Sie sind auf Seite 1von 5

7/14/2016

"Untouchables"inTheGodOfSmallThings

"Untouchables"inTheGodOfSmallThings
KhurshidAlamM.Phil,ResearchScholar,PunjabUniversity
ArundhatiRoys'sBookerPrizewinningnoveldealswiththeravagesofcastesysteminSouthIndianstate,
Kerala.Roypresentsboththemiserableplightofuntouchablesandalsothestruggleofawomantryingtohave
fulfillmentinlifeinapatriarchalsociety.Velutha,theGodofSmallThings,transgressestheestablishednorms
ofsocietybyhavinganaffairwithawomanofhighcaste.Theultimateoutcomeofthisloveaffairisthetragic
deathofan"Untouchable"bythe"TouchableBoots"ofthestatepolice,aneventthatmakesatravestyofthe
ideaofGod.Godisnomoreincontrolof"smallthings"ratherthesmallthingshaveanultimatepowerover
God,turninghimto"TheGodofloss"(265).
Theideaofuntouchabilityisexploredattwolevelsinthenovel.Firstly,wehavesociallyuntouchables,or
Parvan,whoareneverallowedbasichumanrights.Secondly,wehavemetaphoricuntouchablesinhighcastes.
Herediscriminationexpressesitselfinmarginalizingthewomenintheirpersonalandpubliclife.Inthispaper,I
wouldliketoanalyzethewaysandmeansthatasystemadoptstodepersonalizeawoman.
AcompleteappreciationofTheGodofSmallThingsrequiresanawarenessofthreethingstherolesof(1)
theSyrianChristiancommunity,(2)Communism,and(3)thecastesysteminKerala.Keralastretches360miles
alongtheMalabarCoastofIndia.Althoughitisjust15,000squaremilesinarea,itspopulationmakesup3.71%
OfIndia's.Keralaisremarkableforhavingthehighestliteracyrate(81.29%)inthewholeofIndia.Thestate
experiencesheavymonsoonsduringJuneSeptemberandSeptemberDecember.Mostofitsriversarefedbythe
monsoons,anditisduringthisseasonthatSophieMoledrowns.
ThecommunityrepresentedinTheGodofSmallThingsisSyrianChristian.TheChristiansofKeralaare
dividedintofivechurches:RomanCatholic,OrthodoxSyrian,Nestorian,Marthoma,andAnglican.Syrian
ChristiansclaimtheApostleThomasastheirfounder.Theterm"Syrian"referstotheWestAsianoriginsofthe
group'sancestorsandtotheiruseofSyriacasaliturgicallanguage.Forcenturies,theirspokenlanguagehas
beenMalayalam.SyrianChristianshaveahistorythatpredatesEuropeanrule.WhiletheJesuitsmadeonly
limitedalterationtocommunitylifein1830sand40s,thenineteenthcenturyBritishColonialstateplayeda
significantroleinunderminingSyrianChristianHinduconnections.TheoldCatholicJacobitedivisiongave
waytoasmanyasfourteencompetingEpiscopalallegiances.Oneofthemostsignificantsplitstookplacein
1888whentheTravancoreHighCourtruledinfavouroftheJacobites(MarDionysiusvsMarThomas
Athanasius).Thelosersformedaseparateecclesiasticalbody,theMarThomaSyrianChurch(Bayly241320).
InthenovelreligiousdifferencesappearinthedisagreementsbetweenFatherMulligan(whobelongstothe
RomanCatholicChurch)andReverendIpe(whobelongstotheMarThomaChurch)aswellasinBaby
Kochamma'sconversiontoCatholicismandherconsequentlackofsuitors.Thesociopoliticalchangesbrought
aboutbycolonialruleledtouppercasteHindusshunningtheSyrianChristians.Between1888and1892every
oneofthemainSyrianChristiandenominationsfoundedsocalledEvangelicalSocietiesthatsoughtoutlow
casteconvertsandbuiltschoolsandchapelsandpublicizedmassbaptisms(Bayly314320).TheGodofSmall
Thingsthusreferstotheschoolfor"Untouchables"builtbythegreatgrandfatherofthetwins,EsthaandRahel.
However,asRoypointsout,eventhoughanumberofParavasandmembersofotherlowcastesconvertedto
Christianity,theyweremadetohaveseparatechurchesandthuscontinuedtobetreatedas"Untouchables."
AfterIndependence,theyweredeniedgovernmentbenefitscreatedfor"Untouchables"becauseofficially,on
paper,theywereChristiansandthereforecasteless(Roy71).
TheParavas,whospeakMalayalamandusetheMalayalamscript,settledintheNeyyattikeratalukofthe
TrivandrumdistrictandalsoinQuilon,Kottayam,andErnakulamdistricts.Accordingtothe1981census,their
http://www.postcolonialweb.org/india/roy/alum1.html

