ahead of her times.
Muthulakshmy was born on July 30, 1886, in Pudukkotai. Her parents came from different social backgrounds. Her father, S Narayanaswami Iyer, a Tamil Brahmin, who worked as the Principal of Maharajas College, Madras, married Chandramma, a devadasi. As her father’s family ostracised him for marrying outside his caste, Muthulakshmy was closer to the maternal side of the family. Perhaps this made her perceptive to the problems faced by the women of the Devadasi community.
Even as a child, Muthulakshmy was curious about the world around her; she had an insatiable desire for knowledge. She studied in a co-educational school, competed with the boys and achieved great academic success. Marvelled by her enthusiasm for learning, her father, an academic, homeschooled her until she completed matriculation.
Post-school, she wished to pursue higher education. But when she applied to Maharaja’s High school, Madras, the Principal refused her application saying her presence will “demoralise” male students. Her application also caused much consternation among the parents of pupils. Many of them threatened to take their children away from the Maharajas college if she was admitted. But when Martanda Bairava Todarmal, the Raja of Pudukkotai heard of her plight, he ordered the high school to accept her application and even provided her with a scholarship.
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