\/tq a /VJ
35 q qz^s Filll publsh.d 1993 by Rdrtcdcc
I
I Nry rdrer IaE, ltr-don ECap 4EL
Sihultd.ousty pnbtishcd in th€ by Rddcdsc 29
wcr
o
3srh
USA
ShL Nslod\ Ny
d
ceda
t0001
Raisan Sudcr Rijan Th*r in l0l12 pr Ba*diue b,y Srlwd S,s..B, ]v[.boe6 Nons Prinrcd dd bound in cur Britain b, TJ prs (!dsbw) t 4 [bd.tow' comwa,l Al ngh6 rerrud No pd, ol r[L l@t h:r b" rpnD"d n, rclr.du"{l ., u,rli,-d 4 lom.or bv y cl€nmjc, m.ch&!c.L d othd mm, ns E|om s hral@rn mqFd. 1993
phoBopyrnA and rcording, or in arry brofuio, tu 'ndudln8 rbmt.y{rm. wirhou, prmsJon in wjting trom rh. publ,sh.n. , Atitidt IjttuJ Carot Eui,eblutAali,t Ddh
or
A @uloguc record for this book is avanabk frch ihe Bdrjlh Lbfrry Ijha, o-[ Congs Caktopin! i" ptbtiatoa Dab sund.r R,i"n. Raicsw.n
Rcal,nd rhra,n.d rom.n s.ni"i..uir,-. -a po. RchsMn sundrr Rji,n.
-r"ni"ri..r
l.scxrcl^ lndu.2. Frminnm-tnd,lr. S,n...I Wom.n India Hisro^ I InL HOt075.! 14586 1993 305.42' 0954.dc20 93_6923
Iranli\titt Ajfann C^!t, How S@t
itw
(i98i)
rsBN 0315-08503-9 06k)
0,4t5 {8504_7 ipbk)
CONTENTS
Ii,t
"JIE,,"
INTRODUCTION: Subj(tivity, reprentalion md the politics of
I
THE SIJBJECI OF SATI: Pain
dd
death in tlle contsnporary
dd discontinurties RAP| Nmrive, dd frninjs 'apr
UTt
AFTTR
I5 40
2 REPRESENTING SATI: Continuities 3
I
64
4 THE NAME OF THE HUSBAND: Testinony and &boo in the
83
tde,
103
6 RI-AL AND ll!tr GINED WOMEN: Poliths andlofreprcscntation
t29
5 GENDER, LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENT,dTION:
The
of Indira Gandhi
t+7
FIGURES
fffd$i€c€ &paoa Cdr, H@ Susa H@ I and 2 PhoroMtages of Roop Kdwar\'.ari' 3 P.]m prints of quees who becme stis. 4 Suicide of$r€e sister+ Kdpur. 5 Giaphic Oon eti&d poser, ilsued by da R4as$aD Adult
EdErion ColMiftee
ACKNOWLEDGBMENTS
2a 29 30
I hrw had t}f, suppon, fricnd{'tr dd ditical advi6 of 'rEy 6idd3 sd colcagucs whm I ra| rhis opportunity to name €lrd *drL RiDli Bh*iaA.rfa Vrvdr Dhaftshftar, Margar€! Isgonn€t, ShaGd.Jai', Aria laonba, T€javtui
32
Ikmd.\4s.su"ta
Mranjana'Judi& notz, Allird RalEo,pal, Venlat Rm, .&'dt &tui'asa'!
&d
Dr G.I{" Das, Dir€cno. of *c sdfi Cslps of lhe Unirrsity of D€lhi, gta.ioudy garr m. pc'Bisi@ to n!. fte library at tl€ Sotnh Carp'B To ftos€ s{rc hdped rr'€ rope wilh dI€ n}Fteri$ ol the @mputcr -
& Chandnmouli, R- Partnrsanrhy, v - my hcardclt rhanl(!. My cditon at
Krislmmooldty atd
AL
l 1
I
Cho6h
RoudedgE hai€ teen unfaningty hdpful.
My par!n6, my brc6cr., my listlrio-law ed my niece v€r€ dcr,tling th.t otly r family can b. dudng a dne of cris:.; dlis adnowl€d8.m.nt of my 8r.titldc ir orly a m€ag€ tlnm fo' aI dE1$cy haE givta t!€. My son Ikuthil typcd, criticirrd rld dic!€d ih. tcd@ of oy no& he b.s b€en d' lnl'slulblc aly. I €ould not haw wittcn this b@k ait}out my husbard! luppon, cricouragrmcnt and lm. lt is th.rcfore joinrly d€dicar€d to him and
,
.ry
,l
RDAL ANDIMACINOD WOMEN
i
scnsc of the rtuk and chatter$ior acaaemt *orl in thc pr€rcnt Indid contcxt, and €specially that of fcmini$ cdtural sirdies, is mNeyed in a r€vi€w I wrotc of Susie Tharu and K. hlitha's anrholosy Witiag in Ia.d;a work of stupetrdous res.dh, scholatlhip and oitical €n€rgy.rI quote frcm my rcvicw at some length in ord€r to sd orit what sms to me the broad prcblmtic
My
WM
INTRODUCTION Subjectivity, representation arrd the politics of PostcolonialitY
I d
This colectiotr offtminist oitical essa)s
i!
postcolonial fern le subject. Written
the Patd
attqnpt to maP the sPace of the thE yed, largelv in i€sponse to sqggesiiM and invilztidls Som US frmittu cofi€agu6 h the acad€rty ed;ting joumals rnd odlologis, tut fom {itHn thc Phvsi.al ald int'Eledul tt'" nai- uniwBity - wid aI tlDt S,tu ibpliq of the material
o6
"p*-o] condilioB ed
i:r
the political afiliado6 of such a l@tion - tlese es'sals e alftady hybrid in d;ir genealoSy and address. Therc is th€ funher hvbriditv of EEtte; Oi!to!y, isues, tlem€t and nelhod (rhsry, langu.g.\ ihat is a functtnn of pctoloDial intelectual producfion. Negotiating with th; hybridiry as both -a histoncar deteminant dd d intelectual identitv, I halt sought to r€a'h drough !o 3n unalcBtuding, which I lhinl of as 'il@rcdcal" about irsu6 of gerdd in dhe @ntemporary lndian natioHtateId€Uedrrl wtt predu€d under th. sign ofslobal feninism dd t}cory bnt olci the sigratut of the postolonial acadenic is open to chargs of inauth_ enticity, d;biousnes or politics, academic nilea$, arienarcd modemisn and urive infomcy. Thc aclivity of reading 'u!&r wesbm eves' becofr4 a f.aughl ad .rod d;sabli.gly sells6cious €xede. N€vcnLe]c$, ihe dialosur rvi*;westem feminists that such Mirins s€ela to initiate' whib n achowledges our
sidlad.t of political @otivation, a\o ttltss
rL€ ditre rencs in the questio6
confrcnring s. Thus the compantire Ftspsrivc bo& feeds into dd Provokes the aticulation of sanenes and diffcrence tlat is such a necessary function of .ontenporuf ditical €nquiry It may also be aigued that the sle allegianc€ we have r'ireroiore acknowledsed to historicist or culturalist er?ldados and empirical 'casc'atudies hd needlesly inhibited thc $oPe of postcolonjal intel ' lecnd work. The attempt to be politictly cor€ct without sterilitv' and to inteme ceatively into the silution of theory wilhout being iresponsibl€' is admittedly an enterprise that risk failure in both directions But theorctical endeavour and speculation would sti b€ wonh undenakjng even if at the vcry iea! irey oriy ser oii rircoretical quar€ls, thus reclaiming qucstiotu of theory and method d integrar to our Politic
t
of sll postcolonial f€minist criti.iln, including my
'I rum to rwo issue!
Lhar
.
om rcrfr.
fiis rclumcrlrcs up (mong mey orhe6) thar seem
to mc cspccially wnh identifying dd cr"lor;ng tu drr rh. oppGition brrwen tul nt and arl,uti6 in the fdinist criri.al €dcrprDe; dd rlle prcblqn of rubdtcrn, lpeifielty g€oderd, tarJtcrrr. in rtlarion b witing. 'Onc of tltc n6t insistent belids 6at inforb. dti! project t! dle dedetid thrt $. rc.ovcry of wom€nt witingrGoin;lt liteEy crili.i&s, ad qddne by q/orncn itlcl4 ft polilicrf radl€f thm aedrri aotuirie. Thc urdoring oppolition thzt dE .dito6 ruhtain bd*eer Se .c!&€ric ard 6e pokical a rcpuatc cognitii€ $nctur€s plaF Foa only irto &c olpocirian domilaitl rubaltcm, but also ilto odF oppo3itiG berqEr f()m ard lntcm, g:rtr6 ed lifc-storica, lremry convcntioro and c.lb. arr rnd womcn, which d€ rnade to €onE
rd
ri
oe"ricice, c'eDlvritiss-
'Noq while $c mindcr tlnt
schola$lip ard siticism aE politic.r oui r€adins practic€s, ard while one undcnian& ad synpathi!€! $,i$ lll editon' diety not ro see thcir wo* ofcrcd up at thc altd of "li Ltudies" (e4ecially that of the Euglish thc domain of thc ft surEly n ither a *paiately d€d-cut "cdnon"), m dominam a! Thm and ldida d$ign re ir. Funnq. rh.ir tlDgnirid "or ll "tromcn'! writiDg", both a a criD.al a.rivity dd a5 d "objEr" oI lnowlcdgc ("gytrocriti$"), h:s beqr$@eered by stsl.m Gbinisq (,Eates a bind/bond that Equis 6mpLr adms\rredgen€lt ald diwiari@ Tbis Lads (o tllclong_disproponionatelylong,ittuns out-di$usidindri .oducrion, of wstcm, chiefly Americar, Gmirisr ciricim, i& cbid pra.ridoftrs, it! alumptions, ed its wenln6$ {pp-i'12 3l)- ft; rot only a nortlrc{s wy of nat ing thc point lhat t}lerc is a nislfit bet',!o rtstcrn femiaist rldis of wohcn" $riting snd wometr's witiigfu Indi4 b{.t ato one tbar tnates r€dudnre, in thc pMcs, dE scopc ard thc arrual heuneanity of AmdiFn i€inini$ .ctivitic! b
n€ccasa.ry and
dc!
cn!c'rm.
t
iil
rAnothc result of the oppositior the editon halr s€t up bctwe€n the politi.al md thc ac,thctic is the apFarenr irnlev.ne of siticdl judgmenb dd of plcnrurc itsen our rcading -poliri@lly'. Ther L a strain of sru-risht@us 'o concluding waming that thcy i$ue "Th€rc wil be few puritanism in the F{dncadon!.hcrc to .cplac. thek donesric 6res buming in polish€d h€adhs, Icw tcstinonics of liberation, or bugte cals dEr heEld the nation or the nvoludon" (p. 35). This dislaimer i, fonunately beli€d by their oM abundanr cqjoFnc t in tlrc literary text, thc ciitcria dEy c,iploy in tleir *le.tioru, dd
lhc Ktunl masGrpirccs
i
r.hey have
brought togErh€r Neverrh€lcss, onc wishes
i
i
I
INTRODUCTION
REAL AND IMAGINDD WOMEN
that there coxld haE be€n a strongEr sese of the infusion of th€ aesth€tic into the political in drc cr ical comentary. 'In stre$in8 the politicalrri ofwomen s- qiting, with a[ its att€ndant dange6^ and dificulties, at the @si of negle.ii[ tlr tua@hd\ there is a dmger arso of rcpli@dng Smueuohn$n\ prenoucement npon a womu spealing in public (which he likcned to a dog sa]ling on its hind less): fie question is not whether it is w€I done or i[ doft but that it is done at aI. Sur€lv women's wndng musl I br vitued wirhin, and d d apd ot socidt Preti.. d much u without n ad I as a fom of re'israrce ro n. Paradoxi.aly, $'retore. fie affmpr to str$ G' .-.y''political in qomen! widns 6ults iD is divorce frcnr l;roriuj trrydalme$
I -d i"-ib ;Gnffit6 6.cG or t}|.rbn ;-x..pfonalrv ' 'ftis d.baF-; do6Fly linled to the La'sr is'ui or uding mist'nce in lubalt m hi5todog6phy. Itutq scc€lBfi y argu€d $at g!Dd" En cilitiittitire cLrrEtn-titiaflFoducd.E, Th'fr ud lrlidE,bo l@t to €it2l'lish it 6
prcbl€madc' but lqsllqtt, a clain that not ontv is more poliri@l agenda of o1trd i$plicrt item otr rhe also ;*iJt;;;u"di--rh€ ftmiDist cliticisn whidr iN qr-gllmstaa/ ralistzry' in5tane of womd's '.rr"" -a "s"" Ti; ;td -tffi;ffi-befo-; * (t" 'e":Tc r'istotit6 litcratv rnditional by rLr h.;b* ^ "m.$d "iti'g dd in tems otclosut and rcsolulior the TherigatlE utah [.nal onv.ntions. of Buddhist nuu, nrc aawt*)b of Bahimbai, lhc .rotic coutt po€trv of Mudupalai. k is their defining nilsion, and dEir sE€ngth a citics; to r€ad while aquing iiat womenk eriting, in spite of their a€ai;t th€ g6in. -wi*rin su'bsurnption "tle ideologies lhat shap€ their worl&", d€ still "difd€firE the Politics of fdniiisr ddcisn in ters ol ald hli6a ferc!4";Thrn' learning'1o rad ttheml ..- in a trs vrav ... to @d ihem {ot-for the rnorn;ts in which they onude wih or rejdore domi4Dt idcologies ofgender' always qtt3 qq€ltially
dd, etior\
3r dip-ire, but
in them" (p.
35).
f.r
th€ geshrres of defimc€ or subrcnion
inplitit
thm Prctjlematic al1s tbat they stunble over in onving out lhis Drcsrame: ihr caltsorv of "crycrioe". dk lrgirimacv of the ole or d'. $bircr;/ trminin his;rian/ cntic, and the rFlaFd issue or rhe -'nv"ndon ofa lfadirion". (s 'Not $at Tharu ard Lalidu lre Miw about ttl€ €'Ggorv of eAflien'e
'The;
\\
n
at least
€,pecialtt pp. 23 and 3a). But they aE rc\€rthetes obtiged to priviles€ soncthing- flen 'he 'r?eriere or rr'", r' t. U. deignai'd a "women's 'xptnen'e" uadition' lom ad history.ljt'ary " ofmale rhc dr. in;ananr ideolo$ - d id€ology, in ordq to make woms's widng cistant by definition'
rquires dF inrssnen'
'Th; discoverv of resied.e in wommt witins also of ,- desircs ud fie acknowled$ment of ,E polilis
womcn/femjni't5
's readin8. I must coDf€s to filding this among the most intelli$ndv scltconsious
political asertioDs in this book Th€ bonding rhat The dd thc I'{ud;p.ld; in tlc ielit iilh lalitha crcateietreen the 'ritic 'ci:*1, "'ritd and publbhe-r Nagaalrnmma jn tlte €arlv twentieth cen1ury and th€tuelves as
dd b;ely
3
trarBlatoB md €dito6 of Mudrpalatns Rndn;tu Sddwaft in th. lare tweDrieth ccntury r€ading this as m "al6gory" olthe ..entcrpriie of rcnen's raiting ed rhc srop. of feminist criricisn i rndir', is a siunnins Mple_9{-!;dczt listcftood. It ir atr allidce that auounces itslf on oth; oc.aioff; th€ir rcadniB:for eaamph, of raI'ltubika A,fiprja@mi -The Goddes of Rcwnsr .
-
(r938).
'Bur i, the subveBion of women's witing to be l@atert within the work/rhe act of writing, d in th€ critical readiqg that dikngag€s it foi s? Tharu and Itlitha inply that it lie! l€'r€nt in wnen's witirg: m argum€nt not ur ike the Amcdcan ctitica cilbcrl and CDbari r€ading oi nin.t -rn*t ,y *-*,. novd! a! cod
&tigncd ml€ of postolooial aitic a om who hu{ ulddrai€ "!o €iw rh€ ubdtcm a voie in hisrory'. I! spjt of len @€ ad sdicioac triG;r n vcr chndy abslaiu born spBlilg .%r" (odF) wlrltra 'Thii tu a lar8s qu6rioD, of cou'*, ole thar h.! ro do wirh aI febinj( radcrhic work. But at a mott triviat lcv€l it allo hs to do $idr r0rl At a rcugh cohputstion o!!r a thild of rIrc book co,lists of criticjt ercgq:s and cditofal prnphcmdi. of vdious kinds - biog'aptricat hcadnore!, loduat cmenrali.s, hbtotlcd be.lgmund, bibtiognphy, cr.. - dd r{lile rfiele snr admiEbty ro hhortclzc somcn'! qiting, one ofun fet! a sff ot d;propdrioD brtwen
etorl .rld. oulv,orlc. For qanplq ten pags of fa$ii,Iil8 ba.lgrcud intor_ rnrtlon, $out R.dlil6 S4atuMrn ed iL, r€crprion aft folowed by dlG r$tdltingly lhon cxEacq each l€rs rhd t*ry ti"* t*g, t* *l p""luclf. Th. critical anempt ro cotrrsl the re.di.g dd Kcgrjoi of ,onen,s $riling is at tincs a ca€ ofovertil'Thc problcm does rcr dnapped in rhe ce of the ,rlft s$,licidy Gdaist
t{orls. of_rhc lar,er ninerenrh .&tury. such a( Mokshadayid t\iDthopadh}"y.s Ba,,gati BaIu" ot Taabh2j Shiadc s Sbi P'su,n Tuk z. m. ."ro.a;l i;i"i, prmphlct Mirrcn in Manrhi by Tarabha; Shindc in 1882 i! a p;niculdty forluhous cxample, sin.e Thm and brilha\ ,oo*,y or U;. to"got * *o,i colncidcs with lhe Cambridg€ hktorian Rosati"a O,rLA"",r -*it e,*y ." Haynes and Gya ptuk^sh\ G ,ta,Lhth tI ad.;. @d
F
Wdry
P:4So.id nrkd.6 i' S,*,arl ua rr,. a;n oe inlpp
r,ap,
-"
"r,o .xcmp[fy rhc proble'n of tie hisroriczl inrerpreratio" or ;;d".ed *k;.. contralr ro Tham and tdirha's elabmdon of TaEbhai! tminis, 'In _ O'Henlon - loc-rting hcr reading in the .ontdr of thc contenponry tr;_ lorlogrnphy offic ..marginal and rh. dis"oses5ed'.. which is on.n rmpred ro "colclJrrc drcir dhccr dcnatuc and rh.ir appdnr *"r* ro ro
6nluhli'r, inlrcad, rhc ,,wa}! in which
""r",o-y., inro rhc prccesrs
rcsisranccs atso enrer
4
/-.
REAL AND IMACINED WOMEN
INTRODUCAION
If thcrc are certain brcad featurcs thar p$rcolonial mdoG by whch slructu$ ofdomination p€6ist or renew thenselves". In the 6e of m.y be said ro r"ismce was "prcisely th. reprodu, rion, io an invefled hrlt in @mmo as a r€sulr or uei. iarabhai rnc ov .'2e;.'"e .i ,r,^. ri" "r ln_tnc louown$ d'e enJral rcle of 'r'a*i thc sraret jnequatities ""[,,i"r. form. ol sme olparria'(h): own lotm ofsqual esenriarism. belirdement .nd in mciat sru, tures;
mnrrmpr'.
too '.nrd,e llrer is also Lhar ofm"ling fic domin r too monolirhic. ln rh. me$odolosrcal impdrc that this ;sue poscs, whether the subaltem histonail/feminist crilic e;brates cistaee d privileges th€ ultimale anrh.rirv of the domindt wiu 'Admircdly. if $cre is a
derr
of nakins
o*'o ,*"
c?:gary puus oI nationarsm ed :\ rcolnrzauon)r and fi. cohlii t5
rrsronarsm (or crnrr.r,aoon dd belsr.n 'uadidon'and .modcmiry.. Ttr
P&r1tcule coNequences of this hisbry a! dre) impjDgc upon gmd.red is.us art rcmarkably similar'
In aI posicolonid natiotu the stare,
l:,:j::T: fT ***,I
on rI. srl.getji poriricar o, ,onar;ve pu?ce.gyi uldelrines wnolncr her inrcrpFtation and inrdendon. Thm bd lali(h, de impeUed b1 t}e fon c
envjsa8ed
i*"a "-"ry.a
a rle guenror
i*[. pil",1t.,, ^
of rigilts ro
-1*u-, p.,.r *, !359 ^ ^ - ^po. "ipslli-t crllulations. rn sucb a condE-qnfrb Pr,,1tct; :lcctord ads oy * to_l-p,l}1^.wi$ th. atc - rr"jcl}y in rb€ fdmnrewbern of Fking rhe t Goun€ ofit! law! i! irErigq$ tglrcfo; d -:vhg E,las on bebalof YYcn - & $rd 4 Esisti's tlt. statel;;-bnt hrlii is p'*"ar. *.q*.* or_'hc-PowcE r,t3ted in it.r Sdn of-rh-e cdlpldidd ;f su.tr a co,*d,.,ory Po.rcolori2i shre, and ftGini.r Drsoriarn B wid, jq are '"T:1T:lin.nv rhc 6!alE on sq Epc 4 a luctio
of mili"'Y
rhrir lxNicdoD !'.ar wmcD's Mitils is 'orot'ndy @nr.stabry". @ sffss Se fomcr. Bur Lhe @e for mmrrs Miting. wh e n ha by no meds been lu\ ha been fousht fd a etlile !o{- fie; it is rihe {or a jldidous rryifl i of {he poliis of som.n s widng rN which r€cogniG dEt i\ nor al@}s resisrdr and whi.h hhroricizA i6.rcnfor4!,sm smpuld^ty l;. "Ih.r is do'l).r poigtunr polti(al dilma th:r is played out in Wom ed {ie-mulda \fiftiq in Lni'. &e'-;F.di;o'. betu€eo, d rhe orr La4 *r. a^'-a .e9lorEd thc I I p-9419P4-99gtli$ aE abo d'atubdz€{r hy of v@ent *idog. wiriog. ad oo dF odrr rh. . by *,crc in"quitie in cras, 11-au-" I -.*ft* "r':sy'"*i"g" "..r':dilo- -"rw@*\ fin' ot tl.-'min9r.'ry" Ijraru.e. susie TIEU !t6 $bahem d'ur ":d'q th:'r poal 5!!_ cplqJh. ro ."d.'. -violale" tbe '.tr as .$otinf a;d hesrmonjc ain.e wE P*' T. I 'n-usr I lTdT..'cm'ni-!t3 obscN.;Ym !1"p* and"e"rq co6, ,r rhe rururc we desir. "can we c'e,'e a s4i'Tn tl.u' dns"fon g€nde, Eh;otu., dd
d
-*rt* "rr^"*'g-
l-..P=494+sgg_:g "*."*
fl lflH*++
\,.* d.*r.p;;,.,;
oI Atu w art rrutins?" she L*. JMt":,9:l il;g!l;:-,ir* +:Tbv affcct! the mnre .f *";'' a.*-, "-,ssh @d t&a. Th. negotiatioa thdr The and talidE har lo coNantiy chan ,clj:ll.:l:lontariT -.sroups fail i! lh.il aEempB ar hcg;oDy. i.c. ar womeb.s :,tI9q- t'Tti thev tum.lioleDc. inlo thd chieli$t r,@nr of !oriti@_ .ontrol.l / b€t$cen tlr claim of $e mthetic and dte politi.al in radin8 zing@ss! indiwidual aJriftmrn, ed d,.ir hirbri@l rni rcnrlrnc€ ol-oppG3cdgloups, ind,ditrgrcme.L tatr6plae ds.rd tewls wiri'8, hc'wreE *'i ;,;.it *ton ^"a uu;"uti"n, exwprifiq dF ar@p, . _ol_l1Po"*' Thging rm- n-;rem .o,i*"* li,sgt;i;r.* 'e.og
Yn
rcquire a hegemony for rhe Fadidon
,hisdiffi.urrqu6don.,
',u"r'l;".
