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Unit 12: A Flight of Pigeons by Ruskin Bond

Javed Khan thus becomes an unlikely hero, whose passion for Ruth, combined with the surprising Notes
restraint he shows in waiting for her mother’s permission keeps them safe through the days
of peril for the British women. Mariam does the best thing that she could do as a mother
fighting for her and her daughter’s survival - keeps him at bay with the assurance that he
could marry her daughter if the British fail in taking over Delhi, all the time hoping for the
victory of the British, as that would ensure their safety. She knows that if she had stood up
in open rebellion of him, she and her daughter would lose all chance of surviving honourably.

They had to spend the whole of 1857, and many months into 1858, in Javed Khan’s household.
We are told early on in the book, that Miriam’s mother is a girl from a Nawab family from
Rohilon-ka-Rampur, married to a British officer. They therefore have Indian cultural roots,
and integrate quite easily. They spend all their time in the zenana of Javed Khan, working as
members of the household.
Except for Javed Khan’s wife, Khan-Begum, who dislikes their presence for obvious reasons,
the rest of the women of the household soon get attached to them. They get invited to spend
a few months at Khan-Begum’s sister Qamran’s and Javed Khan’s aunt Kothiwali’s place.
Miriam is very happy to take them up on their invitations, as it means that she can be safe,
yet not be worried about Javed Khan’s repeated proposals for Ruth’s hand.
It is at Qamran’s place that a relative comes with the news of a prophecy made by Mian Saheb,
a Pir (holy man).
‘…that the restoration of the Firangi rule was as certain as the coming of doomsday. It
would be another hundred years, he said, before the foreigners could be made to leave.
“See, here they come!” he cried, pointing to the north where a flock of white pigeons could
be seen hovering over the city. “They come flying like white pigeons which, when disturbed,
fly away and circle, and come down to rest again. White pigeons from the hills!” …’
This prediction of Mian Saheb comes true, luckily for Miriam and Ruth. The British take over
Delhi, and the uprising is put down. The British army then moves to take back every town,
every post from where it has been ousted.
True to his word, Javed Khan releases the women from his bondage, and they are free to go
and join the British, no longer needing to be in hiding from the militants. But not before he
gets Ruth to come before him, so that he could gaze on her face once, something he has not
done till now, in spite of his passion for her.

A very perceptive, wonderfully written book, complete with a detailed look into the mechanisms
of the zenana or women’s quarters in a segregated household. A tale of survival of the refugee
women who probably did so only because of a mother playing by her wits, guts and an ability
to adapt and accept her circumstances.
The detailed and very perceptive (considering that Ruskin Bond is a man, and culturally a
British one, at that!) potrayal of the camarederie and internal politics inside an all women
Indian Muslim household from a hundred years ago.

Self Assessment

1. The story starts with the capture of Shahjahanpur, a small town village in
(a) Bihar (b) Uttar Pradesh

(c) Madhya Pradesh (d) None of these

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