Revisiting Jata Removal Movement

Although rarely treated as a health problem, matting of hair among women in southwestern India has been gradually viewed as a harmful cultural practice by the rationalist entities of society. Due to the oppressive politico-religious structures, the problems associated with matting of hair were neglected for centuries. Moreover, customs such as Devadasi dignified the matted hair as a religious-based symbol. Jata Removal Movement has addressed the multifarious forms of marginalization associated with the problem of matting of hair. Jata Removal Movement emerged from the continued actions of rationalist segments from the rural society of Maharashtra and Karnataka states in India. The movement, although not federated, and functional through small activist groups, has been remedial in reducing the drudgery of jata-affected women in the name of cultural tradition. This book presents experiential accounts of formerly jata-affected women who chose to undergo jata removal. The case studies shar