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Explore these links to learn about Pigeons at Daybreak by Anita Desai

Global Narratives: Pigeons at Daybreak

In Pigeons at Daybreak, author Anita Desai describes an ordinary day in the life of an old married couple, Mr. and Mrs. Basu. Sick with bad asthma, Amul is not able to do very much for himself anymore which puts the duty on his wife, Otima. Their back and forth groaning and harrumphing is actually very funny. He does not like the articles she chooses to read from the newspaper and never seems satisfied with the things she does for him. He snaps at her, “What’s a blue bull? You can’t be reading right” (Desai 221). She puts up with the old grump in a very cheerful way. This is a very human picture of a husband and wife who are a little impatient with each other and settled in their ways. It is the type of relationship that would make a good television comedy in the US. But, this story is set in India. The details in the newspaper immediately clue the reader into their world: rice smugglers caught, blue bulls menace in Delhi airport, the Hindi films, the floods in Assam and droughts in Maharashtra, and the two hundred cholera deaths. Other details about electricity and anti-arthritis drugs also place the story in modern day. While their everyday world might have very different happenings than life in the US, this couple shares the challenges of sick and aging people globally. One of the greatest tests all humans share is death. Up on the terrace to escape the night heat, Amul is liberated from pain of his life, the ultimate goal of all Hindus. Gazing up, like we would to the heavens, he watches a flock of pigeons hurtle upwards. Hindus believe returning to the beginning is spiritual perfection; although a person might be reincarnated a few times before that happens. Maybe he’ll come back as a pigeon. Desai’s description catches his peace and hope of going to the light of a better life which is something most humans want. “They caught the light as they rose, turned brighter till they turned at last into crystals, into prisms of light” (228).

Source: http://mimimoses.blogspot.com/2010/11/global-narratives-pigeons-at-daybreak.html

Gender Issues in Pigeons at Daybreak

Based on the short story that I had chosen which is Pigeon at daybreak written by Anita Desai, I found that there are many literary criticism in her writing. As I read the story, I become more interested to analyse the literary criticism that have been used by Anita Desai especially gender criticism. This type of criticism examines how sexual identity influences the creation and reception of literary works. These critics may also explore how images of men or women in literature might reflect or reject the social norms around gender in a particular society.

In my opinion, Anita Desai shows a good example of gender criticism in this short story. I will elaborate more on gender criticism in this paper. This story is representation of love and acceptance. Mr . Basu is the man who is unable to perform his task on his own because of the different illnesses that developed into his body. Otima, the wife of Mr. Basu play a dominant role in this story.

She has the selfless love towards her husband. She takes care of her husband without complaining anything.

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Otima always read a newspaper for Mr. Basu because Mr. Basu cannot read due to his poor eyesight. One day, their house had no electricity and they went to terrace then decided to stay there until the electricity comes back. But when the electricity comes back, Mr. Basu refused to go back to his home because he know his life will soon vanish and become a part of heaven. Mr. Basu actually had an asthmatic attack during that night when there is no electricity supply. He ask Otima to find his inhaler.

At the end of the story, Mr. Basu died and the pigeons in the terrace where Mr . Basu died symbolize his spirit and his journey in the next life. Anita Desai emphasizes the theories of gender criticism widely by showing the role of wife towards her husband. Otima plays her role as a good housewife in this story. She does all the house chores patiently without complaining although her sick husband, Mr. Basu burdens her. “So, she said, are you ready to listen to the news now? ” (line 24 page 220).

This line shows that Otima patiently treat her sick husband and this shows that husband has more rights to voice out whatever he wants his wife to do even though he is in bad condition. I found that, until today the situation is still the same. Wife must obey to her husband although their husband is sick. There is a case in Malaysia where a wife had to take care of her husband because her husband had a cancer. This is happening at Selayang last year. She had to split up from her children to look after her husband in hospital.

