Who Is Mary Roy, The Women’s Rights Activist Who Fought For The Right To Equal Inheritance For Syrian Christian Women?
Strong, opinionated and women with a fighting spirit leave a mark wherever they go. They are remembered even after they pass away because of the monumental change they brought about in society by fighting for women’s rights and becoming a beacon of hope for them. One such lady was Mary Roy, the women’s rights and educator who passed away on September 1. The cause of her death is not yet known. She was 89 years old. Mary Roy had fought a significant case in the Supreme Court, that too, against her own brother. Here is more information on her and the case that was quite path-breaking for Syrian Christian women.
Who Is Mary Roy?
Mary Roy was the Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy’s mother. She was the daughter of PV Isaac, the entomologist who got his training from England’s Harold Maxwell-Lefroy. She is predominantly known for the case she fought in the Supreme Court wherein she sued her brother George Issac over the equal distribution of their father’s property. Mary Roy was also the founder and director of the Pallikoodam school, which was formerly known as Corpus Christi High School at Kalathilpady, Kerala.
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What was the Mary Roy case about?
Mary Roy had challenged the Travancore Succession Act, 1916 and Cochin Succession Act, 1921, which were followed by the Syrian Christian community. According to these acts, the women in a family, whose fathers died before making a will, were eligible for only one quarter or Rs 5000, whichever was lesser. Mary challenged this notion in court stating that the members of the community everywhere else in the country were following the Indian Succession Act, 1925.
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On the basis of this, she sued her brother George Issac after their father PV Issac passed away in 1960. Mary sued him for the equal inheritance that their father had left them. It was not an easy battle for Mary to fight. It took her 24 long years before the court pass the verdict in her favour after which she got her share in the family properties that were spread all over the country.
Also read: On Her Birthday, 5 Books By Arundhati Roy That Are A Must-Read
The verdict by Supreme Court was considered a landmark.