@re,orve
or rhc h.rhodolosical and frirjcar prcblms rtc' rlzru and lalidu foregrcund in thcir work arc tlose of 6ei! lo.ation air politics, i.€. ol
M,n
potioro;arremhism,whosconrom.Erb;cnrsketchedt.r@
"
-*0,- -a
ffi1ilH,il$lf"T:,ffitr?;ffiffiffiffi**:
nlurcdrhr,shdrcnesoda;.;,"r,i,*i,-,iJ"fril,i,i,T"_""***r. 'fhc po$tcotoniat *,;""-.ta. * r;;;-;;;::':::."1
r'p","'ri,i"i:i"L""f,"#';1L1ij"trff#-h"#fr:.jH?$: ,huldptc n8ionat,.csr.,
linsui,*
""J-qi"* o*;.,J*u,
its seosnphical
f;1,:ti.;"::**,il*.;f##trtrffi:"tr*"ffi*j:
h,pr.6 rhdr n't.. up rhis volum. are wied and loosely.onne.ted. fcd!.olizins movcmcnk fo. -.*.y -a -'i-r-mi"J;;;il; d;; "ix, Ncvcilel"s a lpe(cireb'gely from fte rclrosper rive vankse-point p,ovided w_onM,, to.wlos alegiancG grcund.d in on. o, or-her identiry appeals ire by mting o inrrodu,rion a{ier the ewnr - l}l. cnral d i rp@red ,ocrm irNquc uv dircftd arc more c:rcn r}e sjtes of such mrcars rhan panicipdrs or rh.se esa)s is !h€ {rrconslirudon ol remal. .ubje.tiviq in rhe inrersE.ol , :1'_.:'}:i I * conrrict.bcMecn mdidon aad .modcmiry. in rariou qp'hee tcmnir pras. tf mv inreres in sender kads prinrily ro rfl.ctions abou trrlo rccft xrto rhc prcblcnadc. and a similr fEushr bur pasiF subJecr-p;"idon r.matr ;bje.ri"iN. *. culural analysis nmarly ro.urs on rpresentauon ^ '' lTL,"'i jl, '"..*; c.hapto 6 subjecrs rrris problcmdc ro *re"dca s, rudny. $. prc.ess by shich rhe femal. subject is , on.m, ted in r.sponse !o a qrier) _._,rruq nltlrough colonialirm may haw be€n only a ponion ofll). hisrories;t **s.:'" l::lT']:1tJ'll ltrrrons, i(3 impins.ment upon eir pH.hr sociat. porticat, econ_ ot id"oroci ar ihp.ra,iv.". fie brud .onrex, wirhin whi h 'iesc l"rrlrrrlv I'lo(ilitd ns thc parlimcnrary syrtcn, a speri6, hisron, al ide;dry. pori'ic dd ;;. ,t'. ..tr'*,1" ,,u ,r,. l^gl,r,
The
!
INTRODUCTION
REAL AND IMAOINED WOMEN
but of acti!€, im€diate md comtitlrtiw determinations (or ovddeterminadons). It i, bue that oftm md t@ qui.kly this rccognition is ured to'6r'the Mpo$ib;lity for mdy of the pr€sent €vib in the ountry suci d enurom.ntal drgEdation. (ommunafi,rn, fi. rigid buFau@ry, the s)5teh ol p.Fon,l la- - upod aolonialailninisEative decisioro. T}?i.aly, this 'politi(s ol blame. ar EdMrd Said rems iL5 shoa-circuits inBtigatiotr into anil-nalFr of '-rcnrirs.ni i-rd ;rual shape of posrrclonialism. On the other hdd rhr recun€rc€ dd r€furbisln€nt in the disoune ol th€ state, d wll d its opponents, of cerlain trop6 ed corceptual moves that olonialism and imperiali$n had frurd one ffirnple h orientalism.- will not a]low us to reprercnt language),
brds'in dE pasr Kunllo Srigtri ide fies sone dE 'n ' orietalis l€gidmiz€f rhe moE regt€s.iw aspets
$ern lilrrylyalr€g.edrblc of the fi€lds rnEre
.fstat€ and .ulhrE in
bdit
ofa commun l po[tic md the grosth ofa chauvirist dd f nddne.ntalirrJ .!o.i?l*bjli-. !y rture a majoi ideolosicd propiil66,i;a vasio's of a mntialist indisldi.B,'lI $r!i.I d€scri!'riom of6tt, gend.r, fanguag. .t al re offered * etcmal witics .v€n dbugh lhey nrr not ha!€ laLEo shape edlis tie th€ colonial period- Ia eis r€spect the biasei of tlrc Dinct cndr centuly Indology haw tcft ihei. ma* on colonial md miionalilt historiogrdphy as wdl d on popula. p€lr€ption ol d Arra Hindu cl'ltur€. S.con4 rher! is an a$€rtitt sore-alollored First, th€re is the escalaiion
dirplay of lndian tradition
ud
culturE, €sp€cialy of th€ ctasical, rhe folk
and the tribal, int€nded ar a srleable comp€netion for rhe lack of d€qocratizing initiuli\,€s on fts lMr ?a!t. Fo. c'qmple, d€ iibal is r€pr€sented 15 a sell@sglatdarory rnarl of tne survtuing pre@dem
'
€ld a
fu,
tuitb bodr social clua8e strd a{tuai dispt'ssim. The 6ip side of t}ris 'interiddig€nous,
drc tribals dlen*-lws
aod ltrtlggle
;-nadonalization', which is aho a pemutadon of the old o.ient lism, are the oftcn cquatly app@pri,rile and cMtiz.Iizing w€slem tprcsentations of rndje f.d{. aibrl dd €l,sical fodns (seldon lntempo.a.y ube foms), in strich Indiai ltate innitutions often s€d to ha\a a collaboEtir
stake. Thitd, d!.re ar€ attemplr, unaly froE aicl\t 8tut, n€o-G&dhia! positions, 10 Mtabtdr ihe diff€Mc€ t'et"Eer s sd dEm (t}re wst) by taking a stand against the \"lues of the EdiSht€Nnent (reason, scieFe, .-,,-prcsre$) u,ing a rhetoric of anli-g,loial indigEnim; thes rhen iet out via a reh6h of.ertain nationalist projecls to rdisver a! essentiaUy /"n India with its very osn mod€r ofcognition. Not surprisingl, such prcjects
'
-,
r
have often clusbr€d mund ihe molt r€trogrsirc d€nts, e.g. widow immolarion. founh. $er is $e appe.tac of d iBti'udonarized fiird$o'ldism on $F ehe academic scene. This ma.ka u attempr ro Fama- fii: ;olonial subject - now albeit smNhat fragme.ted and €lusive _ throuSh the application of rec€nt 4e-€3sentializin6 ..iccal theon.s pitted against bourgeois, colonial, Er ightenmcnt elue s)5tems-6
'7
..If colonialisin a! a,t€girimarion sysrem,lhrn sdl
[email protected], heftnoni. otcouEc loday, ar A{u@ parallrlm puls iL, n doe, s, turthc!. ii ;* rh;; cmnor arwaF or sjnply br refu*d. for insranre, fie ihpfiodoc, in d,e ;cen; conrcxt, ol Ejecdng rhe colotual p,oDlemau. of eri ;.
omoracmg rruread an,eartier rdding of
|cm&c hcroBm,
on
ir
4
;;::, ;;; lo; d; 'ov'.nons.s
""."r4 an indcx ot ronjugal
bc fnught widr ddgtrouly regrssre
ln
-e" ,hc med to r@snia ,],; epi"..r"g,.J i*,r,r,", :T.ryI3_l oocun wur *:*f:* the adv.nr ofwhar is rgadpd a .modennr)..
Wc an forced to concede rlni a .non
L!;t;;
di;*
probls
of dia.ouc.iry a viabb rodig€nM-
aar dm. bc complicil witi Ebu EgciE cr !!r.uon - u a @rl3tarn aaomDanimd, .f
*dia u-,ii.
d.ory
_l,i"r. " ; .t ; forc otrstivies, fud@otali3n sch inrcItriuaj eq{i!y. .fndism_
is, p,obr.rDad. desipd-,*. kffi-; ll:{l.:::TlJ:Tr oocr !o .no noE ry-"our, tha lb. ial.le€ al &d.,t,rrt p_a*.U"l ** cmcrgld within a glosraphj.al lpace ad whicl har id..,;; . irrlplc 'nationaliry test, nEy b€ imposd on rh.n toesp.d "li*.htlms:';r re'if S.y hrdo_n'roo i! h hiShly @restcd arm.; ana th;s rcoenitio, ..ly ,""J i, .,h. rhodlf,cd vicw rlr!! not one bur mary indjgEnous socjat sciencs m nR.ihr". rru lurthcr.tag!, thal of asuming a Mrtat 6t b€twdr ;ais.r-, ,h.;;;j thld.world,maticr', i!equalyp-6r.""r..''
/i' :q,lfl ,p ":,T.q",
E*,.* ;,a'c.-,";;."
orr"o--- rir.n y rc*s on *,i" $ch apProtion r'
'/ iLT:lffiT""ffif;Hsc.ir ..
At rll! crnc tirnc, I am a*art of dialavins a
tess
ffi;
*".p"* * i-_-l i "r r'i'i*i."rv'di"i I
tha
r
ngoroN aXegjuct ro
.i*"il;; eil''o s*"y'. ;;;;;; .';;;ffiJ?";ff}}f Hf '$ T: ddlborecly ;homedblogy sri d€p16 r, r",it L,iy.a 1. ".". *1"* 11?:',*T "i. dfr rxprolcd - .i $c fJoinl! s,here thev brak ,alicn' doctrmentary of d|e
_
*.r,.."d_
'' dTdnTE historicar ard riurturd .oaq. *q*."--rhoory'h$ hc|r "ii b€cohe .*;"*. |.be MFact€d domain or, . .oi..howicdg!', l'_ln much conrempoEry postcotoniat hrcl€luat dlcusioG ot ;i !?ltt nology, A rhcory rhar se.m to be mobite. ,".ibn"ny e.p-;*,; of
r,Hu_:jt':
rDproprlidv€, borh immanenrJy
as
rcI
as
id
on aaounr of rhe gtobat hesemonv
l,.Il;fi'tf#f#ffi H*mif"*.;ru*:*:""J*Xr,;:
ul.onllt bcruon arc iruencd jnlo ir.rr t^*ton. to*,.. ; lddl!l., Onol rfrliarion3 aa nultiple. conrineenr dd 0eouend\ *, ,i.pry conr.,.tid.po.rcotgrial asdemic i. rndia r ;ndeni.bry h; ; ,:Ly:..ir 1 -fcminj3r lnaututtonlt .rrrur $rt amliatd me wirh rie a.ademy i, ,r,. ".r,; _", ,f,. **" m! I.do nor havc a il)dr. ir :I Lhc pri\ncses of ,nai..r,.r pr.md tbow dl, u of rhc dilranc.'lhd "*-.ii", iro,iacs rrrc c;ti,'ar
*"";:;;;i
8
;
INTRODUCTION
{ a dubiou5 'exile . Mv inrention is noL to clain ror m}5ttf 'marsinalrv it is the relatlw ronlv) i' not k fu'd t@rion sh@ tnrt bui !o -;;t.o. i.'-' "* acruai ot& lelfi (positivis'?l p"nptery. in the bur , ,.a Positivr ier:m it enm lJstoncnt and qeoAmptucal onmgtncv.rs to be The hete.ogineity-ofpetcolonial intellectual id"rities therefore nee'ls to smed lt has simpl€ 'influm'6" ."h".r.ag"a, . -",i"" of nore ihan ^ of the th€ coDfuuratiotE of the Aecificity ne wonfr"wfrt to insist uPon and politicJ situation in dscribins the post@loDial r"aa"
c.rt"-p.-ry
-"i"1 dE rrighlv i""l""i'"r't p-a*-*l Thus chapter l, on eti, gIw dt of ofreli$ous claim dre counter to attcrnpt! itrinjsls .rnd;a;r"'i'In" i.r,u"a
t"r'"ff"f*e str! aolutt rt' deatl Or Gcalid it hd sme'i eident disringuish bct een'Mtive'a$d "r;foric'{c_ do idotiq' wbile straiDg who' iJ-"-*ia*o r"a- i" r*uals 'and 'mnc $ertoR me$od polti'J of quedoro ;"Lr';, ,r'. '-.-]""*. +e.c: ti€s in ". diffFrenr MF " impingc upon 4d rompel ;neidr '3ignificantlv n".aiti"".trtg
"" to re u*f"l also to
REAL AND TMAGINED WOMEN
fot.instanc€, a! Jacqueline Ror€ show!, ha found it so productiv€ to €ngag€ rcp^rcscncarion a a domain with its oM substantial potiti.al reatiry ;d cllccu',r0 Our undenranding ofrhe prcbtem, of,rdl som.n onot I. ourside glc 'imasimd rcnslflc(s in &d dtroush which .women. merge c subl"cs. Ncgotieting wirh thcs rnediations and sinulada we *et to mire at m undcntanding of the isues ar stak€. Culturc rien, viela€d a rhc prcduct of the betiefs and conceptuat mod€k of kricty and s lhe dsdMdon wher rhe EajF.rory oti,\ d4i,Jd{q shape. as wol a! thc cvcryday pm.rjces, rhe conri'genr ralities, ad r}e compte piocess by which dlc € arc sEuctu'td. is rhe cotudrutiw rEal,n of d,e ;bj..r. A, a
$th
lyult, glrurc sppes! 'l th. chief manq &d consequsc or"aomimt ldlologicrl inwsbne& powerfuXy coerciw in shzpi.g d; $bj6u t d sinc ir b-.Lo hctcr%Enos, cfursiDg ad open b inlt pFraror! n @ b€lrh. , sir. oftonllrtrtion ,rd @$queDdy of rh. r€itlgiprim of n bFdivitics. Th.rfoE cuklrnl lnauris borl, els fonn rhc qidqu. ofjdology. -i - gi- u,. *;"r lllncuon or rcpresenud@ iD lhc diajecti. of social
ptuc6
eDbl6 poliricr_l
lntcrlrniion, lreneic ot.ha€e, fi.orEdcat i!,Dvarid &d sr.Irsic rcimr_ P'rctltion!.
I inDrl ot colonjalsm on colonial md Postcolonitl so'icti6 hd bsn iru.sdsared, as kwrJ po*coloni'l ditic dd historius ha!€ "..i.JL.'r" of conomic and pol;tical polici$ 4d rffed! Bder [..-"d' .*.-.* ;" '?-. now ned\ ,r*' .iJ,"* -a ia*""t d emPhais $ar lbev d an agreed tha: dilclrtm dreorsical rne pueed trom J;J'.': s* .'l*'"1 ..,]-rs; mus apan *r domai' a (ultwr L ulLtr' p(s ol ttre 'irusB'rib'd .his othq slae a " lhat drftfott r.o-"iroloEv ou.'"a"*a-" ,xe, *1 soci.tv' 'r€ai'sor is it d dwloP' b' srudied: . *1L -r", outsid. il rr.m Nhich it rov .rPalirv ? lmpU'itlv this dnemma *":*'* *-'a ".a "onstru.rs ou' vrry 'r',' ; rtes' a'al. nirir rlre ma:or theotrti'"] debare' about iJ. ""**"--' '" rr'" .aatio*r'Ipi.t".o 'uh@ and socieq, thr imasined and Gc ral ' rhat mdF r,.-".1 *a ',r'" wo,ld, dis.ous Dd tr'r'riJN as tbe $mednehaYc: 6 aLo dDet" from book. bomsed rhis or ,r,. drle of 'Srto-fli'q ""r!;ri . ,h. 6* p*i.i"n dinini,h* d'e {orce of rulture so comPthensMr} ra ;;' rh.'"naregv or ideolosv-cririqu' win suffice t" demlsdry ;;;:', (uftins ed8' ''r'" aelnvstifi@rcry r,.*-"ii. s''. ^ e-'. no"uu* r'"' u'g"'a. r'.a ,r'.ushr'. sine it is baed uPon or isnorins od oM i, ii*". ,r'"" ". iDto a nN histoical and rhetoricat positioniry"s The s@nd becomes ftfied deLemni.m rhaL efle' tiv.ly pdral)ars ev poLitical p'di to Th. con.eDr of rpr\{tzdon'. it serm,, is befd pMidl breuse ano rso .t't Positioro' ruffdon b'Mren ;;;iii;; it ."i ** " med,ating 'b. (privileging ,realiq) nd suPeslructunr (Privil€gtng ""j,n".-L"Jtr"""r", 'cultur'. not dcnr;:.i :: carrgor-v offie ral or Aseoriali/in8 it 6 son' pregi*"-*"'"pr'l;i g'-.-" fori'parnution Thi' is the rcon whv tenini"m'
The
9
IV dcdbe c a conrergrncr nor qriEry fonuirou3 - of rhe rondcr ofpolirical (i... feminist, po*@toniat. bla.t) dd r-h.orcrical 0.r. pcr_ llauctunliu, porunodmi{l criticistr upm a ditiqu. of essriatiy! hs had llllDofl.llt comcqucnca! for rhe undeBranding ofsubjecriuty. Th. djwtacment of tho.ru\ccr - the irdividual {bour8tuis whi,. matc, $bj€d ; w6tm hutnrnl.tn wholc c.ntraliry had .tided quesriols of ctas! Sodq ed @ial (ullutmcr - hB cr€atrd a @d( sparF ar rbF .en(r of h@anis ginking. wllorc polilical lmporunr.dcbarca in ftuinis cotr upon d* saiB d;-hs o{;.ory\ problcnldzation ofrhe rubjecf. od d rh@Aed byJudjG Budd aDdJoe Whet wc mlght
l
Ecotl in a rcccnr collecrion of cslas d rbe irq,. On tlc onc hsn4 rh.o'y, in.unfixn€,dE suh@q ha. e,abLd $e fminis( '.".lyih of fic polirical onstrucrion and Fsulari;n. ot rhe o,egory .rcmpn.; on thc otllcr fiand, ir ha also led ro rhe apprhenslon *ai .*;rto,r an ontologlcally Iro ndcd f.minisr subjecr rherc .an b€ no poLiris.. Again. it po* tltuclu[ l crirjcicm! ofidcntiry hav. enalled women of(orour ro $.oriz( .rhe rlllt or muldplc "subjcca, of Gminjsm., .qualy $e,c ic hta.L rrmiMll.aMery llr.l lorl-rtlucrurnlism .dcprilrs wom.n ofdre nAhr ro be in.tuded in a h@d;r unlvo rllry' ar prcciscly rhc poin' $h.n r})ey aF beSinnjng .Lo be.omF . Jbjecr5 lr thrl' owr ri{ha. A fuflho conflj.r is found beeeen rrr prcbtemarrad; of IlF,l! lt l"hl ronrLrucrion and dcplolmcnr ot dre .real. in posr-n.tu,,tisr r hrcry Irlrfth dl4'.rn ro.rorbid mouM ro a...eJ body or a..rat vx..., and $e
t0
INTRODUCTION
RDAL AND lttt^otNtrD WOMEN
f€miDtt convicdon lhzt 'such re@uN is n€Nary to aniculat€ moEt ?nd nolirical omosirion !o riolFn.e, EPe md othrr foms of oppr$ion if,k e
I tolurion, to feminism,r ntusat lo cndone th€ woman leader,s hqlrhonlc_ lndividul fcmajc subjyDliN. In rhc lar .haprer jn rhe votume, 'Rc.l rnd Imagincd women, nydrm is ro sh@ how rhe consrructon or a 'n6w' Indian wonnn in rhe hFfmoni. Md otrciat diyouF. ot . onmercizl |dwd.itlhg lnd mcdia is subveneo d0 approprialpd b) rhF \one( of trdian womcn in rhc orhcr tex$ ofcullm Thc iparial mcraphor ofdjrpla.ene ddd @padon fiar I har hdd rccouh€ to ln my rhcorcrjcal jurd6eDon orfiita,eTnsc. nor ody mdtps rraGpaftnr lll contcrmtory n ure bur ats nLtu dc opendon of deirc. and perhaps ot Potatn ln iuch a projecl- wit the qac( ovedd.min $e ruoction rcdue n lO a&rcrGr Or will a g.nuin. ruhddr.y mod€t of 3ubai".g-.y *..g. lhln lho rrry tcrms of rhc prcbtenuriC of orcrdcteminins dr.sldri@. in lne Ey Letfu of po.ins a __Tc-dln$. h onc to s,}l;ch w mw tErin ar€( A [b@t fruew* ;ar t(9bl.n llom ab$lutc morat utud rd i,Fducibte noral posirios (law, Ptwc+ft dlmocncy, humao ;drs) on impatui, foEros upo! a elDrion tu n! oM
il;;*J;;
;*r**
or morar rerativism
dd
Porticd ompliciry'6
thar Burler oflen , penu.ir fieorcd.al recon'iliadon ol $' oPPositiotu for su'h politi(al DroDoses thaq thoush ther. arc no nftssary 'on'3€querEes i""'-t-r-.a"a"ri.'f $eoD . ir cu be ued d part of a radral agdda ' i.. ii ."ri,i"' ,r'" p*"iuiriry ol a usefut 'pol;tical deplovmenf '?' ."vJ;. .r.tr' h a poliric2l apPropriation f'uv take plee.is bv o.. *-rd 'uar de Gntre {ot hktory' scierv Poltic' a Bisting i" th" i*t"ni";"i'r'. 'p*e : *i" *;l b' caPable of i]'e acencv dd eubiios slhood of $e
.'" i.i' 'Ji." ; *'roe ar rrr soe r;m adooq'ledsins fte pofide or -'L.rr'" ',,tio (n€w) .f.*a *'e or ']e subj'ct mut Prcvide the srcund! or8'rdtte ai[**. di€d dd g@d€rcd subjecrivitig tlEt will
('E r BoF c@ting'rr'
nodes ---i of uinancc
;" *;' *'" hd Prompted me to erdore, in this b@k' th€ historicalv dt site for .;,r.,'i,J -a, i" ,ri" -i instanc€' the ?lite' - {im'l€ subjed as two ch'Ptec' ft$ i}re in J"r."it eo" .r at"''uri*' .ubiectilifio lhu!, lD t sad d'd 'R(p'G@titrc )r T* t *' * -u 1"n'. s't1*t or sati 9j!Pt1F 'sti [h' wid@ Yrhs drel the nad;tiol; , mso-,, t'on oI rlK $bjrcdvirv of de ha hubmdi luneral pyer in rems of one who chocet to di'/s lorccd "non
ffi#:;;G;#;-,he
then onlo (he (pBolonial/
droad subjdt (oe
li'etri
subj'cr or Pai')'.,nd
and hisldical repretrr"hoo! ol
$e-woN
*ho ch@sr! t;li." ln $. tus' ifttanc' I endoB€ cdain examPlei ol le'tr'rur b' rnr eimrcD tlBt su....d in ro'sin8 an idiom of paia es@Pe dd actron (mv fi'd@ Fc'nr sme privitegts Rap<', p*' liire-atto t-i.lJfu. cn :, d'teminim l*' ;. ".'".t." sroD m 'iamil. 'Pris;l rh;t suh^t'rs narrtiw .'r r^lat r"r th' nped n'tied' in prae ;;;; ;; '.'-'"*it'ar"*ob sirurA mp' a1 thc cmtt of noltliso' sr!'rurF' .r*. i*"t "li...y rir..r,. 'ap. r ahr' ro *hap' " ditrotr' $bjPi ti\P
'p'
j. as \ronv tbrr h'v' drhn'd our undr''undrnB *'i.i.ru.. "r "t* p... ;"t"i'rrr' Mffi r6nkl) sprc -i1! "\an 'tlP c&lier 'haprF i"J"i',r'" il; a-;;t; ;;.p"'", thc tneonation ;f ihe cor(ctiw fenate subject-id' ll
itowlr m
totrnr, bodr rcducing rhr omplexiia ddr F,ebln and Efuins a obsid.hrid ol lt iD io lpccinc conrqr Bur eAik me @n Md mu{ rhmfor d.Gr rh. oonrtrucrion of a soturjon, oft cm trulty. chd. iL Tbc pmduftion of
lolluo
ir not mcrcly
a
obtigadon
ft ftti.
