Genealogy of Power and Matriliny: A Foucauldian Reading of The Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House of Travancore

Kerala a state celebrated for its cultural richness and social evolution once witnessed an era governed by matriliny — a time when women held agency inheritance passed through the female line and power resided with matriarchs. Over the decades this structure transitioned into a patrilineal and eventually patriarchal society. But the echoes of that matrilineal past still linger in the present.This book is a Foucauldian inquiry into power history and gender — explored through The Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House of Travancore by Manu S. Pillai. A meticulously researched and widely acclaimed historical narrative The Ivory Throne offers a compelling account of the royal house of Travancore and its formidable matriarch Sethu Lakshmi Bayi.Through a critical reading of this text Anna Mary Palamattam traces the genealogy of power and its evolution from matrilineal dominance to the patriarchal systems that prevail today. Using Michel Foucault’s theories of power surveillance and discourse this work opens up new dimensions in the understanding of Kerala's socio-political and gendered transformations.An essential academic contribution for scholars of history literature gender studies and cultural theory — this book challenges conventional narratives and reclaims a past often overlooked.