Kullu Ismat Chughtai Dr Balram Uprety Assistant Professor

Kullu: Ismat Chughtai Dr. Balram Uprety Assistant Professor in English Department of English St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling

Does the author give us clues enabling us to understand Mumani’s actions? Contrast the characters of the speaker’s mother ‘Amma’ and Mumani Jan, illustrating from the story. • Though the author does not focus exclusively on Mumani, we can easily understand Mumani’s actions and her role in Kullu from the clues that the author gives us. Mumani has very important role to play in the story. Firstly, Mumani turns Kullu into a servant. Kullu, as Amma makes clear towards the end of the story, was brought to the narrator’s family so that “he could become somebody. ”

Does the author give us clues enabling us to understand Mumani’s actions? Contrast the characters of the speaker’s mother ‘Amma’ and Mumani Jan, illustrating from the story. Moreover, Mumani beats and humiliates Kullu when he innocently expresses his desire to marry Salima bi. Later on, as Kullu returns to the town as Kalim Saheb, the Deputy Collector, Mumani is indignant and horrified at the changed social equation. Her avoidance of the Deputy Collector and her unwarranted anger and indignation indicate her guilt and anxiety. By saying that she would not marry her daughter to Kalimuddin in spite of the scarcity of suitable match, ……. Contd

Does the author give us clues enabling us to understand Mumani’s actions? Contrast the characters of the speaker’s mother ‘Amma’ and Mumani Jan, illustrating from the story. she shows her vulnerability and anxiety. Mumani relents only when Kalimuddin restores the old class hierarchies by addressing her as “Dulhan bi” —the form of address used by Kullu when he was Mumani’s servant. This symbolic giving up of his power and privileged position assuages her anxiety and pride. Thus Mumani is a complex character: she is exploitative in the beginning, …. .

Does the author give us clues enabling us to understand Mumani’s actions? Contrast the characters of the speaker’s mother ‘Amma’ and Mumani Jan, illustrating from the story. unsympathetic and unrelenting towards the end, in spite of her diminished wealth and pomp. The speaker’s mother, Amma, however is a uni-dimensional character. Amma is more resilient about class hierarchies: she easily accepts Kullu as a potential good match for Salima when Kullu becomes Kalimuddin or Kalim Saheb.

Are we given any evidence of qualities in Kullu himself in his background that might explain his rise to the position of Deputy Collector? • The narrator at the outset underlines Kullu’s ability to work hard. Even as a midget, he can work as much as an adult. At Mumani’s household, Kullu is made to do the work of “grown man. ” The fact that Kullu is able to withstand the multiple roles as servant is a testimony of qualities that explain his rise to the position of Deputy Collector. For example, the first thing that he does in the morning is “to get the stove going. ” Then, he puts water on for tea, and sets the table for breakfast. Thereafter, …. .

Are we given any evidence of qualities in Kullu himself in his background that might explain his rise to the position of Deputy Collector? he makes “a hundred rounds to the door and back carrying butter, bread, then milk and finally the eggs. After the cook prepares the breakfast, Kullu has to make “innumerable” trips to the kitchen “lugging hot toast and parathas. ” After this, Kullu is made to do “small errands around the house: ” he polishes Maliha bi’s pumps, scouts for Hamida bi’s ribbons, locates Akhtar Bhai’s socks, recovers Salima bi’s book bag, fetches Mumani Jan’s katha and retrieves Abu’s cigarette case from beside his pillow. “In short, he spun like a top until…. Condt

Are we given any evidence of qualities in Kullu himself in his background that might explain his rise to the position of Deputy Collector? everyone had left for either the office or school. ” Later on, he would wash Nanhi’s dirty diapers, play with Safia bi, collect mail from the postman, inquire the name of the visitor, and shell peas or rinse spinach. Kullu becomes equally busy at lunch time. In summary, Kullu, according to the narrator, does the “work of a bearer and sweeper. ” Moreover, he is an expert masseur. Through the detailed documentation of Kullu’s work, the author highlights his resilience, resourcefulness and capacity for hard work. ……

Are we given any evidence of qualities in Kullu himself in his background that might explain his rise to the position of Deputy Collector? Given such qualities, Kullu’s rise to the position of Deputy Collector does not come as a surprise.