nu51 t!@gnize.
hr
atjo s tDlirical * R:lbtu pus ir Lo unddaka.myh.nDkns, ard to ry:illly, l::cc !rylort.rthc.polribility and imp@tirr rahion alrema r;vc nafrrire; ro
rllalhttlvo rhdoric
ted
anl
cnmsrams u,}en wc find ou;cts,.d h mrny lnmncc!, ir wil be obed.d I toele ,uctr .rsislanc$, kdrin rhe loall ol culrur.l prcducrion ilself. Rdbne is Dor atwa]s a pBirivjq: n may H Io moft_rlnn ! ncgatiE a$nF. m of or"\ "tu"n.. ".qui",".n*'i" q'llllllon. TIlc lcl of Mdjng h as eD@ tu br an imporLnr porro.3r No|nltlo" crpcci|llyin a conrrn e ir er. vh.F ir is $e widoir aquicsde ln [rr drirh tlat rradirionatly onstDr"e ,salred, subjeaivir). ].Jarahrta( I .n| rwxr duL rlrc posiring ot r6nuo\ a h dJq boo!. zn&ld a spei6. ondoftmcru of ,sgcncy' in $e Dad,mtut ,eM w;d, irs a dbul.s ; bodr rcllon !r $rll inFndon js a $m4[, prcblenaric .taiT. Bur no, only '3 drar wiU work in dr
lr.r,t I wirhcd to evoid dl. rcmdti fidjr of \Bi$2ncr. howrr potiti@X) rvoll.hll. lon.d flich a ncrion may b:l h,r a.tso eughr ro rdeG"c ;ndivid; tlrlrtl|lcc fticlf in km! of i(5 so.iat |[,rjoD nrhrr rhan its pertomtivr hxFlllknlnlhy. As hir(orical mcrhod bo. s h a @Dsttu.tion ha rhe adutrrace ol mrtlllt r$i rncc morc calily asrrnliDbte a .d/id.n... , ltuflhi.r, my tr lgnarion of whar nsn eem a mjnimjj or mrrelv ,ea.riw rylnry ro rh. fc'nnlc j,ubjc.i in rh {Lbjq I otsa!i.. for rtdpte. I sugssr llrr( ll'! rul'lccrl cxpcricncc ofpainisMta suffi.iFnr condjrion lor fic moK lowrrlhr o lxrln', nnd dur such a nrll!. n be r.ad as d loh ot r.si,rance rrr trrtrrrrry lntrrin[ koutd bc potidu \ Fivial ,f i ||ryr not tot the abdta, ol llrr ruhlfll. nlu ot ttt fcmal( vi un. ot wido{ hood. ,,p., o. lll lt"lnrlar sr w.ll nr,.vcn, iomd inrs m .Tinine pcr.puon. k is"f"_,,,urt.r, in rhe Lighr t2
INTRODUCTION
of of this victim+tatus, a .ondition which not only gi*s the fenal€ subjects rendeK @tel) als bur pasive sunFnng. that ol omasion no rclr tr.DL toi thrm, t}rai mv r'ntative -r..rG"r lem;nisu sho spealrhei' "ilu"-",;" 'r,. dden( F mu$ hnd eisr""' ol Lmuucdons "ubie.tivitiFs
n
ll
ll t, t0
oI hd hs @!Nd $' drarh prnaltv tu wili'.fudffA hajs fir p(kn tu\ .ir"';" -'lti*iauii* litl"a bv d{ ";ak;ahincrv ncn vhen1990 t! PP 2-_3 '+ L p-*U* "i"---. S- ir^t ot. t'lou*'Ucr Ddmba ll \olum" rnhLiv'lv q ffi.* L-,bd.^,pp". ln rhr'$'h' note lor a ronlconins ' ii"^'.t,r"L" ,u cabttu tua ot Ftui' P"tttu cds u KdPisam Fdrn "",ilii P,iritrala. dd \4bisti Pztcl. . ii-Ji'r'r r..u...t" in l.hc Pd_colonid wond ' &'i4u4 70-l sprina Summ€r 1986, PP 't4-6+,6P P 45 dtd Id'6 o x.-1,- s.*ji. r"'"a"--' n'p'^*'o'l^ i' ttl"*y 'JeaoL at
^L t? l8.IuR la,m,pp. !_?, c+ !F 3 4 13 lseo h"ilu t'ndon P I o;'-"1*"r'-. i"**;/ iw&'n, o" s Sd:h d m,kt t "dni ;dv ol 'our' vru aNaxv b' d Sucan h" arauld di*oune Drxlu.i
or cobnial
i"-ka- tM@ and R.b,uin,p. t\' so ia sa*ce Prcjc.t: som' Por:d ar ImPti.'ton' i;;-i;;r.-ffi;;;* '; t-,*i ,i nn"a'u,.',,I a ApFl 1991. pp 9sc-6J dP P 960 Pu+ors n exm ng ' r r St * .l -^t*t .* "l GavoF Chnkra@rry SPiEI!larn'h ptoP'r ir out or h Lo sodd (Sun"dayini lll. rhird rxt fron w;m i 'rs lmrl th'Fbv +ow u ome d q
conhxr and Dul it wiLhin alicn drAumcnts and limiL and li;ibuon. ol qFFm lrm:nnr rh€oda S€c A
UkEF R'PrtrnGton d
W6'L rrre Subatrm: A Woma"! l.xr f-m rhe Thid \^orld. r ln Odf Ca&tl Po&n\ N€w York and lnndot, Mcrhuct, 1987, p 24l' t3
*'oi"t
"ai!,
N
l"**!'.'1',L3*g'y"19,{T9.'!T*[
d^*" J,l
Similady
t
Uni\6iry prBs,
la
NOTES I Snsie Tharu d.r K tdiitE, eds, WaM Wili'g i't /i1l;, @l- I' Delhi' Oxford IlnicciN Pre$. 1991, 4 Ba"& 8'4 x!' 3 sudru S;;' 8,i-, * N ot waM w"ihle qi2 to'tion lel ^, R;; rollowi's: b th' in thn Fr.rd I L I h.t ;t iJ,ilibsi- *. i6 du I{tuu'nn "dri.i C"u.', v,a"- n it tu Ad'L ih. uM w@
'd Pr6 ".aT*' *;*, x^v Hav.n and t'don Y'l€ uM6irv mit -1979' o{'nd l;td) DieM; or coloniar Th@ris cumnt i; iJi* r.^f c'ndo j-'r', wdoY"hod: or l$rs idsi, ; z' t8i Ros.lind o Hdrm il--4 i. cl,rl-.r r'tdr.m India in DouBls tlavn* sd GJd Pral6h' "-"Ji*r* i' &!'n ''tt Debi odo'd R^^. o1n Eldtd'J ;: ;,r*-P; -and sni't Rlhh' sus" Tbd!' wmo uritils i' lndir' iil*J' rl*. lcltr ;. 6r-108; i*i i,t^ -i t*^t6' r, u"r.h 199I pP.4+{5-"F pP 50 $d 52' 'u' I" "rm rniia rcmdsr puna Md'at^I ha t'rm t ssui'{ p@ion €dn( Ei'hw i! '$n') ,;;;;; s-; i;;*. dE €dde ot iE ..rb,. Ma,-rh!law: r-i"io , - *' .ppostion ro tbe ad-pooosnphv i""i " Mv reseMtions wr nor mlated to a lad( ol @omimdt ro @mrn\ 'qualitv t'i, . -' -"*' .t ,t'. ,." n chiffrv md or aftmpts b m the sule wifi *n..,. *p*,ti.. PiMF lnan n ahadv has in rhe nmc ol 'urttrnq
&EAL AND IMACTNED WOMEN yorr( dd Odonj, Scirly, ?r! &d/ O)dbd 'c
i:
-tt*!" "ha.r.wr./ spi*\
I
REAL AND
IMAGINiD WOMEN
b|lt
o rhc glo;ficarjoh of sari. a giorif.arjon achirvrd Driharirv rL.-,,"h oI women who .ommir s,ri. The .pp",iJ"" *i^._ t. dlrcuniv. and rnc .rear.ha admiftcdt) bFen aconrendo,i, r'opnrcn(atrcns
1
i" r"",;;"
i._1., -. corrcrponding as i do4 ro rne opposjrion beucen acaa.-;"r,t _*o..t p.",*,. on thc onc hrnd and acd6r inren.n,ioc.n *" naa. ,1,. .,r,.,; [*,i, i" not rn opposition drat hd.tevetopcd inro "^ i" *. d at6otur..* .i tlro rcccnr sari. A norabte fe,rur. !})ereJor. or rh. **nl a.U"."r**"* _ *l,l dcbnrc I re.rfifijtate in rhe opening s.tion. h4 bren lll public drm.nsion. The
THE SUBJECT OF SATI Pain and death in the contemporary discourse satr
I
lTi.1i:l,xJ,X'#:'j::"-HHtrj.H,.ff
fi.#trJiltrffi
[t.T,"##srT-.r#tr#ffixli#q,"#tr quid rsarri
||lo
noti6c! tbc.
appiopriatiM of a@dsni.
*" **ondins
tbr ioreftndonary $ar tar* pr"* r,"_ ."e"1.,i.1
A wotun btrms Lo death in a v lrse in thr {atr ol RaiadEn in Indid
ilH..t:r'i.
rln|, *-.i. h2.d ban $onFd to d?+- t'ol 'dult:1. y."'*.-ri." o* "*. g,5r .ounry.' Thr 'monotithi -Tllird Wodd \lordr ir a Mjddl. a ,ubjeo irurardeoud) becme an ovend.temined slmbol T::n no-( o1' Fligious fund'-
I aitetr$ ro p,worf, sudr djaj.criat infusion +9 rnotltodologic2Xy by @Iing Etajft Se,r}/s;bde a&dcEi. djssrr{adon on rhe lrody tn nain', atong wirtr popular an lorns ald a vdjety oI drc burning woman, coDvE g€ upon rle $bi..t ol sri.",
Th€ ster€otlpical and ner€ly sensational Apects of thde '€ltnts ' isolated gr€ats rrorn rheit co;'text, hae t€nded to @€Nhelm not oD\ the much protei {8ni6@nr rhe .ompl*irv ol lhe is$e adualy involv"d bur 'quall'. rh" olLh' P"Pdlas@ olhcr $.tioro group\ and mour.d by local \om.ns '*a &d iisftt postsloni,l sendd in oith€ 'west' co"ti"ui"g p"*t"nt
II
of rtivesal patriarchy but also or sp.cihr dxrd sond
l:
rhco.iziDs
sylysis rhar foroB
J;il;;;;.*
fi ['.f, ",,'j"";'ifi ]::l;::tr#T3.H:-,r,H;.1,:pff
J
pun ll$ cryital ofRajasdDr Th. evenr
ol p.qrlo. I'h. rratc govetuqr did
q
re?on€dty wimqscd by
:.T.* hudftds
'oie that e of reldaDce ro rhe n'sue of f€nulc tr'" tr'"o'iti.a i""'4"-4."" sbjectitity in gen€rzl. It k 66me sese of these otlrct aspech of sati in coit"-pot.y liai" tr'ut r attempt to communi.alc in th' 6st sccdon of this rli *.ti...xplcs, tcnlativery, how a wcstern mcditation ol
nortad .,t. i* .Ji. ,r" h$l Drmricr, Thc massiw media inreHr and d1e cone".t "t*_gr, r";*-"f **J" ln'It'r dcnrualy lcd ro Lhr isue or ,n r,_";s ,ot ;" (rn{llhidr bur rhc stonhodoD ^ntlbc ",tf of sati. NpKnnets. *- :OO.oOO o..oi. .t,trtlfd rc .IxMi nutott@. $r fucrion ndkins *F di*_d, a", *i.. il
rl'" r9re"mtatio". oi "ari .'-rd uFon unou' diruriy "g*'. "'^"y "f sirc ihe imulatimol ih. anti-zti hg,slddon of 1q87, 'Joumdxsb' med) an'r visual ,iconic dd phorogaphi ' p,odu, rion". do, um.nrd hlms 'rnPmd or'epFen12riol s th. hction shich fo[o$s in fir lar se. rion, 'eveals how loltr mciall) inteEecc wirh fi. prccduG ol subj..o6',bonoldr's'd in hdrr
il:l ,l.v.lopcd,iDro a prospercw p;rg,i. .. s*"",t -,t pmsue. r*r ntrvc l,ccn rclcased under polit;cai "i;.; I'r JaN,ry 1988 ntu tesislati;h wa\ enrr.d ".d ".
"ot a "t.p". th€ $bject ofthc body in pain may be approPriatcd fo! and con'6t€d bv as subject specific histo;car and ieninist p.oject in *i inrcrests of fie femalc 4
lf my r.ad;n8 of $. \o"ial rxa of sau hiShli{h6 iF di :6i " dinm'i@ r, mat'n"L is becaq dris"dimosion ha been so .rucialy inr'tuoa wilh th' bv BnnLt is cd reality of tlE phoomsm. (l bcar in mind h€re the callon materjal with not be coilused r-ry' 'ai-.,ir*. of represntzoon should *"11"'.1' o* indcx oi thc widespread recogniij@ of i$ imPondcc is tlut the ncw
andjati
'commts$on l€gislalion extends its scope to prohihit nol0nlv thc 15
fi ti :rT.ri.'.'*T:l?iliff :1 #. Tffi Ti;: :Xn:l;:*
""'v|(rd.
iilillliiill'f';'.:'#,ff:::don/
A",
rq87,
rpriotins
;; ;,J: .,. ;";y;; ;;;
D
parlamen,
Ghe
*..r'i.rr.,,'*,.i,r,.
rbr drc_ firsr dme rhar fic sovehmenr ar rh. ,.nu"r round irseu . . ll :* 'rrtr.r In. ur IDdr from fundameq€ljsr iors, dm.,r,*..r" r",g. ;Ji,a" , rx r'ntrr y 'nnad frcm iruring a siz.abl. wre balkj. *. tit.i,t o,*,. .(nD $,rrrrnrl righri cmupc, civit ;shLs org?niztions, hti porit",t
"t,r.r'tr, r,, ttrNd,r rhc
..'rli,lrr,
hn.rln.,cd
p*t..
i.,ii
",a croi.i orF;cn\ r;qh;,..d.";{...".;:;;;';: as rhc prcrcctio, orri. r..ao- or *uO-" p_"i.., l6
_=::,' THE SUBJECT OF SATI
conllict! wiih anotlF constitulional guardtee, that of the
REAL AND IMACINED WOMEN
ight of lif'
(in
Jdition to all other equal ights) to women. ConPrcmising bctween its legal other' md liberal conmitneni on the one hud and political ex?edi@cv on d1e actively without i ,fr"*r"- i" ihis insiane Passd the required legislation .ltempting to eDlorce it r"* in Bensai ;n 1829 b) a BriL h go\"mor' \\'L[iam
i.J
Bendn,
*"1 o-nir,i'.a W
[- I; i"
t'"* dedincd in rrquenfl dFra]i'r' In tD'F oleti har b€en teponed abour lbrrv 'n ax'
^*."a,o sndv @ss lndemndentr India.
.r.;i" i" *me norrhemibrs ln thr pdr de.ade, th' Phcnomcnon hd ren cl sati inemps hav' been Prdctrred bv polic -' i".**, " "'mbe. (:died oul^ ';oiil" in:rr,rnrion, bur rou q Cw baw bes str@s'tunry of vi; eb dclddFrs epidemic Bur whar wories romen! Smups is no' ab dunbrf its - bur $P di't rttng in t'rrrs of -J *" ";"i.li,t of ttE is;e ph'Dommon ol rhc slorifi@tion of sad rhtuugh tril rcrnt *UJ* ro rhe
"r dnual fai6 Rich bu'inessmm. for the md pafl belonglng have deifi'd centuries-old srtu bv building tenples ro*"; co.*unirv, l,t of i* ru * nal*i'i'* *a ea:lry Delhi; thcle c€nfts aat:ct tho.rsds (o pF6Pdig' btiry fai6 a"*t". *a -d i" r'"g" donaridts. Arnual 'in%es d€ar, clisious ianction' o.i r'"'" l*" sites of-past ad t€ceat sati to encouragE a cult OicJ L.pIarv -a *"nomic b€nefrts hav'e's; 'ornbined ofwomen' ofsati --ii'" in a climate ofovcra[ oppression ba i*".r *t in tndia odav i! nor a sinple one bur in ssence talSc' th' inro subsunFd E nv€d ilsclf inlo a s€ries ot binarv opPosjtios 5aD ir.a;*r' -a -.aedrv"" rj'r."a''" 'r o sppathizeB wirhritual @€ra1ed "."**', a is rhm sati for ol *," ;a" 'taditioo': "" "--'pt.p.""aly r'.- i}re vedic scriPtures;' it is also a practic dritten .Lrii;',t* it*-t* and hane $rws as d ird* ola storiou' sanial n4p"" i.iJ"" r*,."y "r,r'" sd id*lhtic J.;:i*u"- siti.f i", *d;t in rhis ;q' .'presn€ of rhe ;mple jts celebradon Piis faiin r.a.t -^*J - so that the ban on sati and "r *,,r^,^"al ,h. rommuniD, rb€ 'olonial or w'st'mizd rLxrt" zbd r[r'' l'" "*," .ubre.!.' T}e n.qariw idqtiq of moder^irv' - as an "-i"" ,r,.l*.i".' rrarn i" bY d'P sam' hieh toureeoi" and alienared \'slmi/adon' 'an b' 'nd "rl*. t;" rpud;" s i'0 oppGitrs or the suld who drcs ;;;;, ;"' Jo '.ke or dr m*"r w&r""e a a bagis for nodem Pldric is !o invir desisrlatioD 'hargr sch dd bv .ti"..ti."; i" a..rg""" *U a crinc nther'tlun ritual, ae dr mov J '. i."-*. t-'gh rrsislative Prchibidon' is to m'r\ rcpL' onl) to rrc is nor woman ot the dtc pliShl oi thr .olonial ruler;r ro highliEht bv h€r i","*it* r. ,r'" ia""tity "itl'" R';p"i ""'muniry (which is denned. on" Gat wom'ns nsues rr. Uur ar'o Lo b. selicdw dd hlpotriti(al in t'lr 'r)e is wirhrn the troblemati' r','. *"i bona fid.; que,tioned .i-rr* FmDI€s and
-J ***
..a"..rv thar 'l'e opponenrs or*d havc had ro nFqotiat' B) rhcn ocition e\.n 6 thev seel' ro cal the very tems inro qu"tion
.i:"iai.'
