Fig. 26		Fig. 27		Fig. 28

Fig. 29		Fig. 30		Fig. 31
		Fig. 32

Kunhan Pilla Chattambi, who later came to be known as Chattambi Swamikal, was a contemporary of Narayana Guru. Unlike Narayana Guru, however, he did not establish any institution but played an explicitly provocative role in challenging the caste hierarchy and associated practices such as untouchability and caste pollution. He supported his activism through practices such as mishrabojanam (inter-dining with members of other castes), with scholarly writings of a philosophical nature often dealing with linguistic history and developing a critique of caste. He attained a personified charisma as a spiritual saint during his lifetime. Different contemporary photographs, sketches and paintings signify this spiritual power as a sign of his charisma [see Fig. 26-32]. This value is constructed through an objectification of the individuality of the Chattambi Swamikal within the network of social relations. In this discursive representation, Chattambi Swamikal also attains iconic divinity like other religious and reform leaders who I have discussed earlier.

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