Name: Vaibhav Nath Tripathi

Roll No: 2322

Internal Assessment
Modern Indian Writings in English Translation

Assignment Question 1: Why are Ghisu and Madhav problematic characters?

Discuss.
Answer: In the short story ‘Kafan’, Munshi Premchand has satirised the social
structure and its devices of oppression like caste, gender, poverty, race etc. in a
very dark and unusual manner through two of his characters ‘Ghisu’ and
‘Madhav’, a father-son duo. He has very beautifully carved out their characters
which act as a slap on the face of society for its sheer hypocrisy. Through his
characters Munshi Premchand has tried to expose the reality of society and
human nature. He has structured the plot in a way that highlights ethical
dilemmas faced by individuals due to deep rooted social anomalies. Both of his
characters ‘Ghisu’ and ‘Madhav’ rebel against the established social structure
through they unusual and dark acts. This may subject them to criticism but
deep down they have posed a big question mark on the social system that is
based on utilitarianism and aims to exploit poor. At the end the story leaves its
readers with a question that forces them to reflect upon the social realities and
adversities caused by it.
There is a father-son duo ‘Ghisu’ and ‘Madhav’ in the story that are in
the main course of action who are landless laborers. In order to earn and
sustain their life they are supposed to work in the fields of Zamindars but
contrary to that, they are very lazy and don’t work at all. Even if someone hires
them for work, they demand higher wage. Such a behaviour by landless and
poor people is quite exceptional but it is something that Munshi Premchand
did deliberately to show the passive rebellion of Ghisu and Madhav. Author
wants us to notice that how these characters are turning the table and
declining the offer to work in the fields of zamindars. This is not what is
problematic but the fact that Budhiya, wife of Madhav is the sole wage earner
in the family and it is her on whom both Madhav and Ghisu depend upon for
their sustenance. They are good for nothing and offer no help to Budhiya in
managing household. It is her who suffers most. The sole meal earner is being
exploited by the feudalism and patriarchy and Madhav and Ghisu are present
nowhere to shield her instead heightening her suffering.
At the very beginning we come to know that how Budhiya is moaning
out of labour pain and Madhav and Ghisu are totally ignorant toward her. They
are so much possessed with their hunger that they are behaving no less than
an animal who is completely devoid of empathy. Both of them are selfish to the
extent that they are getting irritated after hearing her moaning sound and have
no interest in helping her in her agony though she is only bread earner in the
family. They show no fear or emotion over the fact that labour pain can cause
her death. It is as if death is immaterial for him. Clearly, they are devoid of
compassion toward her though she is their family. Not only compassion but
they also lack trust. Madhav is not willing to leave the spot and go to comfort
his moaning wife because he doesn’t trust his father Ghisu as he believes that
his father will eat all the roasted potatoes and will leave none for him. It’s quite
ridiculous and frustrating that how he is prioritising petty things over the life of
his wife. Not only this, there is no sense of trust between father and son. This
lack of commitment in them is further problematic.
Unfortunately, when Budhiya died while fighting against the
exploitative forces of patriarchy, caste system and feudalism, it was time for her
last rite for which shroud was required. Owing to their laziness and arrogance
Madhav and Ghisu were devoid of money to arrange a shroud for her. It can
only be attributed to her unfortunate fate that the woman who used to arrange
meal for them had to wait for a shroud lying open in dreary winter since her
husband and her father-in-law had no money for it. It was matter of absolute
shame for both of them. However, Ghisu went to a zamindar to arrange some
money to get a shroud for his daughter in law. Instead of working hard and
earning money for her last rite he chose to beg because he knew it very clearly
that people will definitely show up to help him. This is the proof of his canny
and astute nature. He was not done here. There was still a lot left for him to
show his true colors. It is only when both father and son spent whole of the
money in satisfying their hunger we come to know about their lack of
humaneness. This kind of uncompassionate, irresponsible, inhumane,
animalistic, and immoral behaviour displayed by them was definitely
concerning and devastating. They were not even left with the slightest of
shame and respect for the dead body of Budhiya, their saviour. It is even
heartbreaking to hear their empathy less and illogical justification of their act
that shroud will do no good to woman who never got a new piece of herself
throughout her life. Both of them were so much consumed in their bodily
needs that they didn’t even bother to think about the respectful treatment of
her dead body. They acted most selfish toward the person who was acted most
selfless toward them. They could think of nothing but themselves. There are a
lot of instances that are traumatising and disturbing in a sense that how human
can degrade themselves to such a level that the line differentiating human and
animal almost blurs.
It is the inhumane manner in which both Ghisu and Madhav
behave, makes them problematic. The face of human nature revealed through
their action is quite concerning and alarming. They are probably the darkest of
Munshi Premchand’s character whom he employed not just to attack at the
oppressive social structures but also to convey that how such exploitative
systems shape human in a way that they start to behave like an animal which is
devoid of compassion and empathy as Madhav and Ghisu behaved toward
Budhiya.