hn'^.i;;in.,h"
politic,l ,o;Gsuddons ot
s.eMrio of its con'cmpo'dry '-hP
17
r'6ion
rhe nobo"
ol a dm6l.l1 lnd vlnurlly plaroDic sati ir combaFd.,a Hisroridr conctude on lho b.!h of rlglonal variatioru in rhe numb.' ofsatis in Bmgal itr the nine,een,l lanlury thlt rhc pracdcc ofrati wa! legidmiad bv tocal cucrom rarhc, rhan bv lulhodt!flvc lnd invariable rcligious prespoon., rne vo.ai -a o.gut,.a D$ponortl of rati today, other invcstigations r€veat, ae not rlle sihpt rural m|| tr but drc lmdcd gcntry ed tllc urban businele clms; rhe Staie, is not t nffIolo.l ldlrrsary but h mde up of potiri.im. policem.n Dd other
funotlo .r
dccply cntrcnchcd in rcgional politirs; r.tre gtorifietion or sati UtEulh tlmplcr rnd fain iB a commercit ndtty ard ; endrty .modem, pltrnom.notl; dlc cnacEnc ot modem sati dqiv€s iu fcatuft, &om popurzr dlllu llld poldcd mccrings mhq r.t'.n halowd rinuL" Wh6 eey c;(re li t+P.'rhn of rrti rhry dl€ms.h!! claim rlEt the irse is not &e opposiri@ tdt aa{ trdldon md modcndty, bur ralhs tlhr iming or of dr. od;di-rions Itlrltln. 1140. rs"' - r',ch s i' di+raFd iD e€ ; of Rap Kel^e, a
Indrmr glrl ln rnrny
rcrp'cca" .droo€ing' to
(ffiir
sari
in
pie;hd
atru@r
baakntund, llor &hool .ducado[ elc Thu dF .aregoriB .r,adirion. ed 'n0dir $,r l|t lntlk d erd cont.sbd ir a sigojGeff way i, rhc sFuggl€ for $ll' md othcr dcfirition bdwftn thc tm iid€s. . ll.vfih6lor, dl! prcblcfutic tmairB insidiousty oerrjE i! fEminS ,jr lft.ofllh&.ut ccriviry. l' rhc Eprclentarions of saii ;" co"r.,ry""a"y Lai"
lhtt I ddl b. dlrcu3dng ordy trrc $bjcctivity of the ** *r," llll In.lh..t crudd iiDq fcnatc lubjc.tivity hd iD it! ruh hingrd""*;" on rl,e Sdlonn Wu tho .lrl volunt!ry? Or wa! t}lc ro'rH fored upo; rhc pyle? fllS lual .ltomdwr wElt po!.d ar e ascci of B;tish inrerwltion in rhc Itttr ln rl hto oldrtelnrlr rnd clrly ninctec;fi Gntui.J" .,d .rll rtr.i" rh.; Ib wlr.ll tyod lnto $c.cri$ of oppcitiotr tnar carc8oria 6e pmblmad. d Urdl o[ r,a r hodcnrit]'. For dcfcndG of sari todiy atl sadr ar btunrary, lld lttr lU q,|lon!nr! rll ofrhd arc cocrred- But *tm dr hdividu,l woq;{ r{ldtotll/tty h rtd ln lcms ofintcnrioD. inrrntionalry (a oDly be a harr., ot r{dncnlN rnd,
ll h r.\.rrllnf,,
llrrllt
idculosicat @vicrion.
ncvrnlclcsr, ro !.r hN Eesp,rol tuch inrcnlio .b afp@ lo 116 r{l|6n rrd brck from thc inidal ptmist rhar eri is suicid.. fn $; fiBr .sdi wa! Itlr.N thrrn h th6 .ncftjon rhat n Er a slErda n i! nor o.e now, n wlll not ln ono ln rhc futurE. It i! a c.!. ol d hd idut daiw. \csq,}La!;s
1}n curl hhmcu ofsrti a individuat decisi., p.-iu *" i."."*". rl llF woDr r t*hh thc tullc inkgriry of frc. wiX: rhc anatogies ro rl.e evem .lr drrwn lvhh mrl6 hcr ,ic ruicid.!, $c EIigioB man r, rlE soldier, $e zlkdc lln ll, rtl lh. ltconr pollrlcd acdvilr, CDdhi or vinobha Bhave. Therc trllr.ll0rtr thrn unrk rlE woman a! cxccprional and singdr., Findtly. a lll llll rlllly (lnrlrr rrIumcn( cnn cldm rhar cvid.ne of coercion esBbdhes flrrly lhal.r!r tdht llt li trl! 'lnauficndc'. Thc pamphlcr isrued by rhe Sad DhMm Rrhltr lrnrll (rhr (t' llmlrrcc for rhc prorcction ofthe Sati Fai,h)inJaipur on It.(l't"l'F' ltlrlt rhir riri, in R:rj!srl"" h:l"".r-,.* r"* iori,"r,.y, 'lihnr(t rfilllr l|lth ftr hhr.t..nth{fl trry trcngal,r'By rhcsc *."*,i"" p."*a,*..i rrftft,rl1,rr
t8
THE SUDJECT
rubiecsfi'
adon
lhe e,tablishmor
OI
SATI
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
ofeti d
individual decisioo" thr ' omPa'ison ldorized marc a'rs or serl'amihiration the
III
ii"i.i*"JJa. JJ;,r'" s*iarv the roudn' opdon exe''is'd i*-*rs 'r'"-,.t ; *. "F eptjonal rathq thdlrrows aurircndcio upon th' il'5'*n. tr-i" *J* od rnar vorunwi"m aione *r'. --mits sati reaches the Eamcendent lubjectiv€ stzte' ";J*"-*.il *iln."-"" anrja"-t{tification or tn's prceduffi undenalen b asnions rheir '-t'.-""r, murdet as or *i *,.i." -*i'L .r il expcure '3ad concedins b'v inpti$tion 'hd that be undemtood ;.*;;;; 's suth bv "", ;;;-;';'.;A* 'i"* '"pmjsible coereion has bem .tablish'd is p'rromedl' femilv p'IYT: q"3 .itii* * ir. i** which !$iwood and ctcoDua in a necf,-hrgn Plm .h.tMmhs ofwomen imprisoncd by ddision' wid' l*" n"' o- Ib€ wid@ srav b'w complied d [l,ilT" ']'c th^t. i5 "- ".:;-;"t . ;;; option a mderv u"t .ot ,r t'''e ''roi*: Bulrs rrom 'rals' .*r"*J. r,r. L an il'heat'd uidoq or on' $'lti hthev ;. il;-'*.ot i.a*oi*'ion I" -v "e' dl'rone rer6'd il.*.;; 'o suttscnG3 HowNetr *.r *t.t ""tri"c m di. i! a sufid€or r'non to dic srdrt sati the I'Tim*t ia""r.i"- "r *. r-"ao' or cboie on€ m*' emeti'cr onestr o rc find is so o do i'*"' '"i*-"r";",*."4 sici& To refu'3e ils or sad as inexorabrv 3 vie or tlur ;fi;';*;;;; ;o$er t';oa J"J- *a m*t" *orv'ns hd subjecrivirv of anv fuction or agencv rr.- rcr^ dis
Though pdition€d $ithin a historicat md culldral maleriatisn, Elaine Scary,s phononrclology oi ii;ii is n erthetes beiDa i,vokcd tre.e to counte. j,e uanrccndcnce ofpain dhr is.laihed a d rcah) in rhe conrmpoEry arguen,s
ln dcfcncc ofsari. B) in,turin8 upon fic *i5renriat, tn. bture ratiry ot ;in, fic rhaor rvcrsiwnes of ir, ia gnruirousnes. and iG invp,onenr ; ,t. ;.rr"a lndlJldual body. Starry wates our ot pain tne vp.) (ondrtion ot fie huhan Nq,cct Itjs Ihis ituisr.me fiar is ot rdelac ,nd %tue ror hy purlbr. The Indlcrt lubjectivity ofpai4 6 S.arry cars , rcfcning ro irs esotiat p;wcy
PrcdcaneBt' fie oncerEd f'msist anabat in do€s, as oft brveen sbject
Tht
choice fo.
iil'*
'hh '"nix' as a$ncv imP'Fti\ ' "' ""*+ r*de subjectivitv sain'3 ispoli'ical i*,. "i"..*ri"".* trrn subjtuGsrzrus ol rcoGideradon for a iq H"n.. tffiir1,. a I ee
'hc *-' 't'ift r'* '*"" i ehour ne subja "J;;;;;"-;.n'oi"g embodjed $bje(ts ud Pesonincador ;;;;;;;;;; -;cems adur sisnfican' dptrt or lhe cont"mpo' liln-la"'l sa*' r' iaenffed d a shibns of sati" this ai.*." .r " r..;'U- .r *alsm"' ln dr 'ae authmtrc T'rclv: Ic or naurnenDri ru scu' I
.-.h,.h
rmm sati-asisth {murder or
*i'J*-.1'Ti.-'^t-;g that this shift
reals.
i.,r,
$j'ide,
*' '"q"4*
p'i" -a ne obrrcbvr +'(tacre
rnil lncorrmui@biliry,6 @ .t"" * rL t ,i, *hi..d"tuy h d,. ss: "r of *r ijodry or rle .onstiturion ln,.ytlcfr t 'trgl" n hfr. rlEr '."* or dF ItdI,/aubJccL I claim, in odld words. dEl dr eDdidon or paib la scM flqu.Dcly to de6ft rh. hltru subien ir erDain conr:o. notion of dF hdjel subjqtjviry ofpaia hc.wr, cMrts a ab$lur. .t lclrlyt rcr'of6c aubjar in paia for her fi. op€mion of syfrp,rhy is tohd qJy lll o.ddn hcroic and creptio,at arens of hutlw .nde*. #.-ty p* i" DituBht into rh.ffa of a sharcd publi. di!.oun . a dF purd:Fs by s+,ich th6 tnowlcdg! ofpain is pnduced. shn h matr posjbrc d,c deiil,.rare infi.rion ol prln by one d.t of humo beings Dpon DodE [n rorture, !@ dd vioLn.r ofdl klnd!),-an cqualy based upon the uir,tr:at erperioce ofpain. h is fie alur.d tnowlcdgr/qperidce of pain dnt unn.s sufr;M rorllb aad belPfl of glmparl'y aft trgrd rhce hio rgurd o$eE, pain ar __Clulddc.thi!circuit Ontdogtcrlly difcrcnr fiom rb.; ow, ed a]:1 adordj.gty. L i".-."S,],*. lhll 1116 dcfcndcn ofeti mun be placed. In rhe drempodry dclatf ow eri UL lu\|.cl of plin figures oD\ in $e langx?€r of fie-dFfrndG of eri, who ruthodry abour rh. absnct of pain tet by dr s; (dM dry e Pl$rh nllnrn!), !r rhc tldlr$derct of pain arhifrd by fid s"jfi lttlB dFy Er nr$rcnl), Thc comdon ltsumncs run a iblo6: $e sari dns nor fd pain lr you rnd I do - whar is 6re to us ij wat.r b hdj sle smitG as shc sjrs ivirhin ll!! lln; rhc.couns fie dumrion or pain 6 a htr Jtu minui.i ,gains d i0filty of blio; Bhc fel her pain a ptesMr fic ral su$J tu" oroed hcr, m lng,hcf.imrnunc to pain. Rjtual pain k rg dcd s r ,ti*1pU"... yqt. lll0mlnlon. t orh rbier ed b.hi. r7 ittrlburion ;f s.par"cn$s is facitirar.d also b) rhr aberure odrrmes. 0l"luch rmmtn l' rubjccr-of-pain thrcugh rhe mysrique buit dound saual
difierene. hDour.otclrlldbinh, for iruun.e. is Gequrndy rr.arpd as born nan al ror wolnu rnd &lllcBly,.vcn hcrciczly. submirr.d ro; sin.e me. * 1u,. ,o rrlll|rll'llc! ofk rhcy arc witting eirhe, to va]orizp homcn: expericn.e droush nyrl$cr on orn uralizc ir lhrough acceprs.e otanaromical ditrern.f,. .They ll! n lllo wrlr nn cxplanadon for rhe foms ofopDrsion pra.tird by fio.. 'l
[.
nr
fittrrrrllyindiitlc,
ll h finl'ondn' rhar fie .oereion ot a uom o\ddj ,h. ao ol 'o 'F.ogni'c Itll r'6rrxr l,. rhnDly rcgrrdcd as an infliction ofpain. Though d,c phenom.non
'20
THE SUllECT OF SATI
RITALAND IMAG]NED WOMEN
4I shal b' claimins sti a.a spcc6.le is an imponant considqanmspons Thai is shv bl@d ol wi$^tlur ir,i- i*,11., is nd to be equat'd.qtlm k L also sh\ tic
ottporltlo to Inngungc, thc wortd and .mating d shr d@s only rsLrl6 in irs nrldofl, r Nllbd condidon rhar, pandoxi.al], vinuaXy makFs ii onrotosicaXy lulolotnour, fir(hpcndcnr ofrtr. sulTenng humd $bjc.r. Thqe is zl,o a re'1dl lll{lhtlo torrllarrioD in conccprualizing pain as e$rnddU) unFpr.en,dbl., Onl0lrrylc y r ridiecourrc, dcfiritionajly $ar hhi.h i. f",gra". *f.;, i
ol
qtn..n.E ol tad (annot iq
"Gdjo
ry. gy: lixil f .l.*":"#"iJ# an iddex ol $P ddaluation' ol womcn
'J:ll;';;, ;;l;;;;.; ."ri
o@nvs
be l@red
y
r
dnd the sro'incadon orsatj t-hr racts orpd redL wry at the o since it is rneir rmsrendence'
ilff;":;;;#*;;arn :'fi1;;. ;;;;'.d' sig fier ol valm An initidl Iro"-^" ot ,r,l "..- **'is btrom's 'hr supenontY or posrulating ii.]'".." .i s.a" and sPinr the beis ror htroism ddthe rhr na'ivrdo' :il:';;l ;J. ; i. .r'r..* "r * "';*', bu( d* ; ;:.;ds not a devalucd 'bodv rc b'i"g' ' :H:]l;;;r bJv invesrrd with ac.pdonal pttri(al Prcperue whn" -iJ il'd;; Pain i! rmdaiab\ ;,t -d*ti posir;on,'hotrwr' enPincal {a'E about r' i" nm+rcft r-ptse'r.d ctuin ^"iJ.* and jumping rr'ins "'*."" h'' * :"::i":i:"l;,il;;;'' a-gs'j ' -di'i-
wirl or ';t. #'";;;-;;alpri'v"a a"'rv i^ "-'-ents abou' ho.sinc dc ,o' ror''ci' * i-;i'd-i"";brvth'- Lhdr;subje't liLli ii' * 6bod;'d pau
*"*.
r",',t" "t^
lo @NEt't
sendrrd
'.r'.-* r.""'a'ue ona' I wnh !o eplor drm io some des'r rr-il" *,-,.--" ;*;r* a'. a^"g" of suc} a prcject rnvrn ia.r. "' il'"* ,. li. n*i*"nc sc-arvr b6i' premjr' dE( or pajn''s mist"rrearrbu." or 'L t -"c.a. *i. - a" 's*ntiar .:-:-?':''-'' ijlH;:*,r;;;;Jld *;a'"p*aa 'dtural ;nhibirioc abour iui'tv rl''r rbere d to r'.;ato*"* or*'pon* is a mumr '"rctimdd La#;;;'.;.; so inrcnr*."brv ir is *" wry mrrriarirv or n2init rher ;:il;;i';;;; a rujor probrem nt ncrd to rprsnr
;;#;";
,r";-
obviare'
il";H;i"ot.'" ;;;;"'*p' @snition or ;; i;ii lli'il * ,,.*l'"
Hffi# fi:;;.
i'3
ry lr'"'*a"e i' rv'"'**'19 11rr widin djsurse' srm to
Pain'
'rrrert
$FoFdcal .t t:.'hmi'. mrirq rnu rcwrds an anarltir or o{ -4- om','r'v i^ a"r'pin8 PoLtic' and.r-c Pd'
'
absena of such eniculadon' " rhe i.i ;"i'.::; ;,;. the bodv/mjnd di'hordnv n so rrn\ in PIa e in J t}E' -) T*::'i:: u^.."J a'.",".. rerisiors 6 {cl] a phil6opr'' apFa6 d'*ll in'virabry '-ll lnr bodr a panl lor humu subjr'tivitv doub\ ar Prrnr $n'e $c i-".""ini,"a;" r'd+ed suj"crvitv
ir
::i::';;;;';;;
h.r hem
so laolrlv
'Ius thrcuBh ihe ttreB^ hicalv (rale'r arreadv
oppo'it"n"u"' d mind/bod) rca"
sentien'e'
"1., s,T':fJ,I;"lr"ff il:::hrm:ru"x1.'J:,'#I:f; the u out havr €'.ricar remi*
been 'an'd iri.-Jc ffil. .";',iq n ol antj-humannt Prcje(t5' *;:;:;;;;ilr. seNict i"'"plr.. orirs u"ique Drctr'upation wirh rhc Phenomi" ii'"l*"' 'o"r 'i'a "n;'*"t ror'F h"Fmnri6"' .":il't;;, "'; , ,.d potitjcil problrms ro $P Pa;n in su' i onsis'ent l"if.';;"il'* 21
0oho6d6t.thc brtdc nor only ro.haos funmakjng,,.
-,
bu|o fior
who havr a wll.dovolopod I'mgu.8c for rhF trivialzation ;t pnn. To arlhbuR painj lrlhlrmo.lo.rc.ptrrcntarion to rhe csmdat narure ot p n nylf is ro ,gnor $e
lullunl,.hhtorlc0l, gcndd-spccific and generi. wiadon\ in lhe ,Fpresenrarion ofpdn, Mr* sdrurr hss norcd anorhcr.oreqrne ol Scarry\ m.rnodorosic2i Elrudmt th6 cndcncy to oppos. stories of ihird Wo,la.,*."a p.ii," lF reou lr of rhc domcsric indDcies of r]d "auU,"a- *o,t.." io, rr,"
lruI{ tlrld rffllr ro cndos S@ry s diyouM on pain lot ly sqnd be ro aitur4a d r wclkrdjidrcd etretirv_ tu:'y ..h: m .ct crcar, dre inbfwnrjonN rorce of a @'.hpoEry .. i,lii of.n$r h 6 bccn peidrd Lrsrly b) lhr ldl.s ;.d-";* ;l lrulltll m llohro, hw lld humen ridB.D tr i! nor surprisin8 rhar tutfnpoE!) dri_ r{ll trx llrrllh hrw fait.J ro EspoDd io de dt.ouM oI no?ain gjwn rlie
llltuhlri llrrorrrir:r , .rrakSic aDd porirical difi, dde5 or rrr. pr.inomeiotogy or lrul ln th c(nlcxt, h$'i{r ofprin fi'r des cxisr th€oreticar}. ed exndng repr.sFnrarioa fll,lllF rlF rl,r lrvaritrbly lHln,
a suirable paadigm for
*" *q"", i"
lllr'ollrl!, R.pltrnhtion of pain in wstem u and lirsarum have -t""d ty ad lrfiF.Fnorl
n old*1r ofconrchptarion.
