ANNA CHANDY - FIRST FEMALE JUDGE IN INDIA.

 

                     

Anna Chandy made her mark in the pre-Independence era of India as a first generation feminist, who strived for equality of the sexes in all walks of life.

Anna was born on 4^th May 1905 in Trivandrum. She lost after father soon after her birth and was brought up in the matrilineal tradition, by her mother a brave and capable woman, who imbued her with a sense of self-esteem and independence.

Anna grew up during the reign of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi – the Regent of Travancore, who encouraged the education of women. Anna was the first woman in Kerala to obtain a Law degree, and went on to do her postgraduation in 1926, at the Government College of Trivandrum. She became a practising Barrister in 1929 and specialized in Criminal Law.

In 1930, Anna stood for elections to the Shree Mulam Popular Assembly. Needless to say there was much opposition from the narrow-minded men of that time, who believed that a woman’s place was in the home, and she was created for the domestic pleasure of her spouse. Their patriarchal minds believed that when women ventured out of their homes it brought about chaos and unhappiness in the family. They even started a smear campaign insinuating an affair with the Dewan of Travancore. But Anna was made of sterner stuff. She stood again for the elections in 1931. This time she won a place in the Assembly for a tenure of two years from 1932 – 1934.

In 1937, Anna was appointed by the Dewan, as the first female District Judge in Travancore. Of course her opponents were determined to prove that she being a woman could not make logical unbiased decisions. But Anna worked sincerely, determined to make a success of her career. Her efficiency was rewarded by her elevation to be the Judge of the Kerala High Court in 1959. She continued to hold this post till 1967, proving to her male antagonists that here career had been nothing but illustrious.

Anna fought tirelessly for the rights of women who were held in subjugation by the tenets of patriarchy. Women were prevented from pursuing higher education. They had no voting rights. Every profession was male dominated, so that jobs for women were scarce.

Anna started a magazine called “Shrimathi,’ which served as a platform for the advancement of women’s rights. She fought for reservation in government jobs and against wage discrimination among labourers. She championed laws to permit widows to remarry. Though she never married, Anna fought for Women’s Reproductive Rights, insisting that women’s bodies were not toys for the pleasure of men. According to Travancore Law of that time, men were allowed conjugal rights without consent from wives. She insisted that every woman must have control over her own body.

Anna was a champion of Gender Equality. By equality she did not mean concessions for women. In 1035, she raised objections against women being exempted from the death penalty and this must have surprised the judiciary.

Anna was the first woman among Commonwealth nations to become a High Court judge. She was the second female judge in the world, the first being Florence Allan of USA who became a judge in 1922. After her retirement, she served on the Law Commission of India.

Anna wrote her biography ‘Atmakatha’ leaving behind her story of courage and determination, from which women can draw inspiration. She died at the ripe old age of 91 in the year 1996. Though she was born a Syrian Christian, Anna Chandy was interred as a Catholic.