AUTOBIOGRAPHY AS HISTORY: A READING ON PATHIKAYUM VAZHIYORATHE MANIDEEPANGALUM

Autobiography in the Indian context holds a special place as a source of historical understanding.Womens autobiographies are becoming increasingly important as source of self-perception as well as providing insights into gender relations, social structure, political and social change and so on. This paper critically examines the autobiography of Kochattil Kalyanikutty Amma, Pathikayum Vazhiyorathe Manideepangalum and throws light on the importance of autobiographies in recovering womens voices and experiences often excluded from traditional histories. It explores the role of a woman autobiography as a source of historical knowledge and how it helps in the reconstruction of feminity.