M. R. Bhattathiripad

Mullamangalath Raman Bhattathiripad (1908–2001), also known as M. R. Bhattathiripad, was an Indian social reformer, cultural leader and a Malayalam writer. He was born in 1908 into a Nambudiri family of Kerala with limited resources due to which he received only nominal education. He joined Yogakshema Sabha and worked with V. T. Bhattathiripad and his brother Premji. He was also an active member of Purogamana Sahitya Prasthanam. When widow marriage was considered a taboo in Nambuthiri community, he married Uma Antharjanam, younger sister of VT's wife Sreedevi Antharjanam, on 13 September 1934. This was the first known widow marriage in the Kerala Nambuthiri community. The ceremony, though boycotted by orthodox Nambudiris, was attended by Arya Pallam and M. C. Joseph. Bhattathiripad's younger brother Premji later followed his brother in 1943 by marrying a 27-year old widow named Arya Antharjanam.