This is one of the example of the role of wife towards her husband that I found still happened till today. As I read the story, I see that the writer try to portray the female role as dominant one. In society women are stereotyped to be the weakest and least powerful or even inferior to men however this story is predominantly about women and how they shape life in their society and in their homes. In this story Mr. Basu’s wife does absolutely everything in her home from doing the everyday chores, the cooking, the cleaning and the main one taking care of her husband.

Source:https://graduateway.com/pigeons-at-daybreak

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With the Photographer by Stephen Leacock

In With the Photographer by Stephen Leacock we have the theme of insecurity, anger, appearance, confidence, acceptance and control. Narrated in the first person by an unnamed forty year old man, the reader realizes from the beginning of the story that Leacock may be exploring the theme of insecurity. The narrator while sitting in the photographer’s studio begins to read some magazines. It is through his reading of the magazines and seeing how other people look that the narrator begins to feel insecure about his appearance. This may be important as Leacock could be suggesting that the narrator is unrealistically comparing himself to professional models. People who have had make-up applied, proper lighting and clothing prior to their photograph being taken. If anything the magazines make the narrator insecure when the reality is there is no need for him to be. It is also noticeable that the photographer takes a dislike to the narrator’s appearance (his face) judging it to be wrong. This too may be important as it suggests that there is a standard being set by the photographer and that the narrator because of how he physically looks does not meet that standard. Just as there is comparisons being made by the narrator to the people he sees in the magazines. Likewise the photographer is making comparisons or judging the narrator solely on his appearance.

It is also noticeable that the narrator begins to do as he is instructed by the photographer. What should have been a simple process of taking a photograph becomes something of a nightmare for the narrator. If anything the photographer is attempting to change the narrator and mold his image into something that pleases his eye rather than accepting what is real. That being how the narrator actually looks. It is also interesting that at first the narrator agrees with everything that the photographer says and this would further suggest that Leacock is exploring the theme of insecurity. It is as though the narrator lacks the confidence to stand up for himself and tell the photographer that he is unhappy with the route that is being taken by the photographer. However the narrator does begin to become more confident as he begins to realise how ridiculous the photographer’s requests are. It is only after losing his confidence and then regaining it that the narrator ends up standing up for himself.

How confident the narrator becomes is noticeable when he returns to the photographer’s studio the following Saturday. He realises that the photograph that has been taken of him looks nothing like him. This angers the narrator as he was simply looking for a photograph that would show his likeness and nothing more. He accepts that he may not be to everybody’s liking when it comes to his physical appearance but is angered by the changes made by the photographer. The photographer has retouched the photograph so much that the narrator does not recognise himself. If anything many reader might suggest that the photographer is working of a template that he deems acceptable. Unfortunately the photographer’s template is not pleasing to the narrator nor should it be. Without directly saying it to the narrator the photographer by retouching the photograph is suggesting that the narrator does not meet the requirements that he thinks are required on how a man should look. If anything the photographer is attempting to push his perception of beauty onto the narrator. Something that further angers the narrator. It is as though the narrator is in shock however he does not let go of his anger telling the photographer to keep the photograph.

The end of the story is also interesting as the reader realises just how upset the narrator is when he begins to cry. It is as though the narrator knows that he is fighting a losing battle. He has been judged solely by his appearance by the photographer whose job was to simply take a life like photograph. Something because of his belief system in how a man should look. He was unable to do. It might also be a case that Leacock is suggesting that at the time the story was written men and women had very little control. At no stage does the narrator persuade the photographer that he just wants a photograph that looks like him. The photographer is more interested in retouching the photograph than listening to the narrator. This may be important as Leacock could be attempting to highlight the fact that the photographer is not allowing the narrator a voice. In reality the narrator’s tears could be due to the fact that not only is he angry with the photographer but he may also be frustrated. Throughout the story the narrator has been judged by the photographer based solely on his appearance.

