Page 125 - DENG105_ELECTIVE_ENGLISH_II

Elective English–II

Notes • I’d also like to say a word about Premchand’s religious vocabulary in this story.
Unquestionably the worldview of the two main characters is Hindu; in both versions,
their religious terms and concepts are drawn entirely from the Hindu side. But the
same is not true of the omniscient narrator who describes it all for us. In the Devanagari
version, this narrative voice uses Sanskritic vocabulary that harmonizes well with the
characters’ religious views. But in the Urdu-script version, the narrator’s religious vocabulary
is not Sanskritic, nor is it any kind of neutral description. It’s quite overtly Islamic in
its associations. The effect is to make the story feel more general: its satiric barbs are
directed not at Hindu religious hypocrisy and exploitation in particular, but at religious
hypocrisy and exploitation in general. (And of course they’re directed even more forcefully
at political and economic exploitation.)
• The story has sometimes been attacked by Dalit critics, on the grounds that it paints an
unflattering and hostile picture of two anti-heroes who are explicitly identified as
Chamars. But of course, throughout the story these two are repeatedly and emphatically
depicted as unique, as isolated individuals. Their behaviour and attitudes are described
as peculiar to them alone; the narrator tells us very clearly that they should be seen as
deviants. Everybody else in the story, of every caste and social level, finds them contemptible.
So the idea that the story embodies or expresses prejudice against Dalits doesn’t seem
plausible.

9.4 Keywords

Anchorite : A hermit
Pasties : Pasties a small container made of pastry with a savoury filling such as meat,
vegetables or cheese
Cut comers : Do something perfunctorily so as to save money or time
Writhe : To make large twisting movements with the body
Ingratiating : Describes behaviour that is intended to make people like you

Palpably : Very obviously
Redolent : Smelling strongly of something or having qualities that make you think of
something else
Flux : Change
Inebriety : Alcoholic intoxication
Gyrate : To move around a fixed point or to dance
Gesticulate : To make movements with your hands and arms

9.5 Review Questions

1. The story hinges on death and the paraphernalia that death demands. But is death seen
as a calamity or a tragedy in the story? How do you reach this conclusion?

2. What is told to the readers about Ghisu and Madhav directly by the author? In addition,
are there any clues or markers in the text which tell us about them as well as their
attitudes towards a. each other, b. family ties, c. their position in society, and d, their
responsibility towards society and vice versa?
3. Budhiya, Madhav’s wife is central to the story yet is seen by the readers only through
the eyes of Madhav and Ghisu. What is the image of Budhiya that is conveyed to the

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