Assignment Question 2: Comment on the symbol of the Well in Perumal

Murugan’s short story.
Answer: Perumal Murugan’s short story ‘The Well’ has interestingly left a food
of thought for its reader as it has beautifully captured nexus of human
connections and complex social norms vividly and has also left us with a
glimpse of countryside life in India. This typical and engaging writing style of
Murugan vividly explains his use of symbols and motifs in the text to highlight a
greater cause which needs to be addressed. In this short story, ‘Well’ not just
represents its literal meaning by just being a water source but also represents a
treasure of hidden but deep and profound meanings which may or may not be
translated into its appropriate meaning at first glance but its impact on readers
mind can still be found.
Mention of well is not something new in the story that has been setup
in the rural terrain. It has been a centre of activity either as a source of water
or as a local discussion podium. But in this story Murugan has employed the
other meanings of well as a motif or recurring symbol which transcend the
literal meaning of ‘Well’. The story presents us the experience of protagonist
when he dives into it with other three children. He enjoyed the dive at the
beginning and was at ease in the well as if he has developed some affinity with
it but later that cozy place turned into a devil which was difficult for him to
conquer. This shift of protagonist’s state of mind evokes a lot of images and
symbols that are worth noting and discussing. Some are as followed:
1. Unfamiliar Surrounding: The ‘Well’ which appeared cozy and comforting
to the protagonist at first place turned into a demon in no time when he
realised that well accommodates a lot of unexplored mysteries and
secrets which are beyond his scope. His body was shivering and losing
control and he started to feel that well is possessed by some devil who is
doing some trickery over him.
2. Vicious Trap: The ‘Well’ also represents a pre-planned trap because
initially the protagonist was enjoying the well but when he was
exhausted and decided to come out of it, he failed. All of his efforts were
in vain as if some force was stopping him to come out of that vicious
cycle. The fresh, chilled water of the well under the scorching sun
sounded quite tempting at first glance but as soon as he was into it, he
realised that it was trap. This trap is not just a mere trap that protagonist
is unable to overcome instead it represent some ‘societal traps’ that
never allow a person to come out of it like caste system, conservative
social norms, unfulfilling desires or refers to some economic conditions
like poverty, debt etc.
A person by birth is born in the structure of caste system
even if he likes it or not but as he moves ahead in his life and want to
grow further, caste system acts as a hinderance which he fails to
overcome. Caste system exercises so much control on the life of person
that he fails to take the hold over his life and start losing the grip over it
and gradually falls under the trap of vicious cycle which he fails to
overcome throughout his life.
Similar is the case with our unchecked unfulfilling desires. In
the beginning our dream sounds fascinating and tempting to us which
we want to come true at any cost but as soon as we delve deep into it,
we realise the sacrifice and pain it cost us but since we are so much
possessed with the idea of it coming true, we fail to come out of the
 vicious trap even if has costed us pain and loss of so many valuable
things.
Poverty is also a trap similar to the well. Once a person is
into it, all control of him over his life suddenly diminishes away. Poverty
not only drives away the control of life but also make us fall in the trap
that is almost unconquerable. Stigma of poor economic condition never
allows you to grow further in your life. You are doomed to live that same
back breaking petty life that leads to nowhere.
Debt is also a trap in itself that sounds easy to take on to get
your work done. However, it’s not always the case, sometimes the
creditor also uses debt as a tool to make you fall in the everlasting trap
that is indomitable and suffocating. Using debt to get your work done
and returning it back to the debtor may sound good idea once but
sometimes you fail to execute the plan correctly and are doomed to fall
in the vicious trap.
3. Past Memories: Memories help you escape the reality temporarily. Once
you feel exhausted, suffocated and frustrated in the present world you
always turn to them to heal yourself. Going through your memories
makes you feel better but as soon as you realize that these are long gone
moment, the pleasure of surfing through your memories turns into pain
of losing those moments. It becomes hard for you to come out of that
sea of nostalgic moments and you feel it hard to live in reality. You find
yourself trapped into the past and thus find it difficult to fucus on
present and look up future. You get so much into past that you fail to
conquer your emotions and are thus forced to surrender.
The short story ‘The Well’ captures the thoughts going
within the mind of the protagonist and thus is primarily focused upon
individual concerns and emotions. Individuality was one of the most
prominent and recurring theme of post-independence Indian literature. I
think that the writer has used well as a metaphor/symbol in way that
appeal individual and individuality to a greater extent though it also has
sense of universal appeal which everyone could connect to.