Source: http://sittingbee.com/with-the-photographer-stephen-leacock/

10 short questions With the Photographer Stephen Leacock

How had the photographer arranged his studio?(March 20006)

The photographer’s studio was made up of two rooms. One room was used as a waiting room and other room was used for taking photographs. The photographer had kept various ladies and children magazines of old times like “Ladies Companion for 1912, the girls’ Magazine for 1902 and the Infants’ Journal for 1888 in a waiting room. In the inner room there was a frosted window. A sheet of factory cotton hung against it and a beam of sunlight filtered through it. In this room there was a machine that could be rolled. In this way, the photographer had arranged his studio.

2. What did the author think about his own face?

Once the author went to a photographer. He wanted his photograph taken. The author had to wait for an hour. When the author was looked down by the photographer, the photographer said that his face is quite wrong. At that time, the author accepted that he knew that his face was wrong. He added that it would look better if it was three quarters full. He also discussed about various types of faces found in the world.

3. Why did the photographer take so much time?

The photographer wanted to take the best photograph and wanted to prove his skill. He took the author’s head in his hands and twisted it sideways and looked at it. He didn’t like the author’s head. He asked to open the mouth and then to close it. He felt that the author’s ears were bad so he asked him to drop them down a little. He asked the author to roll his eyes under the eyelids, to put the hands on knees, to turn the face little upward, to expand the lungs, to bend the neck, to contract the face. By all the means he wanted the best feature and expression of the author so he took much time in all type of arranging suggestions and criticism.

4. Why was the author angry with the photographer?

The photographer was continuously criticizing the author’s face as he felt that the face was not appropriate for a photograph. The author felt humiliated at this. He couldn’t bear his insult anymore, as his face was his only face. He had lived with it for forty years and he knew its faults. Though it was not beautiful and wasn’t made for him, it was his face- the only one that the author had. Thus because of humiliation and insult of his face, the author was angry with the photographer.

5. Why did the photographer look pleased after taking the picture? (October-07)

Because of humiliation and insult of his face, the author was angry with the photographer. As the author started to rise from the seat, the photographer took his photograph. At that time the photographer looked pleased as he had caught the features just in a moment of animation. He was also happy because he could take the photograph of the ugly face of the author.

6. Why did the author ask “Is it me”? When he saw the photograph? (October-06)

On Saturday, the author went back to the photographer for his photograph. The photographer showed his photo. Looking at it the author was surprised as the photographer made so many changes in his eyes, eyebrow, mouth etc. He removed the eyebrows and he had retouched the eyes. The photograph didn’t look like the auther’s photo at all. So the author asked “is it me? When he saw the photograph.

7. What had the photographer done with the author’s eyes?

The photographer was a strange kind of person. He made so many changes in the photograph of the author’s face that it did not look like his own. He removed the eyebrows and he had retouched the eyes.

8. What had the photographer done with the author’s mouth?

The photographer was a strange kind of person. He made so many changes in the photograph of the author’s face that it did not look like his own. He removed the eyebrows and had retouched the eyes. He adjusted a little the author’s mouth as it was too law according to him.

9. What had the photographer done with the author’s ears?

The photographer was a strange kind of person. He made so many changes in the photograph of the author’s face that it did not look like his own. He wanted to fix ears all right in the print. There was a process then for removing the ears entirely.

10. Why was the purpose of the photograph waste?

The author wanted a photograph that would have looked like himself. He wanted something that would depict the face as God gave it to him. He wanted something that his friends might have kept after his death to reconcile them to his loss. But what the author wanted was not done at all. The photographer had almost changed author’s eyes, eyebrow, mouth etc. The photograph never looked like the author’s face. The purpose of the photograph was wasted because the man in the photograph was quite different than the narrator.

Source: http://snhingu.blogspot.com/2014/02/10-short-questions-with-photographer.html

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The Blind Dog by R. K. Narayan

In The Blind Dog by R.K. Narayan we have the theme of struggle, connection, greed, freedom, control and loyalty. Taken from his Malgudi Days collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Narayan may be exploring the theme of struggle. Both the blind man and Tiger have difficulties in their everyday lives. Each day the blind man struggles to get enough money to live on while Tiger struggles with getting food and ends up getting into fights with other dogs just in order to survive. It is as though both the blind man and Tiger have something in common or something that connects both of them. It is also interesting that at first the blind man is appreciate of Tiger’s company and his diligence when it comes to people trying to steal from him. However as time passes the reader soon realises that the blind man is a tyrant when it comes to how he treats Tiger. Tiger for the blind man is not a pet or friend or a helping hand rather he is a simply a work dog that is there to serve the blind man. Any type of life that Tiger had previously known is soon forgotten due to the tyranny of the blind man. If anything Tiger is there to serve the blind man just as a servant would serve their master.

