“‘Kala admi zamin par hagne wala’ (black man, you who relieve yourself on the ground).” p35
In this quote, the Tommies show their hostility towards the Hindu people who do not have a high enough status to use the latrines like them. Since this is a perfectly common interaction to hear from people of different castes, it helps to paint a picture of daily life for Bahka and for those who live in India's rural areas. These words are horribly offensive and show the deep running sour relations among the citizens of India. Bahka overhears these words, and it is reasonable to believe that instances like these cause Bahka to cling to British culture instead of his own. The Tommies made the Hindu people feel embarrassed and ashamed of themselves because they relieve themselves in public, and Bahka is tired of feeling humiliated. It is interesting that Anand chose to keep this phrase in Hindi instead of translating it like the quotes in the rest of the book. Perhaps he thought that writing it in the language would increase the depth of the reader's understanding of Indian culture. Nevertheless, the quote is very upsetting and powerful, and it is also an important factor that drives Bahka to pursue a more British life.
No comments:
Post a Comment