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{{Short description|Indian woman social worker}}
{{Infobox person
| name = K. Chinnamma
| image =
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| other_names =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year|1883}}
| birth_place = [[Travancore]], British India
| death_date = {{death year and age|1930|1883}}
| death_place = [[Travancore]]
| occupation = Social worker, Woman activist
| years_active =
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| notable_works =
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}}
'''K. Chinnamma''' was a feminist, social worker and woman activist from [[Kerala]], India. In 1918, she started ''Raja Sreemoolam Thirunal Shashtyabda Poorthi Smaraka Hindu Mahila Mandiram'' (S.M.S.S Hindu Mahila Mandiram now), Kerala state's first home for destitute women. She founded the institution with the aim of educating, empowering and rehabilitating girls from less privileged backgrounds, irrespective of religion or caste.<ref>{{cite news |title=THE WEEK |url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2019/10/23/srg2-kl-mahila%20mandiram.html |language=en}}</ref>

==Biography==
K. Chinnamma was born in 1883 in a typical farming family in [[Attingal]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]] to Kalyani Amma of Attingal Edavamadam House and Velayudhan Pillai.<ref name="keralawomen">{{cite web |title=കെ ചിന്നമ്മ |url=https://www.keralawomen.gov.in/ml/node/743 |website=Kerala Women |publisher=Department of Women and Child Development, Kerala state |language=ml |date=27 March 2021}}</ref> Poverty, oppression and destitution suffered by vulnerable women have plagued Chinnamma from an early age.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/> Encouraged by her maternal aunt, she attended Fort High School and was one of the first girl students there.<ref name="Hindu">{{cite news |last1=Sathyendran |first1=Nita |title=For women, by women |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/for-women-by-women/article7011444.ece |work=The Hindu |date=19 March 2015 |language=en-IN}}</ref> After completing her basic education at Senana Mission Girls' School, Thiruvananthapuram, she obtained her FA degree from Thiruvananthapuram Women's College.<ref name="keralawomen"/> After education she joined the Department of Public Instruction as Assistant Inspector. Chinnamma who was appointed as assistant to the then school inspector Karapit, was in charge of eleven [[taluk]]s.<ref name="keralawomen"/>

===Personal life and death===
Chinnamma was married to Kumara Pillai, son of [[C. V. Raman Pillai]]'s brother [[Tehsildar]] Narayana Pillai.<ref name="keralawomen"/> Chinnamma lived in [[Kottayam]] with her husband and children. She died in 1930.<ref name="keralawomen"/>

==Social service and activism==
When M.C. Sankara Pillai wrote in a publication that women are reproductive machines, Chinnamma and her classmate [[B. Kalyani Amma|Kalyani Amma]] sharply criticized it.<ref name="anweshanam">{{cite web |title=ദിഗംബര സ്മരണകൾ 208;"രണ്ട് കൂട്ടുകാരികൾ, കെ. ചിന്നമ്മയും ബി.കല്യാണി അമ്മയും";എം.രാജീവ് കുമാർ |url=https://anweshanam.com/opinion/digambara-memoirs-208;-two-friends-k-chinnamma-and-b/cid5427556.htm |website=anweshanam.com |language=ml |date=8 October 2021}}</ref> In 1911, while presiding over a women's conference, she met Theerthapada Paramahamsa and on his advice she focused on social work.<ref name="anweshanam"/>

Chinnamma, who advocated for the rights of married officials, has founded several women's societies. In 1908, K. Chinnamma was appointed School Inspector in the Kottayam Division of Travancore. As part of her work, she visited Christian schools run by nuns and saw orphanages affiliated with schools for Christian children. So she wondered what it would be like to start a shelter home for orphans and widows in the Hindu community.<ref name="News Minute">{{cite news |title=Remembering Kerala's Chinnamma, who opened state's first home for destitute women |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/remembering-keralas-chinnamma-who-opened-states-first-home-destitute-women-115640 |work=The News Minute |date=8 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In 1916, Chinnamma spoke about her idea at a women's conference on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the then King of Travancore, Sreemoolam Thirunal, but no one supported her idea.<ref name="News Minute"/>