It is also noticeable that the blind man starts to become greedy. He wishes to increase his daily income so he works Tiger more and more. He also starts to lend other people money while at the same time charging them interest. While some may pity the blind man because of the very fact he is blind others might suggest that the blind man is becoming greedy and taking advantage of Tiger’s good-nature. The blind man knows he will make more money by walking along the streets with Tiger leading the way and there is a sense that the main priority for the blind man is no longer just survival but he is beginning to be driven by a desire for more money. Rather than treating Tiger with kindness and being grateful that Tiger is helping him. The blind man often beats Tiger which may suggest that the blind man is being cruel.

It may also be important that others notice how the blind man is treating Tiger as by having others notice what is happening Narayan may be using their voices as a consensus to stop what is happening Tiger. The cutting of the ribbon by the ribbon vendor may also be important as symbolically this action acts as a path to freedom for Tiger. He is able to live his life as he had previously lived it. Running free. It is also noticeable after Tiger has been set free how reliant the blind man was on Tiger. He is no longer able to walk along the streets and his income drops severely. Something which causes great anguish to the blind man. At no stage in the story does the reader suspect that the blind man is repentant about his treatment of Tiger. If anything he wants to beat Tiger should he end up finding him. Which again suggests a servant and master relationship between Tiger and the blind man. Rather than a common bond of friendship between the two. If anything the relationship between Tiger and the blind man is one sided. In favour of the blind man. Yet the blind man never realises that he needs Tiger more than Tiger needs him.

The end of the story is also interesting as Narayan appears to be exploring the theme of loyalty. By returning to the blind man Tiger is showing his loyalty. Even though it is clear to the reader that nothing will change between Tiger and the blind man. Something that is noticeable by the fact that the blind man now has bought a chain to ensure that Tiger does not run away again. There is a sense that the blind man is in complete control of Tiger again. As to why Tiger has returned is difficult to say when as readers we are aware of how badly he has been treated by the blind man. However it is possible that Narayan is suggesting that just as the blind man is blind so too is Tiger’s loyalty. He is willing to forgive the blind man’s actions towards him even though he has been unfairly treated. It is also possible that Tiger has sympathy for the blind man. Even though he knows he can be cruel to him. However what is clear at the end of the story is that Tiger’s freedom has been lost again. He is to spend his days acting as a servant to an ungrateful master. Which suggests symbolically that Tiger may be as blind as the blind man. His loyalty will only end up killing him.

Source: http://sittingbee.com/the-blind-dog-r-k-narayan/

Panchlight by Phanishwar Nath Renu

Phanishwar Nath Renu (1921-1977) is one of those Hindi writers who is often termed untranslatable. While there is always a sense of distinct sensibility and overtones of an original author that are extremely difficult to render into a different language, Renu’s case is further complicated by the following reasons. Being a radical proponent of Aanchalik Kahani (regional story), Renu depicts the life of the Mithila region of Northeastern rural Bihar. Quite often, he uses the vernacular dialect of this region that is devoid of English synonyms. This vocabulary of the writer is so region specific that it is difficult and foreign for those readers whose mother tongue is Hindi. Secondly, Renu’s locale is the world of the rural underdog who has his/her own cultural and social worldview, difficult to accommodate for those who are alien to this socio-cultural scenario. After Premchand, Renu is one of those few writers who have established and documented a close and realistic association with India’s vast hinterland. Renu created and lead an alternative discourse for Hindi writers to depict a realistic portrayal of the village life in its entirety. After independence, the Indian village tried to establish a symbiotic relationship with the Indian city. Renu has a close eye on this precarious relationship and vividly brings out the cultural deterioration of idyllic village life under the fallacy of modernity. Renu portraits a rural world that is illiterate, poverty stricken, superstitious and god fearing. It is perennially under the clutches of caste system, which further gets strengthened under the post-independent modernity. Renu’s short fiction is not alien to this social reality and represents his wider concerns with the rural proletariat.

