Sunday, 17 March 2019

Short Story: 'Girls' from Yuvakatha



Girls is a short story written by Mrinal Pande

1. Eight years old narrator

The story is told from the viewpoint of eight years old girl. His father is a kind man and he wants to educate his daughters. The narrator's mother, Lali, has three daughters and is expecting a fourth child, fervently hoping that it is a boy so that she will be rid of the nuisance of going through another pregnancy. Lali, the narrator and her sisters go to Nani's house for the last month of Pregnancy. 

2. Inferior position 
The narrator overhears her aunt complaining in whispers to her mother of the problems she has to endure as a woman. Such incidents leave a lasting impact on the already insecure mind of the narrator who is curious to know why the elders consider women and girls to be inferior. Her innocent curiosity greatly angers lali, Nani and the others.

3.The story ends with the celebration of Chaitya Shukla Ashtami, a Hindu Holiday when Young girls are worshipped as incarnations of Devi, or the divine feminine spirit. Part of the celebration involves all the girls wearing a red tikka on their foreheads, but the narrator refuses.

"Why pretend to worship girls on one day, when you hate them on all the others"

The narrator strongly shows her anger in the end against the male dominating system of society. 


2 comments:

  1. I had studied this story in my B. A. Study...Patriarchy is imposed and reinforced by womenfolk in this story....

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