Mrs. P. Raman Thampi, who was the head of the women's society, organized the 'Shashtipurthi Maholsavam' (60th birthday celebration) and entrusted Chinnamma with the task. She had a surplus of Rs. 200 in her hand after the celebrations.<ref name="News Minute"/> In the discussion on what to do with the remaining money, Chinnamma once again raised the need for a house for needy women. There was still strong opposition but later Mrs. Raman Thampi supported the idea.<ref name="News Minute"/> Chinnamma delivered a powerful speech there, roughly translating: “Most of us gathered here have proper food and clothing. But many women who have none of this end up begging. Many of you may not have seen it. But if we have the heart, we must surely help these helpless women, in honor of the King who did so much for women's education".<ref name="News Minute"/>

The speech worked and in 1918, ''Raja Sreemoolam Thirunal Shashtyabda Poorthi Smaraka Hindu Mahila Mandiram'' was established at Thiruvananthapuram.<ref name="News Minute"/> She developed it as an institution that provides education and vocational training to poor girls.<ref name="keralawomen"/> She also ran a women's publication called ''Mahila Mandir''.<ref name="keralawomen"/> When it was rumored that Chinnamma had used her power to use teachers for the Mahila Mandir, she was removed from the post of school inspector.<ref name="News Minute"/> She later became the headmistress of the Petta Higher Secondary School.<ref name="News Minute"/> Chinnamma ignored the existing untouchability in Kerala at that time and admitted lower caste girls to attend school.<ref name="News Minute"/>

Later Chinnamma quit her job and worked for Mahila Mandir full time.<ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite news |title=ഇത് ചിന്നമ്മയുടെ കഥ, പൂജപ്പുര മഹിളാ മന്ദിരത്തിന്റേയും |url=https://archives.mathrubhumi.com/thiruvananthapuram/news/22nov2021-1.6200185 |work=Mathrubhumi |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=February 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> She traveled a lot to raise money for this institution.<ref name="Mathrubhumi"/>

==Honors==
Mahila Mandir and Chinnamma who led it has been praised by national leaders including [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] and [[Annie Besant]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Malayalam |first1=Media |title=ഇത് ചിന്നമ്മയുടെ കഥ, പൂജപ്പുര മഹിളാ മന്ദിരത്തിന്റേയും - Media Malayalam (മീഡിയ മലയാളം) |url=https://mediamalayalam.com/this-is-the-story-of-chinnamma-and-the-poojappura-mahila-mandir/ |date=22 November 2021 |archive-date=22 November 2021 |access-date=24 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122061118/https://mediamalayalam.com/this-is-the-story-of-chinnamma-and-the-poojappura-mahila-mandir/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Chinnamma Memorial Girls High School<ref name="Hindu"/> in Thiruvanathapuram is named after her. In remembrance of Chinnamma's outstanding contributions and selfless services, Mahila Mandiram provided educational assistance to 100 girls as part of its Centenary Celebrations.<ref>{{cite news |title='Children' of Mahila Mandiram Come Home to Thank 'Mothers' |url=https://www.newsexperts.in/children-mahila-mandiram-come-home-thank-mothers/ |work=News Experts |date=12 November 2019}}</ref>

In 2019 November, the Indian Postal Department issued a special cover to mark the centenary of SMSS Hindu Mahila Mandiram started by Chinnamma. The cover carries a special stamp with picture of K. Chinnamma on it.<ref>{{cite news |title=India Post Issues Special Cover To Mark Centenary Of Mahila Mandiram - Kerala9.com |url=https://www.kerala9.com/latest-news/india-post-issues-special-cover-to-mark-centenary-of-mahila-mandiram/ |date=28 November 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chinnamma, K.}}
[[Category:1883 births]]
[[Category:1930 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian women activists]]
[[Category:People from Thiruvananthapuram district]]
[[Category:Indian feminists]]

K. Chinnamma - Revision history

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