Draft:Louis Ouwerkerk

Louis Ouwerkerk

Louis Ouwerkerk (1904–1989) was a British economist and educator of Dutch parentage who worked in the princely state of Travancore (present-day Kerala, India) during the pre-independence era.

Biography Ouwerkerk was born in 1904 in the United Kingdom to Dutch parents. She received her education at Cambridge University, earning a Master of Arts degree in Economics.

In 1929, Ouwerkerk joined the faculty of Maharaja's College for Women in Travancore as a professor of Economics and Political Science, serving until 1930. Some sources suggest she later served as a principal of the college, though official documentation of this appointment is limited.

While in Travancore, Ouwerkerk established professional connections with Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, who served as the Divan (Prime Minister) of Travancore. Her academic work focused on rural development and women's educational advancement.

Ouwerkerk participated in the formation of the Travancore State Congress, which advocated for democratic reforms. This political involvement reportedly created professional conflicts with the Travancore administration, leading to her resignation in 1939 and return to the United Kingdom.

In 1940, Ouwerkerk returned to India, visiting Bombay (now Mumbai) and Wardha, where she delivered lectures. During this period, she reportedly met with contemporary Indian leaders including Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.

Publications

Ouwerkerk's main published work is "No Elephants for the Maharaja: Social and Political Change in the Princely State of Travancore (1921-1947)," published by Manohar Publishers in New Delhi. The book was edited and introduced by Dick Kooiman. This historical account documents social, economic, and political developments in Travancore during the decades preceding Indian independence.

References

Review of Louis Ouwerkerk (edited and with an introduction by Dick Kooiman), No Elephants for the Maharaja: Social and Political Change in the Princely State of Travancore (1921-1947). New Delhi: Manohar Publishers.

Further Reading

Ouwerkerk, Louis. "No Elephants for the Maharaja: Social and Political Change in the Princely State of Travancore."

References

{{ Ouwerkerk, Louis. "No Elephants for the Maharaja: Social and Political Change in the Princely State of Travancore. https://www.academia.edu/44074837/Louis_Ouwerkerks_No_Elephants_for_the_Maharaja }}