Sensidviry ro orhe6.pain _ tynrprrhy. _
ltfi.lxr *Itfll.rr xI ldcx ofculrura], evcn @ijl. sup.;.",1-a lmi"" l|nlnrt 'dlllhl\. r.'. t i! rt'tu rhar madr posibtc $e propegadjsrc ^ - & of {lt llli "lr rrtL.hr mhrlomry discouBc ,n ninerrenrh{tutury B€n€aL As talz H.l lr r$rrd, tln wo* ofprosdyGm. &d indirc,ty or.aonid il"*_,;on, l l lhlllhrfll whrn mimi.,nanca itr thpir pub[( addF$A. bv wide]y $oking
llt. n1r,mh ,'l tfi. Inrnri,,& $ti, b.turrd Indi,n viXlsrys fo, $. l,rbdn$ and n$n. (''rrms!ing rcligiou piry.', lo r-r," tsr,oa,,. p,o_uc 'lll rF{ rl'.h r'.Mtrhrr ( rh. d hrv. dcEtopcd an claborar€ rhroric ot pain ;n'bet,atf ol lltl.,llFlh (r!lr rllc rcrcm) rtw is displayrd in arui.fmjats rmpag*." Ilr llvi,l.. lh. r'1,1.( in/of pain on bchar ot a f.mini,r rt.o,y,.i p"otit^ Itilllhlr tt|Ynr srnln (ru wttrr conrcmpo,,ry fenidst p,ojccr doe. nori]. Ihe rnlrln llvlry ,'l 18hr, lr h nnpononr ro stres. med, ro L. .on"pralz"d a. a ritft.r tln r lrsiivc condition, on rhe prm.. $ar ,]E bJed in pai; 'lyrrlrk trlll ltp,rhll'hl,nr'rlly nr urr[*n rowyds a sorc oi no_pu;n ,",." ir,,i,.o,. i. .o lrr"rr Indll. r.llcrlvlry). Whilc rhr arccr p,.,j,..Jb,, bodv in pd _ pir). irltFr, ryrltrirlry, ihltltl''ltti,trr - ix rD importanr coosidcation in rmurzting a lrrlllllr ' htlrrvrlltl' r, lt ii ir lnnlAnr atio ro recognizc r,.ar an iDherenr rlrhrilx','to.tm[r.1. str.rr tr t,rh rh.;dividud or co ,rrivc $Fcrinq subifl lrrtrnrh li.rft'rn I' ir th.r.ti . tr{ on. who icrs/ra(G, rJ,hc, r}ran ,,6ng ,1o hr\,llrr iir[tdl ir tfixr inr. Dnrit lr:,{ntrl thc $utioc( in pain. Nor do t mcan to
I THN SUBJECT
I
IIIIAI, AND IMACINtrD WOMEN
OI SATI
that pain is a perennial o. definitional attribute of the subject; the sad is lDd€ntood not psychologica.ly, in ters of a predispsitiotr to or a disreSad of pain, but a a .ontilgent kll tn an npofiant observalion Scairy dis@ve6 that bhFical pain is exceptional in the whole fabric ofpsychic, somatic and perc+tual states for being the onlv on thal h6 no objcct ... in dre extemal world; '.. Pain is not "of" or "for" dltning - it is ;tr]f alonc'.33 This obsnztion is of rele%nce in a prcject of subject-@lstitution since it drarc our att€ntion to the fact that thc subject in westcm plilosophy has traditionaly been Ecognized dtrough Prcjectioa or c1Ltui.i,i ol lhe se-f. thrcugh roi.e, i r. laryuge, eNiousess. Fen (Dca.artes), d6ire (Frcud), or Po$essioc {nateriatis). The i]mancnc of Pain, on the other lEnd, se.hs to circhscribe thc se]f Bther thd to en€nd it. As I haE ?ointd out €arlic., trn in mNh post_humdist theory s well d' pmdoically, iu Serry\ the body beromes vlnt onc lia, atlr€r than ltllat one a An ana\tis by Teresa de lauretis oftlt 'rhetoric ofviolcnc€' rdcals the implicatioN of thc llieration of the body for rhe f@ble subj€ct i! pain- She co;tests #li-SEausst Mdios of a Cum incantarion ?eform.d bv a shalrA tu fadlilate difrdit chndbirth: 'the in{htatio! aim at detehirg the wo@'s identification or p€rception of s]f ftom her oM !ody. h ltek to s€vq her idedification with a body which she must come to peci\€ preciselv as a s?ace, the t€ritory in which the batrle is waged. ... The cffectivene$ of symbols . ' would thu effect a splitting of the female subject's identifietion'.s It sftms ne@ssary, in other words, to P€vent ih; conceptual sPlit betwecn body and .o$ciousnes in a.gning that pain consritut€s strbjcctivity' a wcn as to reir€Et (})at tht neesary consquene ofsuch hdis are to s€ Pain a a stage rather iha! a slate and to .egard th€ subj€cr in pain d a 4nmic bcirs ,athr rt'd a PAsive \Pac By abafldoninS tht commifilent 10 conslrud the slbjectivitv of the woman who pcrfons sati id lcms of l,er motiktion we mav be enablcd io break out of a nedodoiosical impase- Since dtose who clann rhar fie sati embEccs daih do rrct also claim that she sbrac€s pain, but iDslead algue that shc ln(M no pain, it is necessary and possible to contdt the lattcr dgmcn'- \Vc need. howe"er, to dwelop both a phercnenology of pain ald a politics drl r.ognizes pain d conslitutir€ ofthe subject. In ny ncxt secdon I sNey a few of the signifiant snes of the recent discouBc of sati in India to haik how rhc subieclifi.ation of the sali occurs in €ms oI her conrciousnfss and/or her Pain
tlf rlhl rlvr rr kl{n.dt.xnri, milhr *em h, rrrdrtvrrf il,'rc 1,,,rr,,,,,r .i,,"gi lill';:X".,i,f,;:tJlj::' lkFrr ir { li,, I ot rirr 'rr,rt' cv(nt. Bur femi;kr r,nrn ,i,x c ,,r'n.i',iri,,s ,hhsu.r.. 'F rr,r,{,d,r' x,,rnl r, nr wo,n;,i^ ;_;il;.;
.i*
suggest
I
;::.ft :il _ lT ry:ll.t: -*.; I ;llllil: ;;j:".:. ui,Til,
r,.i,,t' t,u* ,, ',".io1.. a;-*;,. a._s",. _ rlr.qttrssiiD ,frmity violcnr.,, invokd
lt''lrrr 'n'r!,rlr x'rtinrr,
#.b#ij
"^,i, "^.,r"1 n_,;,, _.ti.*"]"1, "*"i'.-" ; *p";-".a "'",1 *scu6ive ry ros.itioh b,
l'il"liliiil,l',il;i:I;l,i:n3,::*j# or trrr.[r ror,Jr.rilr,i,irurion * o-*, u ,. ,111,$i lllr orrru ivr iituation I dalvs. is stilt , iurx{'rrrxhrrnr mrg,.rir.s, popurar ,"on," .,t'o fti law. hew.papeB aDd a'd phorosraphs. *rrnrorrtry lr-., :* .i"i,i-,a r." rnri*x"rr.,*, m;;:..;; --",'jP'j*'"1'^ *t tt*tt H;;.,ff""ff T lltll| rrr_
vF nrlvry. My ,clccrion is herctv
ilFl rcfl"' ? ffrim of the h"lrv.i r,rr;;;;;;;'""'*0" 'o 'u'i (t'r"'l't lm of sfli (Efrnri;, A., he .om. imo beins. as $ar.d r.fltFri t.r ttrt|Lh lnoft .rlcct* _"*"*. . |rrl
rarr, nr
r,nr.,,r rrn,r,.tr,rur,
iin..,,;'r-r.#iii""?TXl;'nTH:H$ ;l: p-c*.; ri.. ..i sarj d "li
lr.r;rrrnr .ro {h r,, ,,rvcnr rh. omhiss;on Fv..h,th,rnr[lwhrr . t,,enrd! dcrcrmininp .r,,.r,
erher suicidr or murd$ and
triilit|iriiiil*iil{*i..d,rffi $:#,T-{'*t
llrl rrlllvitl" h rl'rnlll.,nl rcrLainable ,n.r h.ncf a$aubh by rh. sme .*fl.ri .. ,r. i. .,,r.i;.,',t",".,i".-l hro romjdendo thr llh rflfi.tin,'r,r,h. r t.{,t,rl|l r,, rfi..nmhi.
ti,t:tl liliii',lii;1ff t*mj,:r j:",".:x;,;''r'.
,n
., ,
w'r,r
,r*'hr *,u,*,,.
,,r,r,,.,,, r,1,
1
*,;
on
$" !d, "i
f:J:fi|;fl| ;i f j'g*1i;; *li;'l rir,,,";p;x +^'x;*y#ff
,r,,,,,, ..i,,, ,,i, i,li ",1.,;;iliil:,ll,I"i::Hil rl rr n"l ,,',Ir rrhltr n ir trtt,, h,{_qutrc.ror
'r
rr
rhnush dh rz,su,s,
wifii'snA. ",:;,;:;,;, ;;';:;;onvi'don,,,,,.,
il;;;"* "u,.r"*,r",l*r.'iii'..'i,i';"": "*'. *,, 1"r ::1,,,,',1' I'lrrtrxlx{ !trtr1',t rtnr. I Irr,*i.nrion or srxD.i ,,r
;::'ffi l*.i;
:l'i
;:ifi f"H:.*
"
sur,do. Thr po$ibitiw rhar ,, IV ::ll:.),,',,n,,:,ilr rr,,s r,F,, r,rtr.,r ii,,,.v;.,,.r'ri.irry *,."r,,.ji,i.iJr..ii",j trr',,r,,, i{ i,rqnn.,r .i,h,h,,i ro, m,rd...,,-Jr.a.ii,? ll':l'::',,'",,,u,: The subjectivity of the wodan who commits sati k a tuajor preoccupation ;r r.rtxh r,r', Li rrtr.tlr .Atxrln,r. h,t,.ti,x\tir r.r",,.r.ma,*_*, L Ji* It will the conicmporary disco"nc on the phenomenon that I suntv bclow ,,r n,d,'nll L, {,,1 trr l r,lr ,,r .,11tii t{ n1t trli!,.,. to ftat continues shordy b.comc apparenl that it is hcr 'consciousnes' or 'wil' ,r,r',r,,,',',,,,h,,,,, ,nn,,, ,,,,,,';;;;;;,';, -,:::,::i'" "'dnworsomzn" b.ricv. id€ntilv ro My altcmPt ft:r: ,t z: d'e naior conponent of this subjectifi.alion. d n,,,,,tr,, s,,,,,,,;;;;;",,;,;.ll';l;,1:.lij"i",".", the placc of pain in su.h rePrcs€ntations and to locate n within the ambn of 23
?,1
"""-,"
THE SUBJECT OF
inlrjsadna
hfl
=-
SATI
.aiding rhe wido{ o' womd in !o @lmi, sari..
ha deo'ion
(o
REAL AND IMACINED WOMEN
-,,T1-lo
Dcrcc.ofrcliable
ed
aulhoriradve Fy.wirncses ro Roop
rwkar.s and
t**.55*Whr:**r6ft "r$#i#--*i1-,-*"fl"ffi}t'$:ii ::#H:*rril#*fl $n'i' ,r., " '-: T'il'f;; ;i;;""-0,-",,. r.J,,*r,..'01ffits* . -a +" l";;i'fri:r";'f,:l1H:;Ti.'.'Jtr3:::Jfii;:"il ^;,;;:.;**'- [l1"uo'1fl:']:: i""p*"r"' 'p.' .#l*r*I'i,r ' .,,-* . cuoDr.men*
'|orc
or orire*
ar
le ooln'nh imi, ro imcrprc'
.0.","i...
.
"p+.r,
ru;:r**;1qii=1:,:"!*:".r*il#s,#+.Stiffh:*l':i$I,t;iffi :i:t$***d,;:::; t',w oppc.d purpors bY.::-;":""-":l;";;;; trn rtitn'" orrbl othq do nor
m$ffii;rutrffiffiffiiffi :::"{:ii*lmnr+,r-t--fifim,mmffi **:r::x*ff#';'T#h:ff "ffi wirness. r'mins.a.cru"1 or trom thoe ot
1Y-1T:"-*;":;:- ,;i;" q
{Hory I
$=:+j:=*sglffi ll ';*fJx:i$:';itrffi il*:'"ilHl*:",rfl (nru2r'ljLTJ:I'::.Hi:],.::;;'' tradiborlr6us-mod.rnirv the purr orrhe in'chamocnzine qli thar hd resurled rrcm 'ororud rh. prordms and pro'ooors (onrrcnt inheFT' iouma;it.. produoion orknodredse'
op.cq
*,
r:-y"":" - :: :l .'. "1.*::-:-1:,1ffi,,*-fi";.* '--::::lT":: :;;
rjoru,r
Iti{
orrt
utrl rr.
inilyrrrrilrr
t"'dr'.
rti"
;.J;,:.::"J:::j:,'me^'drlrduar
ieu . rn nmv
.e!.
*iln#,{:--',#'"m *11#$[;,ffi #'**iffi$$11tffl't-$#1-#x.m,r-*; :l:iffHt'::'iJ ffi';:::'"1"J:l'il;iiii;il#;"-i' 'il l#,ijiT",:'ll,ii::'r": rii*ffi;;ffi'1g'"'** *,'*1;:,1': Hl;:iilh,';xil::i:;rar*tn.H;':l*::r*x xr*irui.,m;**;m:r.:;q.ry4;i;."'1'*:i i.l"pi.,-a,".**,**,,"dreryna,*T:,.T:..#Jf;.*;.,;";l;;,;1Jr..1 iiJli,llji:1,.;Fi".*1:,Hil".lTff*$:lt,-,i.i.;:I: :Jjil:i:'*il,::Y':[:r';iT.G""i"'".i:':,1$,j*:,1;",'T Thrrclor' &e .'',".
i. .-*';'"
ofier'
'e
I*
iif il,i:iilt,ltfil]'il:1X,,*;',;"*; il.;YHT[.llJ..-" llrt lr rt'h
',.n,
."
-dfitF#ffi t$,{ffi #*-1$*u-$}#,:'*.[ffi 26
TT'E SUUECT OT SATI
Thc visual r€pasentatios of sati are nMerous @d varied, and I €xmine * produ'ls on\ a lFw ot r-hem belo" One "f rhc most 'onmerciax) surce"sful jmmolatinc s'minslv actuallv x-*.. *,i .,' a phorocraph or h'r "ii..." pho'o-onuee mad" up wirh fi' rures or lhe bndar ' ouPl' dt r'"*at. ,
"t^.' show rne Lnde in aI hcr 6h'rv smilins smisltr ii.i. ".aa;"* -a p""r.dio ",i bodv laid in her lap; her r€d veil6 husband\ i"i. O" "-i"-, witli her more dJmatic composition' she ln anodrcr' (fig. 1). .;r""l""t n"-"s [^.tar.p i.r,* r.i- rp amids Lrr. nzn* in a suJt mudLj"d' lu-ds ape ot barc Ees and hills w;ri a remple behind hd. shne a smax fisu'' 'J' {'dd: T*sF -: tt' in the heavens "e"d. aom tr" magic rav tha' li8hts !h' fir thq dotv sati g'neri' the PdF ' an foms: icooogr.plry i5 a lffPdite of s'nl strip comic kind of a and posters ldtslL cincma J" .i"ai'. pf'-, ""rJ"a.r an poretful qsily dd id'ologidUv om@rbl' m the* .oorl, ,'r Nor ontv purPtr for a la'sclv ilirmt' Popul'xc' r"m , i'.1*': --ai..**.v 'u*;r $at *;,r''r"o the ;mumflbh photogralhs ot $e aoual RooP KMua arr sldbols teclrioni urious qJ ,f,. -*r" rd dominare rhe m;dii natbtla u@i at t'e cmrd iJ"".a ^ ;".".*"-r'" TheF L d ffimbt' ;; ;'"; ;;r.m rdrcd a, tbe sao +or: a red and gord veil draP-d '. ; the $b ftr"."r, .d sprar or ml''l, swbol o{ Sna ln appertrce -or their inPnns uc;i"a ua' l,l"a;'ua sads har' lctt *.-[r"'l "*'.'* warb or countl€ss pala@s in R4isthan' icons which p"L. ,t'" i""r"J "o"" and wneEled (fii 3) In the sru eti rmples $r "*-"-'.*"a. "-u"u+"d ed sodd4s is sen.€lly 'epmenlf,d by a 6erc fae or by the trishd boln i-"'g'"pr".irv"a.;'.a r-i Du,su o; shurr; sv'b"l*-aF both slnecdo'hir ad signi6(4q ar oru reducdw ed Alsir' Tb' bodv m pas B dsivco !€lue t" **'pr.* t. *p**-rion( ot iLs pa't!. inrc$ed wirh ransce'denr i*.;' fi"*"i'""- .ul*"r's hould bc eeccted- 6 tbc oLl" ' '" P'";Jor ,1. -"i L"oi.';.:..pesioro or trodilv mutildion But in thr aben"an'l pi'tutPs hav' onlv rrptodu'cd ^"*i,*** r. rl'.d"-t *.nl mosl medra dnp'd tcil tn 8'ne'"l rl'c burn rh' and i*".,"-,. "r.rotonuec i' bride-bumins 'ssr do nor nls in fic rmugh [oa;- *"-." L---"n and "f mzle eood ohorooaDhi. subiF'ts buming rrFs the idrnurv ^lfiF vinim whv th€ r'.hold- ore md'st'ndr PholograPtL' ;;"i";-;;:g;"**."rc rh' ran or Pain has no aslh'!i" ed b!{inB ;;;;*;;;'*nt 'h. 6uls ot $' dinension. ln @nrrast, onr ol thc mosL aftesting and wel-knoM l'enpur sr'n in thre sistes phorograph of is a .*{ vear in ttre lndian m.dia ciLingro. dn"tn ro despait oirr thrn.ra$ers ha'inl ;;;t;;;;;i'.-., r' ,o io"ia. ao*i* ror ax ol rhem il tbcv maried "" The phorognph dllov'' and ol angtr PiN ."*.'r,l -' md 'rined sLrcng reclings ""ri."", ^a r.^ -.'r'i"g ' I''' ro do with irs a's$eri' ;;";;i;.'B;, "'.,*".v .l rhr r', ce bodie" 8D'eful\ swinging outuird' rnt thc conoosidon "rariw: .i,."i.,r o"i.', L"" gia,a.ire obliqu'\ aMv Ircm $c camerd her bFaubrJr b fae drooprng t'1. , l1o.+ b oken "r " srdu( rh' e\prcsior 'crm "" paide$ (fis.
a). 27
lI{'''l , drlI
t,tDi,notrhsr! orRml, Kihwars.sau,.
'i
^,o,?
1
P,lm ninG ol arn t x i 'r' nrn i lliu" No"r.n O 1111 nttlf ' r r''r ' 'r
ltl3 "-
_ 12
,h,r l Nnll'tr,,i,rtnrc ri
cn, Kanpui UM phoro.
TqE SUBJECT OT SATI
linally we may look at a poster i$ued by d anti-sa1i aciivist Smup ivhi aloes dwrt the facticig of a wonan's body.5o The gEphic i! a siople md powertul lin€ drawing of a wotun *rithins upwdd frcn the flme (thc standdd figure ofthe re.utuhnt male.orpseis a silhouette), at once tbat ofr bein8 in pain and one prctcstins asainst it (fi8. 5) There is no naturalisli insist€nce on the mutjlation of buhing, but the posture and expr€ssion ot ngure, though srylized, capture the esence of pain. Th€ eti is not a woman, but a buming wome se€king to €scape, not a sPectacl€ but ihe of action and a$ncy.
'
tmtq ttn tr
in sme My. It w6 nrde b,y a Iroup of mms students at a 6Im isdtut. op€radng outside *E ciuit ofofrcial and ommercialfilenalingl' It a numb€r of inteNie*ts \,vith poliliciu, religioui leades ald activists 4d ime barn€d lootag€ of tle ,nuet aalebd, dd thcJaipur rtly; but within this mterial e dips ofa stieet play otr sati, one ofa nunber of sucht play! perfomed dtensi\€ly tfuough tlr€ counclside. In tb€ flln th. spealB toln itlJide a icd ec@n, rtpEeiting l$dr v€d and fc, opt6ilg The domentaly 6lJn
att€mpb comiosnes raiiing
Bqnfrfrrsuno
tsqrfr6sqrm
frdr
frai?r
dffirqfdfi?
f,fiIEHTdGTE iFgEIdil
ndffiusdrilFiilH? ib
representatioD, onc mighl expe.t thal thc mimeti. mode of rezlist narativ.r
replicadne pain. Thcre wiil also be in sucl rcPi rescntatioru d equal presrur€ to e$zbl;h subjectivity thmugh exploring th( consciousness ofthe protagonisls. It is sth these spectatiors that onc tums ( cim,,atic ancl llterary npns ati@ of ed.
would succeed better
in
My two rcpres€ntative teits
d
not di.ecdy rdaled to the re.ent Rool
Kanwar satl both were prcduced before her death. Nev€fth€16s, they are trcq'r works created in full awareness ofand in responsc to the reality ofcont€hporatl ;ati. The B€n8ali 61m ,4'drdrli Jdftd (Dcath by Drowning), made by Gautai! Ghosh i 1987, focuses on a youna womd who h mdri€d oF to a dying oli ' mm €specialy in ord€r that a sali may bc Perfomed, in the y€aB immediatdl lollowin8 B.ndn.t{ s anti "ati lrgiqLztion ,n B.ngal ') l he Tanil shod 'rorr 'Aruippu'(Thc Embra(e '. b) Anuradha Rdndan.lbr publishFd in a wc'\\ maguine h 1980, explots thc consciousness ofa modcrn, urban, niddle-chr 'wohar i itl-lrcal.J i,r i,- Lu.i,"".i arci his toily that she commiis suici(|l by buming.53 \ hil€ it is true thal ni.etcenfi-century sari, bdde-buming, anr
3l
ltilgmEt -nrfirrsCt*
rummffrFTffiEAF afrfftrsEflq s{rqi&D lrl- ilts rmmilqR€aqftar{rnn ,qqqndqRryrxhft mmrfu l U"rl'h;' tN,r dnrl{ t polrcr, issucd b! dF Rajasiltu Adult tdu€uon -__rLrlr Hm[ [w'l'hrlltr fl, nr I'dr', tr;dd .TlE qkjti;n i. oe ofwohrns@nh.._.\rhv fin w.ntr huru !o achick socjdt cqualiry.,.
32
XIIAL AND TMACINDD WOMF.N
.THE SUqJECT OF SATI
trd
cannoi be simPly collaPsed imo identi4, rve mav uscluLlY claim. narative rh1 ale di"Pld cmPnr' nr d rh in ol ' mr ;n doa.,hdr Spivak 'hiq wnl, rhe lcmale subir.t as sisnifier." j b A ta&.Tahd Gatlam Ghosh does not Mke his -louns hcroine \ Nbiectjr a i such choicc or dic, although to li\t inhdc wholy in her 'wi[', hcr choi.e FsPondins aln bodv is fie hmile lnsead. n dramd in.vjrably pdn ol fir rcn.*irciy io pleaure and pain, that dominates $e 6lm The obscsive gze directtd by the husband, the lover and the Hrnaher himsclf at the Ldy n indjtably *x"al; but it ituists also upon the vomd\ destinv. which i ro bum. 'l he kee.r of rhe snal trhr ,d1zi' is gi\en ro dirlrib'r and
modrm
eti
iiT,"1;;;,;{;#il;il::1T;iT:,:nl ;&;ilJlffi $,TJ:J;
11i3,i,riT[ T1 yry"., Il'ld:,li-q: T[c drm]*ificarion;fsari -..,ti nt ofthc rubjcct.orin pah *r,r,. *ty oftctlw tntcrvcntion.
";,i;;;;
spd
ofrh, conm"n
n.$Tal..,
is a widoir who
fia remnied,
enhanr cd
br rl '
ld
'l' 'r
ts
r'f
ir'l
a fesgBsion rlul has lcd ro her problcms il h€r *cond marria$- Ascetic Nidowhood and eti de the two Prescribed optidi for thc widow in rhe religlols texts Bhulana has alrcadv liolalcd $e iaLol dedin'r rmarnde., and sh" PLdr our $. 'qond opLjon in an rr'r' ri,]r'-t."n',-'.^i ot'1" pr\.riprion But ar rhe'no or 2 l 1'nd rd'Lral' a(ount ofher hardships, including intimat€ acce$ to her inncr states, wc fiir conplcrc autlrdrial rericence about boiL hd Pai and bcr dori\ation ar rh momcnr ald"a,h
In both 6lm and story ttis ltinchils frcm fie female suojecL h her appn hension ofpain is markcd l belicve thal these Poidrs in the namtnc sigri, cvcn when ihcy do not reprcsent, the crucial arcas of iebale sublc'Lnirv what ris quick sudcy leads mc to concludc i' rh't an exclusne locus
li I
33
some
:iLtT#;
th€ su$ePdbilities of the woman, Ydhobati, to pain a fear ln a bnef but stunnins moment in the film the wo an idagines her in a s?king nigtumarc her hai! is siremin8, $ea are crokds at her f€t, flams leap, ad she is sremins and terified. The aosle of the @frsa is b ro seem as ifshe and rhc crcwds are slding on a shiP\ dcck and are aboul .aD\i,c. Bur bo r femalc subic.t dd male 6lm-mi1'Fr qu;' kl1 avcn their r frcm {hi. .i,f of rror and PaiL dd i( mav be thar rh' limils ofth' vi j imaginadoD ar€ inexorably atrawn at this poiDL Authorial thorit/ ro spare rhe lma.te .ubjecr pain in $e , mtlove6al @nLlu'ron a sell. nr \hi a nood washes away the bodi€s of husband and wife in what seems to be ironic fulfiLnent of ine eti prcphccy \''iew€6 of the film were nghdv cridcal the ideologiral mbnalence of such an ending. Bd whzt intercsB me is that a"ihonal mode of death for the woman is the benignitv of sater 55 "h*." natural calamity instead of the ficrcness of fire dd patriarchal rvrannv fI posibnry of cscape, zrlhough al ays retained ir the disNse or th' flm. 'nernrhclns um,Lisfrrori\ fore'los'd bl a kind ot grm uural dc fd'Ism The clding of Anuradha RamaMn's 'The EmbBce' is also fnught $i qucstions. nie buming rcman taunches h€6elf upon ln husbdd and Li- i. a clo* enhruce as thev both dre ts ir her impulsc ol iove or ol 'c\t'ri ,lur |rompb r,cr!o.mb,a.P her hurLrnd' lsir $agilq' rc"n' -u' O' t n a sd? ift do not know who dies first, and vho lner The eti &nDotation
wlich do not
30,*1']T, ! .onsrru:Jns the subje.tivity of th€ sati in lordr,ctrtrcromrsttnca'do;;";"l;*;;ffi
l
,. *qli- *"_r._, ""a"_,*Li ir,.i,ilil
ffi fr ,j;mffffi trr.*:;##;Hs.$
flfi_&*.s:::rffis*dtrffi## Hil,l1ffi ff g"***:*l**";1*ffi
ffi Frdlli "2P";Ytr;#;*4,*:ffi ":* 'g ff,Smfi'ruT.ruxm ffi H. #r#s:r$
:F#*#, 6.pozr ffi{ d]niu?,,*6; ill,iigruyi6*i:1r,.ffi r;,;;il;.;;;.,j1' does o,
3*{:,f1":d,ng rf ..",".p"-D *;J;,
ffi
has rh€EroF made
ff.s,ulllt*"i*un:m *rx
;:*"
rm
H":,"h+#ffitffi ffi +"q,H ffi:ffi r u,Ero $illltlirfr nrr.rw,",",i"c." ffiT':l f lltrj or rri,
"i'..-Jl"6lllif
ffiftffifir**r*trm#i'ffiffi #JIf iliiilli r:;il*tiifr *r,li+;,T,1,il H; 34
TH!
llll^l,
SUBJECT OF SATI
l{ulltn tl'rnn h'w trnd ltncc no lonscr enrid"d ro ma'n,M,. dnircr r O.lml'rl ltr.dtrr c"d. of lhh nrol,lc,ntrric, mc Mdhu K,hud and Ru,h vaoiu, ThF Krrrwrr, rl,/raalr a2-q. Scpr.mb.rDfl rmbFr 1q87. pp. r1 2q: RnrlnrH Kunxtr, 'DcftDdcn;tsad . L,arcni *d p.beai\tukt-23
ax)' S' dJlcr dp- and grnil,l mudladon lo' raLdni' r lolfu ol opprs{ion []3 ;1 "ol in 3"qr-, rrom $'annc rnc reil or q'rdne a dnon' que'tior' .r."i" tt" rni,"n,,1 in ou' Lndir5r"nding ol $P lenal' subjc' t md
h',Lori.dlh
.rrtrs. ondl\
rdrhFr chjn ontologicaxy 'or PY' hologi!
-,. thc laiter instances, "".r"i-"rl"; redLrr\e as lcminist Politics
whetr to do
s
in the lomcr would
00,
rTlu n.
'* obviaring $e Dced tor tht op€Elion of 5)mpathy of any uli-i,.ry ,r,"
-3
now in nccd ofsuch
It
-'a
ri-,O"^
.J#f;'ltJff#;Jil conl.ttadon.
n. "r-.a.
90,
lltm ll,
lmror', ?",(16
nahd
watb
oJ ltutu,
ti
z3Jduary
1988,
b llcitr[l l|olc.f rfto'S.ti inK"i]fnga'. Fwn ad Potiatd tra*!.12 ! llll' t, letq rdd HDis.r. 'Tyr;ny or dr u6? Bri{sins Bbet h.l hi-, ! Nhbcr lssi. I rf!fl{i tn{ u.', 7& /I"'rrd waw ofldiia 2s Fetn@ry 5 Ma.h
'n'.
ri^"
ll$
lr.v'ltcflh, Sh nlurach,ryr LHindu rrhFous nr,d, ot Pun, :n an AI Mdlll Du(, Tk tttlrhat d wetb oI rnnia, t-7 May 1988, pp.
b "fo on, t"a., .tit. t *mP,rh'tj. to d feminisr politic rhdr ^s?ks globc' of the ;t.rcnrio". I am alo a*ious, lke nany femi*tsd in this pan 'agenC.l a;r"-* *fr.t -iglt -"1" intewention posible If 'victim and ed ii lun subje'L female *.lud;na tabeb lor lhe ",{"-- *, *.t*;i. ,"auirh ctl*ufficicnq wifi d asrn'-v be$tv*s i" 4uared '#.r'-a *n * *drrd ri$Pr in'uthcnti' o: unnccesary' To vie* nJ'i" 'J;,1." subidt in my argMeIll abod s"ti rto dc]rc' ihr argumenr ' \iaim d often) is ro mi''ain tlat Par' .r;" U,m iri "p*in '..;A dd hision'al qo-pain wilhour' ar lhe same t_ -"aiti." ola mov' tomrds
-
AND tMAClNtiD WOMAN
$rcrtj{al Pe'd2tjon ce i'-"r"'ubiecf orlin pain sta"i
1.
NOTES An c"!li(r vcAiun ol thi: rhanrcr
ra
Prsn'ed al a rolloquium on RcPr"n'dh
chdit :r.M"{".- c'*!^,1-91'l J';::;;;ila'q; il.L.eds.isrts"r.ri' b Mdra*. Alc'ou l - g',.'ru il,i"J'r,i'i#^ri"-;' rLe otb€' md b mc, PaniciP^r i'r"-.*'i i-'g.""ir.. -.'r"s 9'l:ri T:f:
[€hi d ()lllcld Dird* on sati i' E lv Ninedih c.nh,n ia l*lr,t ULd,lr\ Itd@ 4 b,M J!r??.. 2c AprJ 1q86. pp 12: tll|h th.lh$rr, 'I]c Culrurc of S"d tui4{run . ,rreu r' 42
'ijiff;'is;.;;::;,;;r'"," r- i. t
mmlprej*rar*"w tp r'* 1'P1! in Ddiold lo' h.lp$nh k.! rr,l$ dal Pomon" orrhn'IY'P'I 'd or rnsor s'udi'. Lr t. s'..a. ,+r.. ni"r...o, l"rn,l."ma
iJft Xrfi.lli',i r,,nu! strrc !cn, roud\ .i h'r Li'n' rnd rd' $ !hc" I l,i.:: ;;.i.' , , i,,i i "..,,, . o' aror or ,va, r a. ror poudi.e ;c ",r. n'r""r "
:'
+:''ill: ii'*
:
;;f sdoh
;ffi=ffi-i!-
'n
Ii f f
lf
drn (rm.ld
Di'dk'.
r
l ryqlnftr rll.r hfi lqrPcn cxFmdy ff\' Kalvi s IU who imnsl'z o','"".^r ln'l' L. di. H'ndu 'nrnd.d F i$ll. llF tx nr rlur *tdoq E not rcurjncly r m'. Bur w ato rdu. ,o 1F, ,mmorr'non ora Hindu ddos in thb s^ :;,.';l; i;.;;;''-;' ..;; su kt ltt lill jiiiuJ-ii,-,, w' ltau d vdr$ ofrtlhtrld oDly bc rivialized by its fftqucncr sen s au-iu e'p"u w,a..,t a,," a, r,ii,l,, ii'l '1" tt[rl &d rlrr trtw iN a l;wcr ro withhold death ; w€n s to dc.l ' , r/- lr;'rl NN YorL. funthcon, l98l u'' slblrm sF."rr sP' ul'uo'' ,- h:: ;i;:" " ;;'; .;".i:" s." croor' po tro ro ep p t:b .. . ll {n *a.l'lr lfti rlhrl'llll( l'rrwmn alrlrnb. and inaur hrn . sd in .l h" ii;lll{,; rlA.,i"i.'. \n'\ \A' w.k "p;ng d/r'L rFlrl€t', U, *a u"oxns ' , ir;; ,;l;. 8,i . en ni r'tit'a rllllF hfl Ntr tl h'h'llrl[{ $ vnrunery Srb. I o ""l " o\lord Untr(F'q Prc$' lqR5 bz' r" o'1"1 lb[ txllilirn Di! ou' fltsrii'p. r27. lr coroni'r I or rn""a' ll l,*." 'i ." .' ,l.dlih rlr ihrl rnr', sh . lc,{ barrl. h,5 bcrn bnefly dcs nr .d jn n 5: H ' """"t,"'tril-:i',. 1."''",. i;i; ;; ;;;;:.: ; lliitl lh'u, r *Irrn rtr(ilr wt'o e;NDdcrcd to r]r polcc ;rter coDmifting a s" rr* -,"t ,"ir-r.""ri- *-nr contorcrsv arosc dur or thc vidory or Shnhbs' r ofnaintcrr rfl issuc dllllh|l,tll$hn wrrrv rsi*nkn..inF in \'t"hrd, dn a(,'c- rho ol lndia ibc cou dr suprcn. ir""*J itl..ii. .---, I'r jvluslim $'orcn (ltd'r I ( tl| Jd lrlt lHonl, hul r.r,,v.r.rl, nt\ho a(quir(d;vroha h1 J'rs.d ldrr o' .il +itr ii.. .i..- " r.rr,-"a I'i * a ).a; bt !1r Pa$lsc o' thc ". iil,'*r',iJl ..r"i ,r-ia*'"a Irusln *omcn rourr I :iid;i:''l';:";;.";:;
ilIt
ii
3(i
THE SUBJECT OF SATI
II&AII AND
in
the bnming; Indu Aio.a, a woman .n€ecd for tle dc,th of her 1wo ctitdr who l% disovercd b bc inrclved in ar adultc@us rcldtioD"l,ipj ,t;
luRlr of
;;" i;;
snkB (rc p. ?8, n. 49).
&?n,r, 17. 3. f ir rc87 pp. I. aR ,?. p. I . )l:1.";^'; nunt, itu uat4ll",:.1,'".Mns.. a fain, p. tO 2. Il. in*,,ion or,t. Ri;*da r.Ld.a8 ro .rri in, tudF Lj-" tine v.) fir. b" ro rt, 6,ooJ a wdrer'$( Blusddu| shcma .Wha, Do rh. t.,rndu'Dhdhdn._r Hdr,b S,y allud rh. batj Rjrual.. rHind. L,t t. f.Lru",-y t9Ot. pp. ZO i "no 42. I hcr t ds wjdaprcdd poputar r"jrh m Lh, p... .i ,r," *,i'-"" s,J, vdd Fports th, l.gad drdr gr.w.rcund Lhr vd ot Tardd"q rn [4ddhd!.La_[". l9i4 'Iamd.vis mo$er ir, - drd dkrd hfl odughte, hoB sh. @uld hdre rh( F-in ofhu LuMB. The daush,.r ,?li.d wjth;rcniry drar sh" h/d no, \ d' aX. nr v6li[. b,rhinC in wEr' Se poliriG ofw :ow tnholauon,,
nh
:J42,
'h. FebMry
1988.
pp. 20 3, esp. p. 23.
M!ri. P,odu, rion of d; Ofhoal bb; o- r , poi.L ou fiar i's , otoniJ algmi m,arou,ol pbhilimg s:d kr nor pnturitv con.emrd _jt} rb d;ely ''balbadty"' (p. 35).
29 Se|zd. Stari.tict fcroro', p. 88. Itr An, nou! di-ouM o 'd:rt w6.ub*quesdy
s p3d or rl,. Budd}i.r apprcpriard bv Mahatu cjndhi d pzn.rrr," .*.in, st4hl4. Bur 4 Gr6 r &no* ir d6 nol induda a ph€n6;ea"gy p.i"; ? 'ni vi.hnr i. pr..cnb.d a a m-a. una p"l,i ut. "r u" i. *ftc. br ldll"d m trologidj poinr ot vis, Le. r"u,inrre! in tbc baldft ot r.n
a
r--;r,,i-.lJi
ll Ink.Mri.
b4.
t/2.
Ths .'dftL h, on r-r to rh.',.eqoo, i,, oto.idi "nd B,/nm ni, .li_.u, r an"t i4 riG h. idu !. v/rr J'r0 ualrra ijdlrri \p \piv,r n, ri,r,v'.o,,qu. "J 'B \pnJt. .Gn"., Subal,cm sF J, D. l?o 'n. t. l9 1."r1.,. anyon,' i*,,,, d"r SA rior,,1Oo or rh. tnd,an t{r "'"-r'.Aeij*uh., ,dd aa,u,hu.drr cod'. " r,,",Ll u ,d'ed o, *rp,ur" r,.. ,"-i 5",dotu 29q an,l J00 of th" LD&. rb.rh.nr ot dj ba",n; undc, S€Luod "ii :]oo, rL.,n.n, or!u!,d.. II.r scr. on\ $r. rz'n r.r.n u€ skr"". ;J;,;" ,i B3iarhJn sdLi Pff ion,A,r. tc87. rh. B.hB,t S,Li R.AtL,:on, ln/o."r;.1 17
40
3+9.
csp.
4l Spi.zk 12 l\r'.1'.1
1l
p.
r,
l4?. F.brud^ aq,
38.
SFik. p. tzl. l.,u."ut,Aalrz nd tlath: nu t 4I Cdn Lh. subal-m
Nfl, Yo.l.
r,._
r
v\udld Dn"gdrwrr..sainr. \rrtrno, Crimindl s.,,;?,
V'nrdgr, Rdndom
|| oJ Li| pa or,,dn, At"n strn,,, -
Hou., rq7t. p. t\4.
K.nu.'; ldrlr'-in-t"r. Sumn srngo. t,,. produ,.a au^ rionaLt. rrd-n( | n,.M,,.r rl'ii, rh. vri k?s bFing p.d,,m.d r, ".. :n Losj,ir I i..,,- -t.,i lf roiiowing Roop
I'is son,s dcarh.
#ffi ff ro#,#,ii!'[xrs#*.#ffi i,iffi ?fr ,f tlfl.trH"!t;;;*#;t#ffiJt I hLd t,r ii" riJ."i-iii ,,* R ia,lan rrddr Edudioh
uo'
rnr,rri,a ;"rii .?iii,"';".,t
L'liiJltilffi ll'j,ffi ffi
36 lbid., p. 13.
t;hil Ndd, s, Rcgddior. tgJo N'r quor,Lions.,t" r".. S,Li rPrrv.nrion, A,' t gST Act No_ .j or tqnA
ffi
rtr
of Rndo.ic considdadons on 1901. pp. I I 3t..sp. p. 25.
Comh .rcn ol
ffii'il!}ilffi"ffifrf#ltffi-*
ffil,dlli#*m#*;i#*ffi ;H:-:ff &iff*"L?IX
cinrr. c.ord" 1\dhingd Univ.Fit), ro, p.inbnsGi: ou, r"-.,,; rl'. Cvt U f"hi.i,' ] h;ry r", ur,y s.;ni, ^\3 Sary, nu "r..* oi" as u\ion ,oot ptr!e. Aoq Par. Fp t6t 2. .The ir.olcne
sd Crhda. 9zo&,
"*
i*'illTl|:llifli:fin:,"?t1ki,:*r.i*.^ i.oarr:"r "e-
dd r.,..,
3r lbid , p. !8
-" ^" - iLc
No.flrrclr 'lnlng m Voturory S'aii.
"r
L"rlv \,Usiorary DF olr in tndia IhcJoumat ot Cr'rey. and wad . unplbl$hcd MS. 12 I r'm smrrrLl ro Phr.lts palor, /Di,mn. ltoma\ Srudics pbaan
3a Tcrcsa dc L2uretis,
OINED WOMEN
',ililr'1t{ftih[.d.t,,*,ffi:r*v#ir*:."u:rut m; nm'n ;r:l;a *mlu*: r"gF,"t*i: *;l
l-o zr
28
IM
ftr Ollldd DiEoutu'
lltl frdl.ll.lr
litdt'
ffi kl,J.t*l""-Tdgii:t
D. I 29.
,1[1,i',ill:1::ll::l, jljlliliS:rh..nnr di.n L\"! Drao
a Merr
fii$I",ffi rH,ll;*#:t1"#*:,ffi;riff
ffi
i'Hilii:,l',ili,iln, :efin***'y"1i.::,'*'-, *dih[ii;;;$.L]'dl;:1,i"'il"#,f.';'*J 1
Itlilll,':lllllll
*l,li*x;" ;ft$'.;::.Jfl Llt:tr#:*:
,,ll,illifl'l:..111,'l1i,,1,1'.:t,:a[y *,T,il,,ilii
'*'*'
"".'
j,ll;
turns
llll'inn
i! into a.ristoncd,csspaptr
tltil;*: l#:ffi3
i:il'iiiiltlil,l'll;ii'ltllill,,,{i,,,,,I,it,:rii:i[i"f,",.?"":#tr:iiT";,:::
37 38
,i ,,]
i
,1
TltE suBJtrCT Ol SArl in
R
a",hs.
F.tuan
Fomcn
"r "'i,l ii'"L'"iii sDcdl -
". " i:;
Dul
Pau"'
l
"-" )':1t:' vn-a ;t"..."":']ru"lr:i'Jt" Dcorjla
Ra|edLan on drc
i;. r.""',r or D'v'|opr'n' 'i1." 40-a
Safle'
'n
342, Eebn'arv 1988 Pp Lhr \o,r or I Ju
\r 'r'
s"d'* JdPU :n
dnd
t-nqrn sn v"L
Ruidr ro
2
\bmer
\' i r I 'a
REPRESENTING SATI
';;-";;.,", 'o #;l;i,':;:;,:i;";"r'l'" "'l ii:iil:i.;,,:;i)H: Dcbac or sah n Lo-rdi ;niious Trad'dont ':i:'' r'" in R'"dirJ _lihc
d sr':v.'.'' rr'" Rrni or 5rr { rau PP rq7 7' TEdrtDn'' P l52 iq Mani. 'ConL€nnous
l;J:"
ff;
Continuities and discontinuities
Ar t!'av
l"i":!,i"q -an";r4 io i', u.' t^ whomcd '|h' andrvn"r -'l''"-I'li"*i'il,lliillll"i.li,i; 15l*"t'J.l^#1{#"i,5\ )iiH"dl,, """*'',u' 6r i"^,L The RiniorSimli, P 27l'
:)$i.g;#.#il;;#?l'1*::r,:r-,::ff"u#{;:,:'J.:: '
6s This bner "@er tu\ s h,lrcm Studics CDnltrcnLc , cnLid.d f'min l i'
I
bi-r,'," i"on-. o,^-,ir Cai'ulta r lanua \lnd r:'tu A L:nDqu' or l;mri{ Sruo!_ ol t hnd
tr||n
".-,e.;;; 'tl."i*,.i;r;'. . *'*,*"0" .temintsm
'
q,ftmradon., Th.
e
hi,arion
I
w/ wr rh abou' sdd chesr ' bnnel;g ro' rod ;; b( 'h'' lli'l'n*l'^1" ,. o" -a*ir' ' i"i #j'"s'i' q,. ;"..b' rc me'tu PTI:T:;; '#.*'T;:.f* ."1 ',""lN Sr" ?\Tencn; qu^rio"d is (ntal o anv rcnmnt \n rg .s ".llii]1 "'hi"6tctl,, :,."i: a'; aL and 1'\h at r/zrt rs F brud rqsb PP
eludcs fujl
qJ{
rn I poL ll, r"6i;nL. ' oi Ind,,n qom'n ' r Lhar P @n.lud6 ,'ntEd Mv Son€ oldrc a€udorB oPPcrng-n{
"om
rdru dlor', dn
'ad rlT I propor. ro undqtate ir d,i, chapre.lc"ds b th. !!P.{.t l xtr, tmnkdry: d;,gn a** d-i ;. Jj""_-"*tub.r \urry. q HIU t oNrr.d fl ccruin hisroriGt juudurs. The onsmiction of ,-,,, *;",r", *"".'"xts prcpos is a i"trl"ldly !fll4tr lllr lihtlrdd clDicc!; bur "r ro idqniry thr woman a5 Vid@, is
r'o rrdir'.s;phm*'dq* iXt:,h:?til;:" i-:fi;;.;j;;-Jil-' droush mor sc.Ps8 snd 'ondmturo^ '.ii'. o"Ja ri.ar'.', ",D.I
hi,&nnrd I
288 q0
"-
csp. FP- 288 and 289
lror p-rotcpriciny.
;
a-,"Jir,"
""ij-,-p*uFl lttl lx lnnrt of dcrtl - t o*, t o t u*-a. _ *iou. "" o.t .. d lry ldeolngy rnd polirig,",;*t;"t;tty ro ong" ,h..,.r*l -.. dqtlt. tlll'.htcnwining of de r. gmde, rt poti,i., or "na " ll ft dr4n rln ulrjccr oi oa rlll ,l$ ',11. _ 1116 |.xr! of @loniat Md ,onrrmpoEry tpos_
EFI,ltfl iitlT,Hr"t,,,*"J;**x try;:i#i,:rr,-r; |lmq,i6sx,iltx"tilil:T#r^;.1i"i''*lii;;;'i*; a pltxkrntr{.d rn rlvrtcncc rowerds thc patim., f, *_*",1.
lt.r*. Fftftlr thli dircusivc naa u" g-a,l bur" sisnihonr I6un_lnrdurht. trt*nry u, ,t" po0,"aJ"t pk"q es?@,ry a rhn 5{tqW. on r lnlllrh rrt'lccriviryi and ro n;re $e dj*,g"*.. b"_-" limllr, ttut'rrn,D ,.'*J "i,ri,,i",i of ""i ,r." ,lae.-*. -",r, lffll*rmH rq lrrrr mHniq l'[rrrrrtrd nrt,qrrndor n'hqnntioD ofrhcsc. rhcsc.
:'l'l':;,lllllr#;l:l;H1l"'fi:t irxL T:'t ;: sm$l'lliil'lil Hlryll*$rt trli"l',rtr.rt rtnrnrt madc; tnaig"no*.p,. aoJi trrve,rrrirrru
rr
m1t$t la t fid.r rtri t,,,hr wr","
rt,'rr tr h
t,,hil,h
ro suqscsr rhar a major
.l,i."ai
pmdigmari.
;;;;; ;";";.*;
H-PSI aM llF t,rtrr uifir r ,"',r"ari.^uv ti,r irlflniiirnrir,n otsad 6 a wom.n\ Lsuc r, r f p*rrrur,Ji ii,ir,",;'.i",,;;;,r fr",,:"::",:"'rfil:
;i;il;il;,
fi 39
lrlll\
.10
RIi
RB?RI]SENTINC SATI
.q'i.':::,::,:i:;""'."ru"::,5::
sb
u( upon,h" "ubiF.'t.'./ .-, - -^ h" hisi.ricized aan a9c'tolmc coron
r@
;l
"
ldoologlcrl prmdigrns Gat structure the texrs ofeti in the nineteenth cohlurlcq it thcn offcB a historical U&inB' of conamporary I of ftc colonial dscoune on uti; dd .on.tuda with some Hlrvtrllonr on rhc repr.s talionsofsomrn in prn oio, Lidl ,ndiSFnou" Ibc$]lng on th. Shifuoiniloan.
:
n' onrm'' n p' or"' r :1i: fii T:":'il:;"-:""dn'ienr' "'i"'"'-."",,;,r''' rndr' '"' \1ir Irdmn m'dicvdr or Ie d
;;;.,';".,', rr\rr' ir! l;. ^:: -. . ^t \,'i' De,,h' to $or'n 'ub'Lm"l g'rJ'r ' 'de;i:. .--".''' .' "r h u'n'
:J#l:;1";;
;:l;;.r;il".
;;;.
i"-:r
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"
a
II
dPresDn r ato invidiorl) inlormrdrAenr lI;dr harr 0", .", n ,.0r"-'"'auon t 'ati MorP cru'idllv rlr womri who docr /'/ 'ommri l: ". 'i'* "'1", e*prssins choicF ana1'.rorlho"rns'rrhr
subrccu'ir\,
ocl et
ol
eti
is
-.,"-.r r'.0,l. Ji *.o,,"i,i n.n* '*o'idv no(hcte 6surs in latcr rPr€sent2bons ror"sro rndn s ""i'"-i ,.;,0.a * -ennrP|fi'd 'onrrdi in rh' irrder rnor lhe n6t Prac'' ani quzritcatiom at in ord'r , ,iJ;;"i;;;."* homotr a 'irolF rhe or. olonial pa{ ol Indra is b! no mcan i l' 'on" ''o"' qrrun qhilh izauon olciv *.-,t "'u "l -^-^;-". -'llcnnia or rndi^ IL' a^in in\a'ion rr'r ;:Tiill$i1.iJi.;;;;;;; ar""d-' s d;n"rnr rims ad i! dir'rn' I'r'' tu d;;;;;;rado'
;,ili::.''
i onlv a brc'd gen"r"laliut ,ov sinlh nouon ol jad in pGootuar rnoa . $ an in'rrcaoon or rnvdn"bh o- D'c-
lii"l'l'', ""."t,.i *-oisn s.npdve rirual
rath"r
' 'il ,n" ion ro re'rl Lhe vaiou" Iepr'ent"rt"n' ou-. i' o not m) inrcn .'calitir': suclr a r'rdinq sourd r' "d on" ffi;;; '",..a'it..,"" .f direr aurh'nti"vorurrary ald '."urh'nLr' ;.,i',',"n rFtweeD ;^ ;:;;;'. nrndamcn'arr'-i'r s'n'r'r' *"".^, ;;;, ilJ -n -'*p'-n jlo'l'J-. i.".i"'' rnd;d.po' lrrrr \r i'-h @slTl;;:Jll"t.:l:' ;' trrnou h.h{cen si in an cdly Goldcn Age or id'arird hnron i' rn d"r'eer ,' su'h pd rcdi .;
il.";i:.;
. Ji.1,'inr
Ll'c
(on'cor "; ofvri
sl l '^r'J'mn'no 'n\ ir' rmu{',n.
:i;;:l:;;;,.';;,iis.not".,-i,.,-' 'aPtsenlatlons *nr,tions'I
I- AND IMAGINED WOMEN
f.an
/
'^1
\" ' ',' '|" or realitl'' but P
' "'r''rr'r'
aulonoinous and
, o'' ptual druct!re' F tin,,D, ),{,"1" "disrndi. ,,or' undcdalr I'rrc a .l $o'l or.1E.Su.hJ ' ri'.,lhe t d. I and rra'!ion:hip brr$'en rc'ri* inLr'|hP1'x' "j.;td";;;.;; rut"'i' "r " r'm"' ;Jl::";;";;;;i;*'u,,n'i'au t p rrrv/ {d roior:q 'l ' "rrariur' uncrulorerl hoe oursidr Lhc ' rI urt or oI" tl-'czlir rFmindcr dr "'n"' i^" w. cdnoi e\dn' ' l -- Il;;,i". '". ";.;;;iJ'i' *pr*, " t'n'[";i;i:',1 "]:i::l i: :*iT "a lon aclurrcd in'rs r.€nt,uon\ ol \Jb, lor ' be' duf th") wa' orr' r'l d rilr'i r i '1r' h pr'cis' ln"l.i -i.t, *'. m' n q 'r! n' I I ic rhF arwr'-PrF err' 'ub'-r' "i ;;:;,;. ;;";;i;. rr-" I ii,"-.|,a,'- "' rr.'dh,ndrul "r rcpre"nr'"n" r"\r 'rrr I "1^-
....,.,,ion ro thc hi.,o,nd "","1i].1,,,, ,r ,r,,., ",, ,Lr.U.,.d M" .li\.uss;on in ihe folowing sccdons begrr 41
lrd ln 1829 ws rlE 6sr maior lestuladon oI lh€ Easr lndia rdnlnl.Fnion in rndi'. Ttur n - i r t;€ si6 ol lars lhat were alrci€tl on bchalf ofvornei - !€.ved a the mfal prtexr for lnd fic tllriorjuudfsriD for colmial rnc i$eli dc not hare to
tn of
fun[.r.' Wh; i; of *"".. hcre is rlow lhe oolonial idDsinatim rnd odcrcd fi€ lc$'qr€!€ntadon of sLh e administ atire not tllcttly, & Gryat i spii€l ha succincdy fomulat€d i! a a ce nan ,.. .rving bro*n q^mo iiw brewn rne!',5 but s an acturl mrlo of r indc b*liie svinE a bIt'M wmu flm a mob of ln othcr worUi, ir is dr 'rr ttope oI;!"Ly dar p@id$ the ruros
F l'
ed maisecc E@pr had or wa! nothins more ihd a lirrraly inKntion, hisroriars ${t tlro ldcology of lnighthood was profoundly influcntial in rnd ru(rlning r.tual sllu.hns ofpower bed on clc (rul.r and ll dd roclcty), scndcr (lady ud knishq as i' lov. hrrdtudoD of chiElry in hedie!"j
tnrhrirl bll|.,
llllr €1.
lnllrtoh (tu
;h;rh dd
irr
'h.6urd) folo{efA,; in *r crueds against
' It cltlicd rEipBel bonds of dury aDd oblisari@ bctueen lhrt hcdi cd rcIarios oI powd ud drp€ndence. FuilE', 6fi whll6 l( fom.d and adahorized ilf dds, g$der dd {$r'rr rut'.rj"'ity of ttrc hiBt,L also providcd lhF you,€ mJe or lowfi rrhtocllcy wirb tlr lluns oI upMrd triat mobit r) ar',a tlrlrlllxtil pcriod; in olher wds, it wd both a brhrishr od a
IIl
REPRDSEN'TINC SAl'I
India.Jules Vemc's popula story is the &count ofd eccentic English clubdaD, Phinea logg; and in the potion of thc rtrntive that coveB his journey acro$ India, frcm Bombay on the west coast to Calcutta on the east, fogg hanases to.escue a young princes liom sati in thc junglcs ofccnlral India.In conlomitl with what had by thcn devcloped into a siereoqq the widow is young, beautiful and a princcst thc dead husband is old, ugly and a king; th€ other villains arc a bloodthiBry nob and a cabal of scheming Brahminst and the rescue itsclf is an ad of chivalry cotubining daring adv€nturc witb the humanitarian g€stu.e Sati, as one can scc frcm thc eMmple ofthis late-nineteenih{€nlury Frelch novel, .onlinued to exercise the European imaginalion long aft€r it \@ iegalll abolished by the 1829 Act. k @uld @trinu€ to b€ iegzrded as one of thc 'realitis' of 'India' bc.auk thc at!'ision of th€ cou ry into 'Brilish' India and
dE princely 'native' st ts frtm1 that eti's te$t abolition @uld be officialy $forced ody tu tht fomer. Hence 1he ncesity fot hercics in the 1872 €s@padc of Fogs and Co. With thc srowing dohinion or British tule (India was taken over by tlle Crowr in 1858), th€ udv€ states were reducd to me!€ Po.kels ivbich wre resaided as ba.Lwrd ('ncdicel') dd deadent, i! contasl to thc ptuvinG of'enlightcled' Britisb nne.'qThe sati in,{tuud 112 14/6A;s P\ere,1 by tlt natis 6 a consciously lratugt$iv€ el, a horibb nrur! to be Perfomcd in a cl€a.ing in dre iungle of a nahve statei and the 'heart of darkness' is pene$ated by the band of adventurers, who ihen emer$ frcm it into light, the
nilways, British-adninistered pmvinces, and
saf€ry,
with the rercued lndian
The sde demarcadon of tuo worlds is cmphasized in 7ne Fat P4rili"tu', whnsa hcre, Ashton Pelhaft-Manyn, is a .onflict-riddo producl of ihe two culturs But th€se opposed worlds arc Dot on\-' thok of'Britain' and'India', bul also ol'
'Briosll lndia (thc Noin-W6t ftonticr provin6) and narve' tndia ( )t kingdoms orculcotc and Bhithdl and Pelh.m-MdtlD\ constant oossings ovo Ircm one 10 the olhff arc inlcndcd to cDpbasizc dre contast bciwccn the t\Lo Ose is thc atra ofligb! thc odrcr an a,ca olddklcss; the one is rePresenrc.l by thc club dd thc anny tDrad{s, rc otho by iabyinthine palace jnl.iiors; wiihin fie fiBt $o.ld tbe hero ; abtc lo devclop uncomplicated hodcrori, retatio{sbips, with a B.itish Amy f.ltow-omc$, s wel 6 a Patlan \ubcdar', whereas in th€ oth$ hc is caught up in a frustrated romntic a air with a hall cate Indian pincc$i his British life h thc 'open' life of war and heroism, hir 'native' experiences involk him in indguc and trcachery; dd, mosr strilonglr' the position of womcn marked direrendy in each world: the English bcU., Bclinda, is a Rirt (hen.e'sa'lree ageni ), whilc thc Indian Princeses are rorcc{l into first maffiagc
:id
thcn sati.
Fat P@itintu' spans rbc years b€rwcc,1 and d€scribcs sro ma.jor histori.rl cv€nts, the Indian Mutiny ol lB57 and thc SccoDd Afghan War of l87B T|. r 'sene' of sati and thc rcscue is one of thc .limaxcs of dre book, tltc onc dlivc India with marriage io lhc pdn(ts coEcludes fie hcro\ invoh.ftcnt Anjuli rvhom hc has rcscucdt thc olbcr climd is the stording ofthc Rcsid..()
Tle
ll
in
13
I, AND IMACINOD WOMEN
iliqi'"? n:": tr;:riltlH:: l?+}:li:!:i I lndtu tliond, sarji. rir*r fi;;;A1;:""*"*rngags """' I Io. .nd l{rrlll .-"ri-' ..-",. .i- c alloerd Bpae: for the L-.i _l_-__". ","ws *rfi,b r m.re, '#"i,0 fi"'T "f pdr:,-rri,l i! nor,. b. -oci;,", *.
rr;;;;;"';"T;
n{ll
ln 6,t*:ulr**xru*x.*i$:li:;*r lr dut ;rrr1t h t'frr', ,#il*,e ly"iH*isffi ,i#i *ffi f ifi $si{ii,ilililiff ffi : *;*,"rj #:*i
#ffi;,t$ryIroft*-$*l-t.q.,,"it |'r ruttr,r*, rl" rdrril',c:;$;ff";"ffi ffiTtr; ;l; I
:,
ofu- .o* fr fl tii ility Ir:!: i:ffi,,iffi ***t*j.,':: j''$il,ilill rlT;*"n:,$ #i'3:*"'";xr Ll'1..1::l1f :
ahd
nuchrovcd. r,"".
*i$fi 64!qrd;il *, f; ''*'d;Tfl :#rl!:I.iix ffiffi, i,l:riltrl,,.l'r;*: ffi if#r:trj
f ill;J1;t'I,llm,Jilll,":ti;:*"tilifl :{:"J."".,: ffi iliit iiilJtltr ;iil, JffilT.':.Xffi h rur rti, ."n",'i,,ii,,r.i ;"..l,T:ijj,H"Y tr/:1 ff"fl:;,:,)"'.t Rg.tT 'rF l, rl'n.'q,""'",'hrion orrr; rcrue a, uon s individu.l 1ggii,il:l iill"i, il,il,,,rnri ;,,i"_""".,t"..#tr :H::il
;.$il
rrs-r,[r,.,,i,",,.ri,i,,,,_"jli],jil,,;;,;;;;l;.lii"',li"1lli;,l;liT: t4
RDPRESENTING SATI o,]Ad
md .hivaHc
love
IIAL
il
emntly, exemdirying both 'orrd, Thec textr rcord the progresive consolidation of what has come to be d a essentially li\ed B;tish attilude to sati. Bv foregrcunding Hindu women do it Lould Da-nv. Jnd unrcsFbns ucbms ol Hrnou Prriarh). a' fiesr r'xh ' Lc *,,l,Ish.d bPyond arsvment rhdr ul' \omar wer in nc'd ol "aLing act die as atr have wished to hight widos Howder, the possibility tllal sone of.onjugat
i' gi';n
lffi
'ome
pesisted
as a
doubl, and gave nse to other views This Possibiliw seh-qu.lrioninq:
.,Mry .rcd.n(e rn Ashion
of faith and a very [H]€ had intcrfetd in somcthing tlnt was a matler (onvi'uotu dL' Shushila: be sur ,ould nor evcD beMnal rlilq &d be n'ms or manv lnr czlrndar Chn'dan nor d'e *nq. ior aid wr 'on'ain ncn aad rcmen who trad bceD burned at the st'!e fo! ihen b€tels' md acclained
6
sairds and
manttt
AND IMAGINED WOMEN
I ll I
womcn's i$ue, a I noted etulierl fillr dcvalucd sociat poirion witl ihe l{onff - ihu! oflering fufihe. proof of thc
Cf
$mtlt novcmenl q6 gaining ground dr home srn ar it ton.olldarcd in fic colotue. and n. memb"^ tret€ I
ldvlnugtt alcribcd to drei.,r.r,,; g",i";.;".q r, i, idFotogy ot rhe fdmily a rhe Idduoudy dc\.etopcd on ber,"r; *..*.'; rlrri,, ,- . g4il,. or sri @urd be serecivery I!l dEdry l1T *09: .*.nd 6dctir) - ;,"p."""t ,r,. -.p".."" .hme rll lctllg consuucrcd for rhr tnglishwo'fu ar "i .
llttull thft thc pow.rtut
iO. ,rO1
It is no jdle question. In th€ next sectiotr I €xamine how the conftPtual Pdadigm tht unsetdinS possibilitv that th€ wido$
ofch*tis Eartrdon a]srnnodated
Don$ryl F6onal maid. i! s€€n of Slorcncq and she d€scbae h €ilbontins thc fomidable !n&:
III with rG flip und'rsid' had populd 'umnry' r' rrris td-nine'"enrt<enrury iinsle ddvenisirs MdPerc' Esptian'igarn'' rhe nositiw view of
sari
lu
*ldow Sn and l m n, , ad I would nor so nrdo up my mind ro bum nlslt afvc, Id do ic nlnd to 3o on.r'
Carn is the eadv noming
lu.lrl imulhnsw dirarcld ed rn,b@ o{ $e ry rmuvdcm: ho!"€q ti, a lndia widow Slen
i!
time of woes. P€ac in the huin ot tuiligh! Baln erc my q'elids clos.. This will Maspcros bnng me, Asting du8ht in {tum, Wit]I only a Sut€e's passioD To do their duty and burn'+ Solace
15,',lllDna'ohc; lrur ar the sam dhr tht qualirid of nr nrodv.rc Susan ar anribuled . ,i,. r.a;_ dlurlll|r ruggrru dlar sd could u. .-*a ,i*. ^ b nqfti!, in popular ulagt, any t ind oIft€siih
fi|ilt
ac.onpanftd by an itlustddon ota b rning ciga'ette in an ahtrav: i5 tlE shrouded figurL appe"ading in the s*irls of snokc rising frcm $c cisarette ed ofa se e ftun maryr ora Chnstian r"i, *gg€.ti* 'i-'ltaneously "i'tl. sti's self"sacnficr of tle commodiG'adon a n.$c rui"awaiting orae6. The eFectivelv e(liDrs her subiectivitv.
Th€ iinsle
is
tnain' *ao*: dPdrh wirh ho hu'band i" 'l'\ 'r'd ro lrr ;nro 'l/ pandisn ofrelisious maryrdon, n ws also, l€s admirinsl)' rccogniable more ri"iali'ed"as a fom of feudal - or 'native' subse^icnce, an act of undrinlins' licss of re ed - as a wonn' 1f not aciually deluded, loyalry Thcrerore fic 1vo to dic - did not ncccsarilv have r' fo.ced to a:c and o a:rc*t-l whc chooses viclims was thc basis lor I women wcrc that Hindu .olLide.rr Thc perception
r'." i, *'.
.t5
gfi,b }$',tu&.l rtrr rrarrntivJ whcn .r.. i. pr,,r,g r,Irin.r'.h r hdlltnrlt lury. Surlns oq blnjn*s ro trrs t mftphrr wll' h rh{. hni dhptuccd fbm @njusar tow ro ,t0
l I
, 1
IIAI,
RDTRESONTINC SATI
AND IMACINDD WOM!N
olllonlc$ bo(h exemplary and ininitablc. She is bolh lndlDcnMblc (rhe jusrifi.ation ror $. imppriatisr mn y dllp6Dsrblc (h. sacrificc otrryed to dn ne'srnr
$ire ol lov2l,v r. no hs' srillng's BeMFen ih" d'tual Ensbd' e in $ i' ln'l hslnri\ LhF and pr^ . *-e a living husband I rr:r wil a'd ".Jor.i-ri. "\o ' r"J fiH;i';';i;;;
Ludal
fll'
""",r'-'* ubj( 1''-P'i ::l:,:l-:' :,::: i'mdr' ;;.;;;' il;.;''..'.".p.; 'sorrrbvism rriar oih'mes is'tr'''!ir"r' rrd'r
yldudlrm), l'hc colonial mbnalence (owdrdr $D \va, in bt ! tchlilvcmcnr ofthc diveBr gods of inp.ridliqm.
;":;" :'"';;, ;;; :'i;"dr '"
ne rndrv'i' or nF id'oroa ;;:,:;i";.;;; ;,""'rrndv' zri'd ru Prwom€n' sbj'€"' arcund ;',;;il;'i;;".."iarconies'ls' be'lween 'lrt tl,TJlel,":^.s::] diasnored-hoY' *, ;;;. *;;;,"n Ld,r'"dtut'rv oronrar Lite in India 'rr ;:;;;;;, ; ;'"^:,i;oi,. *"r pJt- orod ' " ;v'rd^wdr h{ Hu' inr" ;";,t* ;.;;;., K";" Enio'' "Jadon rc conr'< orpunr) ro rir i;; C;aLcl1. K*' con'edes ;;;";. ."*t". .r *l "o-',''':"': "r {:':1::. ;1;d;i l'l: i"T-':,,1 Aller her husbad dies' Kale rer;es asajnl ###il;;;;;m.' h'\ri iT* *i''. t'-"r," lt +Dg a sati'like death ;! rrt fits of sar wbne ii is set in 1857' th' '!ea il""ii""i.i * . "*.t"t .n**-nc bec6' ttrich the a:idsh wmtn in
IV
I
.l,Jil;";;,1ii. d; ;
in
I lddnllly ln tlrc
ercnt in
*'. q'" q;"*.' 1 't'L,11'-1'11"1,T"':ffi: ifi;ffi;;;;;;'; sp€:1* i"ii"i*.,;;;*"g, lji *-Y " rike
SI.FI us.s ^rqlvation. two womcnt worlds.
tren,t'oth public
dri" hi$ori'al ircn) ro bnng ibour
a conlronEuon
E dtrr intlncrnr rmctural elcmql,. As in rhc @loni,l iltl|'\ t\c *analn lM ar€ st reorlp€d, ed
I
P'nhtr'
""i,,.
tall {lrl
li lL"""ir""""".i
u"
r*ratcd devclopmcnt' bt1 is' inst€ad'
-i""
oi \our
marn'
ir' \hich rhF
Mii\' r'mJ'
"',qlt
t,
r
h)! Lm;nin. d"al ,ld
F ond"d simul'n"ou 41
is
nqs a cter;
lldailc.l n&.€ isu^ rlarilc ro boDo. 'o@ds lF ltndrlnn.d on bol}l humanarian ,rd rcligiou.
