Mapping Cultural Memory: A Metatheoretical Exploration of the Field Through Devaki Nilayamgode’s Antharjanam: Memoirs of a Namboodiri Woman
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53007/SJGC.2024.V9.I2.219Keywords:
Cultural Memory Studies, individual memory, collective memory, Devaki Nilayamgode, memoir, Namboodiri women, KeralaAbstract
The research is a unique attempt to analyse the theoretical framework of Cultural Memory Studies, conceptualised in the early 20th century by Maurice Halbwachs. This framework explores the reciprocal relationship between culture and memory, contextualising individual memory within a broader cultural context. Memories of the past shape our perception of the present, highlighting the importance of detailed study. The scope of this emerging field is examined through Devaki Nilayamgode’s 2011 memoir, Antharjanam: Memoirs of a Namboodiri Woman, which explores her lived experiences and the circumscribed
lives of the Antharjanams. By focusing on specific examples from Nilayamgode’s memories, the research aims to understand the socio-cultural landscape of early 20th-century Kerala. The study employs metatheoretical analysis and hermeneutic phenomenological methodology to investigate Cultural Memory Studies and the personal experiences of Namboodiri women
during the pre-independence period in Kerala, as well as the transformations over time. This research underscores the critical role of cultural memory in shaping societal narratives and contributes to the broader understanding of historical and cultural dynamics.
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