1/5

7/14/2016

"Untouchables"inTheGodOfSmallThings

populationinKeralais42,884(Singh106264).ThewordcasteisderivedfromthePortuguesecasta,which
meansbreed,race,orkind.Castesareranked,named,endogamousgroups,andmembershipinaparticularcaste
comesthroughbirth.AccordingtotheHindusacredtextsoftheRigVeda,therewerefourmaincastesandeach
casteperformedafunctioninsustainingsociallife.BrahminswerethepriestsKshatriyas,werewarriorsand
rulersVaisyaswerelandownersandmerchantsandSudraswereartisansandservants(FederalResearch
Division267).AccordingtothecodeofManuamarriagebetweenaBrahminwomanandaSudramanwould
resultina"Candala,"whoisdescribedas"thelowestofmen"andsharesmanyoftheattributesofthe
contemporary"Untouchable"(Moffit34).MichaelMoffitwritesthatancienttextualsourcesfromtheSouth
suggesttheexistenceofsimilarlyrankedhumanrelationsandstressesthatmanyattributesofcontemporary
SouthIndian"Untouchables"wereapparentlypresent1500yearsagointheSangamperiod(37).
"Untouchables"aregenerallyassociatedwithprofessionssuchasleatherworkers,butchers,launderers,and
latrinecleaners(FederalResearchDivision267).
Since1935Untouchableshavebeencalled"scheduledcastes."TheyarealsocalledMahatmaGhandi'snamefor
them"Harijan"(ThechildrenofGod).MorerecentlythesegrouprefertothemselvesasDalits,aHindiword
whichmeansoppressedordowntrodden.DespitesomeimprovementsincertainaspectsofDalitlife,90%of
themstillliveinruralareas,andmorethan50%arelandlesslabourers.InmanypartsofIndia,landisstillheld
bytheuppercasteswhousetheideologyofthecastesystemtoeconomicallyexploitlowrankinglandless
labourers"(StudyGuideSouthAsiaReadingSeries).
In1957,underE.M.S.Namboodiripad,KeralabecamethefirstIndianstatetoelectacommunistgovernment.
Despiteadamagingsplitinthepartyin1964,therehavebeencommunistledgovernmentsinKeralamoreoften
thannot.RoywritesthatthereasonbehindtheCommunistParty'ssuccessinKeralawasthatit"neverovertly
questionedthetraditionalvaluesofacasteridden,extremelytraditionalcommunity.TheMarxistsworkedfrom
withinthecommunaldivides,neverchallengingthem,neverappearingnotto"(64).Thisdoublestandardis
emphasizedwhenComradePillaiincitestheworkersofParadisePicklesandPreservestostrikeagainsttheir
owner,Chacko,butreferstothelatterintheoreticalterms.
Heneverreferredtohimbyname,butalwaysas'theManagement.'AsthoughChackowasmany
people.Apartfromitbeingtacticallytherightthingtodo,thisdisjunctionbetweenthemanandhis
jobhelpedComradePillaitokeephisconscienceclearabouthisownprivatebusinessdealingswith
Chacko.HiscontractforprintingtheParadisePickleslabelsgavehimanincomethathebadly
needed.HetoldhimselfthatChackotheclientandChackotheManagementweretwodifferent
people.QuiteseparateofcoursefromChackotheComrade.[115]
Pillai'sdoublestandardsarealsoseenwhendespitehisslogansof"casteisclass,"hedeliberatelydistances
himselffromVeluthainordertomaintainthesupportofChacko'sotherworkerswhodislikeworkingwitha
Paravan.ChackohimselfappearstobeanarmchairCommunistwithnorealunderstandingofthepoliticsthat
surroundhim.Roy'srepresentationoftheCommunistPartyhasmetwithmuchcriticismfromtheParty.Thelate
E.M.S.NamboodiripadcriticizedTheGodofSmallThingsforpromotingsexualanarchyandbourgeois
values(DeccanHerald6)whiletheMarxistChiefMinisterofKerala,Mr.E.K.Nayanar,saidthatRoyhad
painteda"factuallyincorrect"pictureofthesocialconditionsinKeraladuringtheperiod195070andofthe
roleplayedbyCommunistsduringthatperiod(DeccanHerald7).
Itiswithinthissocial,politicalandreligiouscontextthatwereadthetragedyoftheKoachammans.Shunnedby
theupperclassHindus,theyareoverconsciousoftheirfamily'sprestige.Roydealswiththeclassicalmaterial
oftragedyinthemoderncontext.Themembersofthisfamilyareintroverts.BabyKochamma,Ammu,Chako
andPappachiareunabletocometotermswiththeircomplexes.Theystruggleagainsttheouterworld,andthe
defeatrendersthemconfusedandfrustrated.Thesenseoffailureexpressesitselfindehumanizingothersaround
them.
TheKochammafamilyhasahistoryofpoorrelationsbetweenitsmaleandfemalemembers.Ammu'smother,
Mammachi,forexample,isseverelybeatenandabusedbyher.husband,andshebecomesthevictimofhis
angerandfrustrationwheneverhefacesafailureintheoutsideworld.HeleavesalittleroomforAmmutogrow
asanindependentandconfidentindividual.Heronlyobjectiveinlifeistofinda"reasonablehusband",
http://www.postcolonialweb.org/india/roy/alum1.html

