Imagine a family inheritance system where daughters, rather than sons are central to the lineage and the property is passed down through the maternal line instead of paternal. In the Indian context, where hierarchy is profoundly patriarchal, it almost sounds like a fiction, doesn't it? However, this was the reality and norm amongst many families in Kerala before the late 1900s. Marumakkathayam - the Matrilineal system followed in Kerala along with some other South Indian regions was a unique system that kept females at the center, not just as the caregivers but as a pivotal figure who kept the family continuously going.
“Marumakkathayam” derived from a Malayalam word- “Marumakkal” meaning “sister's children”, “niece” or “nephew” was a system of Matrilineal kinship and inheritance practiced in Kerala, especially amongst Nair community because the females of the family had to take charge due to the constant involvement of Nair Men in wars and military trainings. In this system, the family lineage was traced by the females of the family, which means the identity, inheritance and responsibilities of a person were connected to their mother's family rather than father's.
The extended family units in Marumakkathayam system were called “Tharavad” where the senior most man of the family (usually mother's brother) referred as “Karanavar”, managed the family affairs, controlled decisions related to property and inheritance, eventually passing down the property to his sister's children. The inheritance system relied on Maternal descents with daughters and nieces continuing the family’s legacy. In absence of Karanavar, the women of the family, especially the senior one's played a key role in decision making for the Tharavad.
In the royal context, the Travancore royal family used to follow the Marumakkathayam system of inheritance. The king's wife usually known as “Ammachi” was neither considered the queen nor given any royal rights. Instead, it was the king's mother or sister who enjoyed the status of queen. The throne was passed to the son of the king's sister, while her daughter was elevated to the role of queen, making the royal lineage uniquely matrilineal.
Many people misinterpret the Marumakkathayam system as a matriarchal one, but that’s not the case. While women in the family held significant power and played a crucial role in continuing the family legacy, much of the authority was in the control of males of the family, especially the karanavar, particularly in matters of property and inheritance. This power dynamic is often overlooked when discussing the system.
This male-dominated authority structure, coupled with changing social and political dynamics, eventually led to the system's abolition. The system was abolished through the Joint Family Abolition Act 1975, marking the end of an era for the traditional structure of inheritance and family organization.
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