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100 Boys, 1 Girl: A King's Bold Education Decree
30 Jun
Summary
- A king allowed a girl to study with 100 boys, breaking societal norms.
- A curtain separated the trailblazing student from her male classmates.
- She championed women's education and abolished the devadasi system.
123 years ago, a king had to intervene to allow a young woman named Muthulakshmi Reddy to study alongside 100 boys, a situation then considered scandalous. Homeschooled after puberty, Reddy's father agreed to send her to college in 1903 after she wrote to King Martanda Bhairava Tondaiman. The king permitted her admission, stipulating he would monitor her behavior.
Despite significant opposition from the college principal, parents, and a lecturer, the king's decree held. Reddy began her studies under strict conditions: a curtain separated her from the boys, and she had to leave campus first each day, with a bell signaling the boys' exit.
Reddy later attended Madras Medical College, achieving academic excellence with seven gold medals. She married Dr. Sundaram Reddy in 1914, on the condition of equality in marriage and unimpeded social work. In 1926, she was appointed to the Madras Legislative Council.
From this position, Muthulakshmi Reddy became a formidable advocate for women's education, improved healthcare, and the eradication of the devadasi system, leaving a lasting legacy.