2/5

7/14/2016

"Untouchables"inTheGodOfSmallThings

dependinguponhimfortherestofherlife.Herattitudealsocorrespondstotheideaofa"gooddaughter"shared
bothbyHindusandMuslims.Chaco,theelderbrothersavesMammachi,formhisfather'sabusiveattitude
InTheGodofSmallThingstheconflictexistsatindividualandsocietallevels.Thenovelgraphicallyshows
thathowpeoplearehelplesstoresolvetheselevelsoffriction.Velutha,theoutcast,cannevercoexistpeaceful
withthe"touchable"communitiesforsolongasthestigmaofuntouchabilityattachedtohimandcountless
otherslikehim.Veluthais"highlyintelligent,"anexcellentcarpenterwithanengineer'smind,butheisalso
"TheGodofloss","TheGodofSmallThings"Heleftnofootprintsinsand,noripplesinwater,noimagesin
mirrors"(265)
IncontrasttoVelutha,Chackocangetawaywithhisdebaucheryorhis"man'sneeds"ashismothertermsit
becauseheisa"touchable".Royhasjustlyputtheissuewhenshesays,"Changeisonething.Acceptanceis
another"(279).Thesocietypresentedinthenovelispatriarchal.Ontheonehandwehaveagroupofcharacters,
Mammachi,BabyKoachmma,andKochuMariathecook,whoperpetuatethedivisionofcaste,race,and
gender.Ontheotherhand,Ammuandthetwins,RahelandEstha,consciouslyandunconsciouslyresistthese
hierarchies.Ammu,thebiggestvictimofthesystem,isanarchetypalimageofadaughtermarginalizedina
patriarchalsociety."PerhapsAmmu,EsthaandRahelweretheworsttransgressors.Theyallbroketherules.
Theyallcrossedintoforbiddenterritory.Theyalltamperedwithlawsthatlaydownwhoshouldbelovedand
how.Andhowmuch"(31).Ammu,thecentralcharacterofthenovel,hasonlyamarginalexistenceinthe
familystructure.Atraditionalpatriarchalsocietyplaceslittleimportanceonwomen'seducation.Ammu'sfather
Pappachi,doesnotliketheideaofspendingmoneyonhisdaughter,andsheisneverencouragedtofindher
placeinlife.Marriageistheonlyjustificationofhersurvival.
AmmufinishedherschoolingthesameyearthatherfatherretiredfromthejobinDelhiandmoved
toAymenem.Pappachiinsistedthatacollegeeducationwasunnecessaryexpenseforagirlso
AmmuhadnochoicebuttoleaveDelhiandmovewithhim.Therewaslittleforayounggirltodo
inAymenemotherthantowaitformarriageproposal.[38]
Ammuacceptstheveryfirstproposalafterfivedaysofcourtship.Infact,Ammuhadnochoiceotherthan
acceptingwhatsoeverlifeoffersher.Unfortunately,herhusbandturnsouttobeadrunkardunabletosupportthe
family.HetriestoforceAmmuto"pleasetheboss"butsherefusesandthemarriageendsindivorce.Asa
divorcee,shehastofaceostracismbyhersocietyandfamily.Herfemalerelativessympathizewithherinaway,
makingherconsciousofthegravityofhercrimeshehascommittedinlivingseparatedfromherhusband.
Withinfirstfewmonthsofherreturntoherparent'shomeAmmuquicklylearnedtorecognizeand
despisetheuglyfaceofsympathy.Oldfemalerelationswiththeirincipientbeardsandseveral
wobblingchinsmadeovernighttripstoAymenmtocommiserateheraboutherdivorce.Shefought
offtheurgetoslapthem.[43]
Adivorceehasnorighttopursueforhappinessinlife.Theonlycourseopentoheristospendastaticlife,
waitingfordeath.Anyattemptonherparttoseelifeindependentlythreatenstheexistingorder.Sheisat
loggerheadswiththesocietyatlargebecauseshemarriedoutsidehercommunityandadivorceeto.Itisvisible
atSophieMolsfuneral:"HoughAmmu,EsthaandRahelwereallowedtoattendthefuneral,theyweremadeto
standseparately,notwiththerestofthefamily.Nobodywouldlookatthem"(5).Estha'sconflictwithinhimself
turnshimintoasilentcreature.Butinhisinside"thereisanuneasyoctopusthatlivedandsquirteditsinky
tranquilizeronhispast"(12).
Thisinjusticeisperpetratedbyagroupofthecharacterswhoarethemselvesthevictimsofinjustice.
Mammachi,Ammu'smother,whoenduredherhusband'sabusiveattitude,ignoresChako'ssexualexploitationof
thefemaleworkers,butshecannottolerateherdaughter'sloveaffairwithaParvan.BabyKochamma,the
defenderofthesystem,wouldgotoanylimittosavethesocalledfamilyhonour.Thenovelshowstheprocess
ofcreatingandlabelingParvanswithinthehighclassfamiliesthepeoplewhogobeyondtheunwrittenlaws
ofsocietyinpursuitofhappiness.