“This was all artifice on her part. Only God knew what was going on in Mumani’s heart. ” Does the author give us clues enabling us to understand Mumani’s actions? Repetitive.

What is the significance of Kullu calling Mumani Jan ‘Amma’ rather than Dulhan bi at the end of the story? • Kullu’s verbal/semantic journey from Dulhan bi to ‘Amma’ is significant from the standpoint of class. As a servant of Mumani Jan, Kullu can address Mumani as ‘Dulhan bi’. Such a form of address is indicative of class hierarchy in Indian society. • However, when Kullu becomes Deputy Collector and realigns his social position, Mumani betrays her class anxiety as she refuses to be humbled by the rise of the ‘midget. ’ Though she secretly desires matrimonial alliance with Kalimuddin, ….

What is the significance of Kullu calling Mumani Jan ‘Amma’ rather than Dulhan bi at the end of the story? • her guilt and pride stand in the way. As Kullu is in love with Salima, he symbolically restores the old class hierarchy by addressing Mumani as ‘Dulhan bi. ’ The restoration of old class hierarchy assuages Mumani’s class anxiety. After addressing her as ‘Dulhan bi’ Kullu proceeds to address Mumani as ‘Amma bi. ’ There can be two possible interpretation of this shift from ‘Dulhan bi’ to ‘Amma bi’. Kullu’s journey from ‘Dulhan bi’ to ‘Amma bi’ shows his successful realignment of his class position. When ‘Dulhan bi’ becomes ‘Amma bi’ Kullu has become a member ….

What is the significance of Kullu calling Mumani Jan ‘Amma’ rather than Dulhan bi at the end of the story? • of the family through matrimonial alliance. Kullu, as we can see, restores the old hierarchy (by addressing Mumani as ‘Dulhan bi’) only to demolish it in the next move. When ‘Dulhan bi’ becomes ‘Amma bi’, the old rigid class distinctions stand de-constructed and rejected. Kullu in fact reclaims and reasserts his new class position by finally calling his former mistress ‘Amma bi. ’

What is the significance of Kullu calling Mumani Jan ‘Amma’ rather than Dulhan bi at the end of the story? • The significance of this address lies in the fact that it indicates the final and unambiguous breaking down of the old class hierarchy that defined Kullu’s relationship with the family.

How far do the following factors affect the family’s decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom? a) b) c) d) their declining social and economic position A sense of guilt at their earlier treatment of Kullu’s present high status The special feeling between Kullu and Salima It may be realistic to assume that the declining social and economic position of the family may have influenced, to some extent, its decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom. As Kullu’s rise….

How far do the following factors affect the family’s decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom? in power and position is proportionate to their decline, it seems realistic to assume that the decline of the family’s fortune may have affected the decision of the family. Similarly, the role of guilt of Mumani Jan at her earlier treatment of Kullu cannot be totally ignored. Though Mumani and the family never articulate their guilt for having wronged Kullu when he was a child, her avoidance of Kullu when he returns to the town as Kalimuddin or Kalim Saheb hints at the possibility of the fact that Mumani does feel guilty or ashamed.

How far do the following factors affect the family’s decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom? The fourth factor—the special feeling between Kullu and Salima—does not, however, figure in the text. Kullu wants to marry Salima because he loves her. Salima’s family, however, would not have married Kullu if he were not Kalim Saheb. What actually tips the scale in Kullu’s favour is high social status. Ismat Chughtai in Kullu, wants to show the powerful role of class in Indian society. The author wants to show the role of power and status in our society.

How far do the following factors affect the family’s decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom? We must bear in mind that Kullu’s childlike/childish expression of love for Salima invites humiliation and corporeal punishment. The huge chasm of class separates Kullu from his employers: his desire for Salima is therefore outrageous and unacceptable. As a Deputy Collector, Kullu successfully bridges the gap that had rendered him undesirable. When the gap is bridged, the undesirable becomes the desirable. Such is the hypocrisy of class-based society. And this is what Chughtai seeks to expose through the story. It is therefore Kullu’s high status …. .

How far do the following factors affect the family’s decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom? that affects the family’s decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom.

The story proves that people’s attitude is dictated by money. Discuss.