Panchlight is one of the most popular and frequently anthologized short stories of Phanishwar Nath Renu. However, notwithstanding the popularity enjoyed by the story over the years, it has never been subjected to a critical thematic analysis and quite often passed off as a story of humour and entertainment. The narrative of the story revolves around the arrival of Panchlight (Petromax) in Mahto Toli (caste based group in the village) of an undisclosed village in rural Bihar. 20 See Phanishwar Nath Renu, ‘Panchlight’, Pratinidhi Kahaniyan, (New Delhi: Rajkamal Prakashan, 2011), pp. 40-43. 159 Panchlight is an advanced version of a kerosene lamp, which is attached with paraffin and a hand pump. Symbolically, this lamp becomes the central character around which Renu weaves his narrative. The hierarchical Panchayat of Mahto Toli decides to purchase a Panchlight from the fines collected over a period of several months. Panchlight has become some sort of prestige issue of possession for the Mahto Toli, more, since the rival Toli has already purchased it. With his trademark ability of vivid description and vernacular idiom, Renu carries the readers from the fair to the village and finally establishes the climax where the villagers are caught in a catch-22 situation in front of their prize purchase (Panchlight), since no one knows how to light it in the Toli.

Quite vividly, Renu depicts the anxiety and impending dishonour and humiliation the Toli is bound to face if a member of rival Toli lights their Panchlight. In such a scenario, the Toli will lose all honour and will become a butt of laughter among the other Tolis of the village. However, in an anti-climax, a young man named Godhan, who faces social expulsion from the Panchayat, for an alleged eve teasing and singing lewd cinema song to his lady love Munari, restores the honour of the Toli by lighting the Panchlight. The Theme of Honour: Individual vs. Collective As has been discussed earlier, the theme of honour is one of the vital themes in Panchlight. This theme operates at two levels in the narrative – one, at the individual level and the other, at the level of the community collective. Renu, quite cleverly juxtaposes the two. In order to analyze this juxtaposition, it is imperative for us to see its individual and collective operation. Godhan, the young man of the Toli who is ostracized and socially expelled, is guilty of defying the individual honour of Munari, Gulri Kaki’s daughter and the ‘collective daughter’ of the Toli.

The Panchayat unanimously pronounces the verdict when Godhan threatens this individual honour of the “daughter of the village”: Munari’s mother had filed a complaint against Godhan in the Panchayat that he sings lewd songs (When I fell for you, my love!) by looking at her daughter. The Panchayat already had a grudge against Godhan. He has settled here from another village and so far did not extend any offerings to the Panchayat. The Panchayat got the chance. It slapped a fine of ten rupees on Godhan, failing which he will be expelled from the Toli… till today Godhan is facing expulsion. (My translation, p.42) 160 However, this individual honour is abandoned or rather pushed aside when the collective honour of the Toli is at stake. Godhan is the only one in the Toli who has the expertise to light the Panchlight. The situation is full of anxiety for the Panchayat and the Toli, though eventually the collective honour of Toli prevails over the individual honour: …Till today Godhan is facing expulsion. How does one ask him to come and lit the Panchlight! On the other hand, the entire caste was losing face.