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/india/roy/alum1.html

3/5

7/14/2016

"Untouchables"inTheGodOfSmallThings

VeluthaofferswhatisdeniedtoAmmu,EsthaandRahelinsocietyandfamily.Inthedaylight,heisthebest
companionofthechildren,whofeelsuffocatedinAymenmbecauseoftheirdivorcedmother.Theouterworldis
hostile,andonlythefewmomentstheyspendwithVeluthaaffordrealhappiness.Ammumeetshimindarkness,
alongtheriverbankasymbolofdivisionbetweenthetwoclasses.BabyKochamma,spendingafrozenlifein
herpast,appearsastheguardianofsystem.Velutha,"theUntouchable"iskilledbythe"TouchableBoots",of
thestatepolice.Ammuisbanishedanddiesalone,onlythirtyone"averyviablediableage"(161).
Thesystemalsohasafatalinfluenceonthetwins,whocannotrelatetoanybodyotherthaneachother.Estha's
marriageprovesafailure,andshefeelssatisfiedonlywiththetwinbrotherRahel,asitwerecomingbacktothe
prenatalworldofpureinnocence.VeluthaoffersareleasefromthedeterministicworldofAymenm.Forashort
whileheprovidesanopportunitytoliveinconsonancewithone'sownself.Butthereleaseisillusory.The
systemregardseveryeffortforthepersonalfulfillmentasadirectthreattoitsestablishedcodeofvalues.Shulan
Nishantobserves:
RahelandEstha,caughtintheentanglementsofadultcorruptionarepunishedforthesinsofa
worldoutoftheircontrol.Theyarestrugglingtosecureasafeenvironmenttheunconditionallove
ofaparentandthepromiseofalivablefuture.Theirstruggletosafeguardthemselvesandthe
childhoodendsoneday,adayafterwhichfuturesareabandonedandrecoveryisimpossible.
[ShulanNishant]
Roypresentsapessimisticpictureofsociety.WiththedeathofVelutha,thelastrayofhopedisappears.Heis
accusedofkidnappingthetwins,andEsthafalselyconfirmsit.Esthabecomesasilentcreaturewhose
incomprehensible"Yes"servedtoproveaninnocentmanguilty.Royexpressesherdisillusionmentwiththe
socialconditionsofthepostcolonialworldinwhichtheuntouchablesofthepaststillfaceahostilesocietythat
doesnotletthemliveasfreeandindependentindividuals.Velutha,theGodofsmallThings,theoutcastcan
nevercoexistpeacefulwiththe"touchable"communitiesforaslongasthestigmaofuntouchabilityisattached
tohimandcountlessotherslikehim.Ammu,another"untouchable"withinthe"touchable"cannotpursue
happinessbecausedoingsothreatenstheexistingorder,andthesocietytakeseverypossiblesteptostopchange.

WorksCited
Arundhati,Roy.TheGodofSmallThings.PenguinBooksIndia,2002
Bayly,Susan.Saints,Goddesses,andKings.CambridgeUniversityPress,1989.
Singh,K.STheScheduleCastes:ThePeopleofIndia.NationalSeriesVolume2oftheAnthropological
SurveyofIndia.Delhi:OxfordUp,1993.
FederalResearchDivision.India:ACountryStudy.Eds.JamesHeitzmanandRobertL.Warden.Princeton,
N.J.:PrincetonUP,1995
Moffit,Michael.AnUntouchabelCommunityInSouthIndia.Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUP,1979.
StudyGuide:SouthAsiaReadingSeries,Fall1998
Nishant,Shulin."ArundhatiRoy'sTheGodofSmallThings."ThePostcolonialWeb.
Rao,JayaLakshmi."BapsiSidhwa'sIceCandyManandArundhatiRoy'sTheGodofSmallThings:Some
InterestingParallels."ThePostcolonialWeb.

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/india/roy/alum1.html

4/5

7/14/2016

"Untouchables"inTheGodOfSmallThings

Lastmodified17January2005

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/india/roy/alum1.html

5/5

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen