S4E161: How Ancient Kerala Gave Women More Freedom Than Modern India | Preetha Leela Chockalingam

<p>What if the kingdom that gave women the most freedom existed centuries ago, right here in India? Preetha Leela Chockalingam, author of the Girls of India series (Penguin Random House), joins Sangeeta Relan to talk about the matrilineal Kerala that history forgot, the ancient queens and ordinary girls who held power long before the modern world caught up, and why she is determined to bring those stories back to life. From her debut as an eight-year-old plagiarising Enid Blyton to writing historical fiction for children and adults, Preetha is on a mission, one kingdom at a time. If you have ever wondered what India looked like when women truly thrived, this episode is your answer.</p><p>The AboutHer Show is ranked in the Top 3 Indian Women&#39;s Leadership Podcasts on Feedspot 2026.</p><p><strong>For more detailed insights, read the full article on our website:</strong> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠<a href="https://aboutherbysangeeta.com/preetha-leela-chockalingam/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://aboutherbysangeeta.com/preetha-leela-chockalingam/</a></p><p><strong>Chapters:</strong></p><p>🌱 (0:00) Intro</p><p>Meet Preetha Leela Chockalingam — writer, lecturer and keeper of forgotten kingdoms.</p><p>📖 (2:28) Grew Up Telling Stories</p><p>How stormy evenings and a sister became the birthplace of a storyteller.</p><p>✏️ (3:57) First Story</p><p>The eight-year-old who borrowed from Enid Blyton and never looked back.</p><p>🌴 (6:49) Kerala and Tamil Nadu</p><p>Why these two ancient lands called to her and never let go.</p><p>🏛️ (8:16) Kerala, A Matrilineal Society</p><p>The remarkable world where women inherited, led and belonged.</p><p>👑 (12:02) Women Had Agency</p><p>Inside a kingdom that gave women power long before the modern world caught up.</p><p>🔍 (15:00) Women&#39;s History</p><p>On the erasure of women&#39;s stories and the responsibility of bringing them back.</p><p>📚 (17:05) Writing for Children and Young Adults</p><p>How the reader changes everything about how a story is told.</p><p>⚖️ (19:42) Women Juggle</p><p>On teaching, parenting, writing and refusing to choose between them.</p><p>🎓 (22:12) Mentoring Young Women</p><p>What she tells students who want to write but do not yet believe their stories matter.</p><p>✨ (25:06) Girls of India Series</p><p>The Penguin series putting young girls at the heart of ancient India.</p><p>⚔️ (27:41) A Chera Adventure</p><p>Sharadha, a kingdom at war and a girl finding her courage.</p><p>🏺 (29:23) A Pallava