The Women Power of the Malabar Struggle – Maalu is a groundbreaking work that gives voice to the women warriors of the 1921 Malabar Rebellion. Published by Yuvatha Books, first released October 21, 2021, and re-released at the Sharjah International Book Expo on November 7, 2022, now in its third edition.
The central figure is Maalu — a composite portrayal drawn from the real stories of brave women who defied colonial authority, aided rebel fighters, sheltered families, and paid with their lives or freedom for their convictions. Jafar Erattupetta recovers these stories through exhaustive field research in villages of Malappuram and Erattupetta.
The book is written in a compelling narrative style blending biographical detail with historical context. It won widespread praise from feminist historians, gender studies scholars, and literary critics for its sensitive portrayal of women's agency in a male-centered historical narrative.
Celebrated at book fairs from Kerala to the Gulf, Maalu has become one of Jafar's most iconic works and is frequently cited in discussions about women's participation in India's independence movement.
