[citation needed] The novel was written at a time when there was an emerging class of upper caste men (mostly Nairs) who received a Western style education, and were achieving prominent positions in British India.

The period was a clash of cultures, as the educated Indians were torn between Western ideals and traditional practices.

The younger sons were encouraged to have Sambandham with Nair women, in order to maintain male primogeniture, since the children born from such relations belonged to their mother's family.

The novel highlights the lack of willingness of the Nambudiris to adapt to the change of times, as well as the struggle by Nair women to break out of the age-old principle of Sambandham, which had little relevance during the late 19th century.

[citation needed] Chandu Menon has written that he initially meant Indulekha as a translation of Benjamin Disraeli's Henrietta Temple (1836), but, having struggled with the subtleties of an alien culture, he abandoned the project in favour of writing one on his own, depicting a similar story.

[citation needed] Indulekha is a graceful Nair girl with good intelligence and artistic talent.

The story details how the matrilineal society of those times encourages Namboothiris to start a relationship with Indulekha.

Indulekha promptly snubs the old Nambudiri man, but Madhavan in haste runs away from the household to Bengal.

According to the findings, the original novel which made a strong advocacy for women's empowerment was mercilessly edited and those who published the book in later years chopped off many such portions.