Quite cleverly, Munari puts the suggestion (that Godhan knows to light the Panchlight) in Kaneli’s ear. “Godhan knows how to light the Panchlight.” Kaneli declared. “Who, Godhana? He knows! But....” The Chief looked at the secretary and the secretary looked at the members of the Panchayat. After all, the decision to expel Godhan was unanimous. The entire village was angry with Godhan singing vulgar cinema songs and making sheep’s eye towards village girls. The chief said, “What is the logic of expelling him from the caste, when the honour of the caste is itself at stake!” What is your take Mr. Secretary? True, true- replied the secretary. The members of the Panchayats pronounced unanimously, “All right. Let the expulsion be lifted away from Godhan.” (My translation, pp. 42-43) After the ban is lifted, Godhan is called upon to light the Panchlight and save the day for the Toli. Once the Panchlight is lit, the villagers and the Panchayat experience a change of heart towards Godhan. The Toli makes him hero though he was a zero few moments ago. Munari’s mother, who complained against him a few days ago for eve teasing, invites Godhan for the supper, thereby, hinting towards the fluid nature of honour and its obedience in rural set-up.

Source: https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/214617/13/13_chapter%204.pdf

The Refugee by K. A. Abbas: Analysis

Leaving her with only one option but to travel to Bombay and live with her son. The setting of the story may also be important (partitioning of India 1947) as violence was widespread at the time and many innocent people like Maanji got caught up in the violence. Where once Maanji lived a prosperous life she now lives as a refugee in Bombay. No longer does she have the land she once had or the servants she once had. She is confined to a one room home with her husband and son. It is also interesting that the tailor remains loyal to Maanji despite the risks he could face by doing so. Just as Maanji is disturbed by what is happening in Rawalpindi so too is the tailor.

There is also a sense that despite her circumstances Maanji takes great pride in what she does in life. Though she may not be as wealthy as she once was. She still changes and improves the living arrangements of her son’s home. Making sure that it looks and feels like a home. This may be important as it suggests that Maanji may be not only accepting the circumstances she finds herself in but that she is beginning to let go of the wrong doing that has occurred in Rawalpindi. If anything Maanji will not be defeated by the circumstances she finds herself in. She appears to be able to rise above the conflict and continue on with her life to the best of her ability. However it is noticeable that at times Maanji can long for Rawalpindi and get upset. Something that would be very natural for a refugee to do. To long for their home again. Particularly if they did not want to leave their home in the first place. The fact that Maanji adapts so well to her new environment might be important as this would suggest that she is resilient and has the ability to be independent.

It may also be significant that Maanji is in complete control of her life and her family’s life while she is living in Bombay. She takes charge which would further suggest to the reader that Maanji is resilient. There is also an element of sadness in the story when Maanji realises that she has no option but to move to Bombay. She will miss her neighbours more than anything and there is a sense that Maanji cannot understand how ordinary people. With no interest in politics. Have got involved in the turmoil that is occurring. This may be important as Maanji is not the only one who has to abandon her home due to the partitioning of India. The country carved up by politicians based on religious divisions. Where Maanji has not judged a neighbour due to their religious beliefs. She herself is being judged by her religious beliefs and as such is forced to move to Bombay. Something which may highlight to the reader the possibility of animosity between separate religious groups.

An animosity that is noticeable when one of Maanji’s neighbours (and horse) is killed because of his religious ethnicity. Maanji is so shocked by the killing that she knows that she herself for her own safety has to move to Bombay. A place that is alien to her but which she tries her best to not only adapt to but to make her home. It might also be important to remember that Maanji has no real alternative but to move to Bombay. Such is the way that India was been partitioned. An individual’s life totally changed by politicians because of religious hostilities and differences within India. If anything Maanji (and her husband) are innocent victims of their circumstances. As too were millions of other Indians. However it is noticeable that Maanji is not bitter nor does she hold any animosity towards the government. Again Maanji appears to accept the circumstances she finds herself in even if at times it can be difficult. Particularly when she thinks of her life in Rawalpindi. Though what is really noticeable about Maanji’s circumstances is how blunt the transition from Rawalpindi to Bombay was. Apart from a few personal belongings Maanji had to leave everything she worked for behind. Forced to start her life afresh in Bombay without the securities she had in Rawalpindi. Something that would have been the same for many refugees during the partitioning of India.

Source: http://sittingbee.com/the-refugee-k-a-abbas/