,I "i.;;;;,;*-;;';;-"h,r-it r"o wirh $c histoD or qu in Briu r' Ir' i"l'I* i '.la i. ";":uncdon cnen "! h d P"r1.1* ll ff:'i ;;'''+ ; ;;";;;; ;.,'-/ (onvic,ion o' a" o," of t1e I'taos is dtrettt: r" s'""r'' ;": #'; ;'*i;;a".J evcntuanibcralon Engrishwom"n\ the or and ff;;";;;; martvrdom of thc cxccsses from .nnsciousrcs ' -i; i^,'; ;';;:J"'"t ""ou'*''r'' Hrna' qoodlL wir' i' on' rd' pani,,,
rnodrk wilh '6od€miry'
ld$
'u I
"J,;;l, orJd' D'? rsas: "d.ro:'I^"-l ',:"-:lii:l pi,r .""," ipi"* ",rl"'e p"r'r'.'ri'e'+r" or rh' mltrnr remre 'i-' #[TrJ;';;;;ir," ;;; ;;;;*ii:*" 4r""be *d as th' or'her.no' Y;l-"::,^,:',,; r;;;i 'an 'I,*J^u- , tut'Jaru-Fr" s";'h' rr*o' n' *t"*1 0",',
ij,;;;;i;
raF
l|no$ lr{brlrlnn, r lcntimot2l a$liaria ro indig.noG llllrur l'f r rl,rrlisn, and d a.ur. ft. osnirion or fic tfirr !r fhrll{", CruroC a omplex ;nt'-;o'.. .r,"t
;#;ff;i;;i;;*es r \r '' " i::;,,,";;..-;.tJ"."; ," inp.narisr prct't I drhr d d d' ';ur'"a indi\ ro! I rFmiry i-r-'i.' .rt i' *i , '"",".' ;" '-"'8""' 'r 'nP &hidcd tlx
iitil *'""
I
l il Of nrrntlvc what is rt2ined in ih* texts is th€ fafi m doubt of iu rEppings of European chir€lry. bur
ol
su.h conf'onridonq ar' ol coutr llagFmdnagcd bv '/n;nr'tr{'d Patri'r' *on -,i.".-.*"", i;^.r"' individulism rculd alo dcpLol rhe nativ" thr''' u-*d d.mon c,)ari sp;vrk las bririrndv ..*s or 'e nin''icdn c'nrun shc shos' r ;:"''#;;;i "i^-'h;";;;i 2'o r' the womPn or rhP r\o rurruF md\
i.""t'l'.
Hcnrv De'ozros
ba$d on KarEr Kllru de rp'tsbdw 'c86t ll|f dlc d.c of convenhnce, dr eL indismols oi llqncnl inu6. The lbolnid ot sari d w[ a tdulf o{ rcm* in nin€rtrnfianruy India, wa h. |lt$lng +irir of rfom amng *" t*:ogly r dlo of lndir Thc rtfom mowm€rlt3 d b€ha[ otr r hnr rtllling to c-ase, educjion an4 Lrtr, naddrtlbc,l, drcrclbrc, while sad b udeaiabl) r'ised & a $*dqt h d& lmrr.d wi'hin a nat i{ of b;ady r€forDist $a sno nrlnc, ,{"r.t4& Jzh,
*** r' .#""-1,
'i"'.
-
fttq4ft*'! gfiiufi Ohorhl frlm (198?)
thcv pubricrvsurercdal the haltds oi ;:;ffi#;;il;;Jarger bocafr; dc objats of Brilislt men\ Ptttcrrd'
"J'"
following dis.usion
(1826), Rabindraerh Tasore; shon .rory.
dedc ..ubacy, lc dd so 6ily Fql rll.ltudr,o lor *idows. ; lll llll{d.rt of widos. lonB ati.r n sas @dr r€B,ry | fi6 erlly ttnn.criucm pracr;ce.
tfllhdrttrnr
bctwr:en and kr modifies 'Fto,m "raOdon ef'rurerrr" rlrftr rrrucrures lnrsr rcxts. T]e crucial featu,e Dm h 1116l, hr rt)[c of nor subnjrtjne ,o "ari, rhe suu,an lhllll Ft rrflrthr8 rlr rs.D"d wido; wirh an ,n.r-lift of
lllll
rt wltl hcr rrcuc. is strikjne. \^ftat her drdrh also t hrr rrflr.r, rfrfllcr. Iln en inability inabiliN ro iiork i6rt our 6, her hrr salEtioD sr-,,..
tdrflt lli lflN vr{t .lifii(ulrics of sodal change (aj opposed io ifthl$rtflwrflx'rt, Itr" lriturc al.o rcfl.c$ an:ni nkl,-,Eon ot ll|t rr rrtlrnl lnh rlr ror 'man mogh ro pop,, h,s 48
itrAII AND IMAOINDD WOMEN
REPRESENTINC SAlI
womankind. Ashis Nrndy has sugsested that the sudden and najot chog's brcught about by coloDal tule plodu.ed cffects ofalienation in tbe Hindu malcl and ahe stmng dcfencc of sati advdced b\ some membcrs olfte indisenous oaic elire wa; an attemPt to r€@vcr thtr idenlir-Y b-! enforcing tmdidonal
findu). \hdr rh"' r"\' dl'n on'r i' ' m're 'or'pl" ol,hc lflo;.,. $dn rh' Po'anJ" o' dd 'lir or,h. subie.riviq .ocrru.Li"" oarnanhJl
noml
dit/she.hose to die) scriPred b! ihL dislre$'/'marqr'(i.e. shc ivas forced text ol impcrialism. Ncvertheless, these are rexts that arc historically di\ergt't'
b
and we
n;st plot thcir interactron with tht lexts ofimPedalism diflerend):
r"^ i"
rhousand lincs' but ir Nul€eni about ro widow youg and b€aulitin tns a simplc €nough plor the had bcen rorced she whom old man a nch husband, d;ad bc bumc; with
Ijlen.y Dercz;o\
Thz Fote6
h; Slr is 6dcd
tJudvda
i1326)
^
;
sire bv h€r fom€r lMr, an ouda$ to marry. muquerading as a holy nan (a r*d), and his bod of robb6 The) enjo\ a bn.iidyl o";s sotita.y island{ockJunsheen Med$hile, Nuleeni's disraughr
from the
ss,ri
an fatho applrmhs the Mulim ruler, Prin e Sooriab dd *ith his hclP raises arc loren The his daughtcrydishonour' amy td hght the raker ad avens€ fo;d to ;"n. The father kius the l@er in a fieM tiattle' Nule€oi 6nds b'r slain lowr on the batllcficld, dd djes ofhcanbreak is his ads
Henry Vivian Luis D€rozio (1809 31) qas tbe first Indian poet ofanv norc to uite in English He was a Precocious Easr Indian vouth (ofmixed Portuguse *"'' Indian ald Enslish blood) who produced most ofhis poetrv, includins the-F Bengal thc Young callcd to be *hat cme before he was"20. Derozio's Je in impacr movement hd heen recognizcd by historians to have had a signincant slrug-slcs of Dationalist ibeli a forerunn€r later Bclrgal 'Remissana', on the nas' Among the tupestilions' of rliSion that Derozio atracked was sati, wlich and debare i. thel820s, ;€ dccade preccdrng its ahoiitioD, an i$ue ofintetue thc and membe$ its division oong the indigcnous elite tr {ell 6 bclween colonial adninistraiioo. lrul ilsc cxp.r! nt |i*ar aJJ sw'a to be in ?nri-\'ri rrer t{c slull lrt rla'nnointed- Thcr t Lir'l. o' no .ommcrrr ^rr thc .ruel.) ol sati or on 'i' .-ili a"s*-"n' or$,,men tlD, ,t,cfl.,rFd lnst'ad r' rh' ePrqrath ro '
tust @nto tuaLcs clcd,
it is lo€ics meiage that D€rezio 'ondehns' and love as de onlv valid basis
romatic lovc that hc cxtols in its Placc Romantic js Io. nariagc was, ofcoune, a radrcally $cstemized notion; and it dikonceninq deatlr inminent widow's ofa contcxt in $e to nnd aD'arg mfnt in its favdur wiG ha't if the tolcrable rvouid be sati it for Dc.ozio as Almost n woilC'seem nanied thc husband for love in th€ 6st innaDce- And in tact to dic otlo\! i' Lr to tlie ola rccognized westem disease lt is ,.ts dcath tlDt Derozio dc\ises his heroinc at the cnd olthc PoemDerozio is construcdng a tumanlic tale, and it is the fomal thru$ ol rlx' €nre that dctehites iti messaec, rath$ than a social cddquc ol wom'n\ rr ippresion. The pocn i::.1u21i] a i,a.iili il;.i.ral lngkh Poctic loms niia"y or;*t lo["ar, -nss and mad.isals $ilhin a larser narralive in 'h]fldl 4q
llnE dm!,
i'l !t! lht
Dcrorio cxploir! many of rhe
llhpheo tconic sarj*c.ne oleunnuc narurc
fstms o-f rlJ: immUli.* rrr. r.ne or
dcr;pd.;;.;;;: ;;;,
-".(!ul){), gut for dl ns fotmi cienvativen.s, tie poem n l4urnont whcn wc rcmgn;a fidt NulF.ni. ,ne ir.roin., 0l tolllmodr strc *U-i,J. r,- *" .", ,r,. u I lLlturo illc is willing (o die (nor. hosewr, on &@unr but-bocrurc of dc b; or h;;;;.. ;; ;; ;,""xy ll lorb lbr o msn other rla dle one she is mMied b
i.**.
holoryr to
r
cta!! and care
I lal Dclltjo Thr- onton
- djn;;-s*;
.""
m*.$ a p.lsins poinr ahoul r,u€ to\r
r;
"- i
or rnc ,r k r,"i.i"a. |ld.lry tlE conlrntioa, .f onad. poeFy, &d .he t by ftc crutiorury dcalrc .r u",r, rir* i** dcrll|, it dcGars thc purpose oI rh. rsore. arct .tory, 's.vrd. o,nd ror be dlff"-". -I]? lanl ll of ldr ed ea. .traDrre,-;dd .sociery. ruq* . sEn (6rpase) 11,1,ff tdl rln rury or r"",*ia " rums fo! rclig;u! I h.sllon drc wifc mrMbdon. the lf ln tln mlo ornrcucr, aa 6*n; -"l.;;;"*" fla rwtyr ,I wil wirh godt hetp rtsue ti! ha;dnaid hh hrJft. bouri ria- rr,l r.*l ri *il."oTJij" lf S' lll). lur n fale imo fie husbadr'hand!. uoui {lJ{a ltllm, dad ofapoptexy. rhr tcrr.r clcnch.d ,n his I du rrmfr nal ;nrcm;in ,. ..a',* r,*]si" ,t,." fiI 'All rrtl! lofl h adn;-;*- u; ;r ";:y tollalry . l:y.],r rur indocd ib rr*e a"g*";. d.y" -* llla ln{ liDc packcd widr a mdd;dr .flft,& orircdc tilr.r h n nnrib.s d'. ncbkia lb, -d id.;;;,, ol brfr m.rions ofcibodo\ Hirdu society. drr lh lht rftlllirir'$ icnsarionarn. ,r,* d,. i""r1.1"",r, lll ltt ]r{loty'r cotrctusid r}al Gouri .ommined ed,
l"jf':'!,
y*: -tc:+il;;;ffi;
,*,
""
'qUlF othl.r rlrmns l}tar conjugal lolatry?
goudl lt'llnrll|tion, rtlc uansfo;tion'frcm Or ;s rhrre her haoed illlh lrnollc rn(l $(piadon ot her dearh] l, sh( hd.ed n fttl lrvhuff h ll"lgli'hi lticll frimcd for ironic exmination. coun h lr nt ,{|ld slrcn, nnaly tEpped. $e llills hrrseU, ru
I
Mll,
lllllll
llt (l
r
llrl
rcr!{ncs in communi.arion
su r woman of f.* wo,.ts,; rtfl Pr'); trtrd so lhe r€d.ene
,rq,ry (tlrc
rhr lxnnxcoti fi
lity dnma.
.hn
hd
bten
;;lrared
abour hFr nnal
and his p6],hor,3jcat
REPRESENTINC SATI
n probing,he @haN..ons iousnF.\. pdEtht hN ironi. md.pulaLul sdtr.na aove. TLc fisur" or dr. .m..u.r a ourlaw ij her. unrqJivo, ally rdu, Fd ro lhdr ot a \outd.b( s.dL(ir: rh. ,,rr?n or d..ri, mor.^ N il.qu",'rj\ , sodzlly annmatou, and i]|5ptr.Fd rrxurc, par.d riLt.. \.,,1 vmoduo, 4? holy hd or wirh suspi ion d. J (h tdi"n. r_o,.i r,", .a.r o,.,, rr. rpsponib'i'rv rirr a nurbFr of rhF .\FnF ot rh. not, aud d,,s dr, i5\ct, dnd nen rbettiouJ) in vdiou. . ris.( I t,p i"arou. hu,bdnd t. .;";,; mqur. ol !\mpa'h) a d. firan.iath ,rr, L,F jnd pcrhap. se\uJt! rmto,",,l ",,; , ldlurr lrSorc dir8nors rlb rmgrdy a\ rh. prcdu,, ol ...a1_,. cnar&rFrued r'\ scepuNn. somc mo$ti,v tor $om.n. lJlc"...;, anomie cxpFricn,.d by$c &ngal middledas nalc undFr.oroniat adhini.r,ado). i",o;ni.r *.h rsidudl.orthodoxy chaE.ler'ed bv .t ,rh . purddi td womcn, and ,ftdiuon"t patnd(hal ?lLhoriryt. Thc slarus and m.aninC of rh. wido..s d.ari s6r a
lrAL lND
subdery
the ldtus of dris ilonic 6quirv. My fiird texr reprsenting a nxn€ lbera]/refomist vi6, of sad. ]ike rhe ft{ Mo. i. markrd b a lailuF ro imaginF a uiLt" \ry our lo, |}leh,dos;d ,t, 3dr ume,.n.rnd.B Ih..rescue parad,grn .u,6idftt,ty more @nptrL;, arrt. ,,1^t' n-**n, drerlnl bv Cdukm crGh i,aFcnr'BengzLi r r,. l*i se' D 1832.ryimmediarly arFr rh. abolirjon of uri in acnq'ar. ir n,marn ,.,e s{ory of Yshobati, a young girl huniedly mried of{to a d"vins old ma" *irt, ercnir ro rhc .punda. ani rhp jamil) rhz, ,, l:5h. !,lr:r\ "h; "iLl ;;; is hn wilh hn dy.q husbdd a, rhc bminq S{za on .he bank ot lhp n\fl co8a. wi,h onlv $r .ha'dat tlul,e nntouchdbtr Ad!k..pcr. rhe bu,nr! ol rr torpe.s ror mmpd). The.handat utE"s her ro c..ip": bur sh. r"fls.s, .. d'ough shc drcadr hfl &aLn. tnsrad .h. r.nd< I., dy,nB hu.b,d, who ya,, ro ,Fvi\e undir hry cd 't-hc tha ot pi]f, h"t and rciI." l,.r f".F t.hr . dnM rogelhq. dd b(omp lows. One niCtr dF n\d RNds, dnd dr bla ,,i,(
tl'r old me ir sepr a$a). Dsp€rarcty. yahobltj sims our n sc.rh ot t(, l,L\band. Ijnds on\ rlr empN bi.r. .ii,.c ,^ i,. hr is d.o\,,,,.d Tt. .. I would dplra, ro lDr bftn irmi, L,tt .,.d I rt,r.uqt. d..,,1. .. !r:r'h.t ".t\ drcsn,ng tu$?r rha fnF. Ttrr ,h@nat is tu.J ot n{ znd $n.o$ dr ho dr-,,.
\Vhile Chosh retains the features ofthe .rescnc' pxradiem, dcsc arc rc$ork.,t ro an almon unBogni/ablc dr8re. Tt,e ( j,.,D,,.n.uA ot tc ,tHt dto,.a,r rr'rora - Brahmitu, dying/dead husbdd, wid@, rescue. - are veB,ons of rtr stereolnre. Thus the Brahmins, while they are idcnlified as rhc chicf.vitlainr close up: Ananta, rhe chief Bahnin and asrrotogca ;s 1 t,:,^i paniany motivarcd ihe ddi.e to defy the aticn edicr againsl-an indigenou,
nlsi@:
^by yahobarj. a poo, a.r,-;. ,h". radrej.of i, ,,,, lrc: ^ ,".p,"a prcspn, ol mdrins on hiq dJuBhrer w;rl,our Iu\,"a ,^ pr\;t^ , d^*^, ,t,r doctor, an 'enlighlcned' Brahmin with some a.ccss to modcm slslems l,i mcdicirc, docs protcst on legal and humanita;an gtuunds, bur is btart,nail,ll inro 'Lq.'": d1. dlnsman. a *,/e B,ahmn. r,rd hi. e,o$,, .on, -?1.o.,..,,, 6'^t .r'l t)rb8. o' a sri in ,hc tamit) Tl,b dlfl",.n.kr.d , t,",. , ,,.n/ , malies ;t po$iblc lor Chosh ro probe the compler so.ial phenomcno! ot s!
|MAoTNED woMEN
LTffi ffi ,fl ;n ;:$ffi ;,."m:* *"*,*" ifiilffi,ii1TTl'-':ldrd' l' u
wr,ir
r,,,,
u'
ro r,eru,sh, '.runs ",",av rrtmi
;;i"-,:":yT,
insisro,,
:#jil*f ri'. .i-ai'"1T;.ha' te-bodv wix r'"t",,[hpi::ei**E:r,H,"ff: tt'o
bum
,Drrtmin, .d(cs
'i.ll"-i
v^r,.d,r
J"
i,i'-'"1-1
l..tld.'-
L'l*.yn:+r ",-.;0";*:' #il
":
Hffi:,ffiff$ffi*H,;:ff rffiffiffitsffitr# lll
rr|'o
lttmr on
Uro
wirrr rnr to
,,L"-r-r--_l
"*' qprex $at da
a ii,ll-::s
ll..es$nr
bad$rinc.
?.f *.u, -: fjt":i::'l9;;#li ffi H#i -a i* i.*ffifi"_.Ji.HhffiT
i.ffi;*""':;*ffi;;ffihm:*:
!,tl,il,"**',rji:I'Hffi il'iiP;*ff [r:; ,hr in",.i,l,f_*l rdrhs #{f,,ff}*#y:T"ffiJ;ffijfl# mosr
rnr
poinr in his mnr
tffi* .,+:idl#::j :1, H''il*'x1t"*$H.fi.*r.,,Jf ,-'.5 -serualiry ofdFir , .l0ttfi, r,ru. r,L "aru
-.
ffii"illmglfnff*hil;trff jfrl
ti H";"i.;l.H Tx a::*,: j;[il4i:31[.ttikT"{:*,:rnH i
ffi}fillfi
il?,llfit*,,:l.! i;l"T:jil[.;: ftfr .il ff :ill,_r,i*r r,,q,ur".;;.. ;: ffi iil'?il,,lllii,i'lJlilJ'' **, r",*;; ;';:;l;fi i,iT;::l f,f,l,,,'fi
5l l
AND TMAGINED WOMIJN RE?RESD,NTING SATI
d tHl
alloh?d ro aPPPa d\ fi',,Uv. l.mrl. sF\Jdrrry and ir' "o'ial 'onirol a_e or'Jd in 'r'n phFnomenon rhr or ,.#; il-;;";i." a,pfr$ ;ilj;i b\ di'{cdiline ""-u"i"il. . 'oniue/' i-f;",li-' -"''a inrn dFir """"r''1 n*r"d ru d'' or 'romJ "' r.ivrn' roLc '* il'i"",i i. .ir'i."'i." ' '^' I a'r'n''ndn r . ;" -, *a" rr LhcFPr+nrcd lJ';,'liJ'-", rrbtrdr/r'rorn I "),, ,;;;*r; .;-,,r "" " indiscnou" d'n riv' bond\' i''li rn'lo'n ove' no'|e a 'rn in; ;:;;", ,"rdr" Au'iry bridm' vi Bur Nhih irr of 'i,; and ).i.,-i"' t .",i*" ,no *a"wh'od 'oacqu'ndv and brdrantr) rorcground'd rhe pokn l ':r " ;;ffi; i;; ;;; """.;'" bod'| i'are rn{'"d llood mrtaPnoric fir r@s": r't nor -^,"n'irl ,na,Li,v ol hPr.duaLry ( ru .t; r''^irr a+' r' *i" *^" cho\n rmaitu dPU\" bis inkritan.e trm th€ Pasr'"
... [Th€ circulaB] had d tendcncy,lo rhc umgc and madc ir app.,r c fiougi, lllu lhrr rn lllcgal onc .?" This is a \rry di[., enr srndno" Al tlra mmc timc, colonial .cporls on eti incidenb lhl Mruolypcr ofcrucl BEhmins. btoodrhiBrv mob\ od, L Vlo(n, which found (hrir M, inio rhe oambvtr ot
!l hpllm
Mrhil Mdjng hdildl ro r 'frbric4tcd' lo.oltrn
:T*-';:ffil ;ii
rll
T) dalld' witlt I bnFl 'oDsidrErion of tbe $orl' o'"d""d h) M" Indid r'mT.1."h::: -Y^*11" yLa::1 ; "."t 1 T'.' ai"t^; ott'.': "::,.Y":i"l:: ia*';r"a .:. *;', "n"1.r' oa
pan ol
ilt:;; "'-;' ";''"'o* il;;:::::i.:i'::. ' H:,"l";.i" #"^;;r""Ji -,ii."',il. -'""-'i
Af::'ll:,:
p",ir:T1^:TJ,:Ti,:T:l -"-.". p'L-t"niar uome inrerrecluar u" "r
H:":?:1il:$J#.;"i i"'i""*'rr'-i;i-
l'il"$lii';:":";,fi;.i"r*'l'i
is otr'1' Mkes su'h
a
rmrescnLdt'on no$iblc *ii"'"
dj"co!F" ' .""."' h'rrir rhe b^unddie'orrhe @rrier rh' iarrc*a& arrv g' Edr' rhe\ iiar rrr'c ,1,'" -"ii' t"ar.' rn ..i'i,l ti :1"",; ;: ;";,"; ;i,;"*',."h h .,mcar NGnd-MaN;fi,*:J* Ilf'],,
-;;;,'.i
,n,l!sis lsDnakr
Sccund. tieY NonctPtudLze an
lLmirrist PrlccL th" ''' uLi rs prrL nlarr'r1'li'nl\
r'i rJnq rr 'rru' ruft rh'ir dr€urn'l i-,', * '; i.r. ' r'ri.ur' nri\ihqc' $1rh'oni'iry dedN nn : 'ri' r,;, ;;;',' hrnnor' n o ' dri i r'vcnh'r"s ' i t' i o ; 't " ' " iil""l,'*''.''".", ' ') ' '' "r " ,,;:;. ,, *";,,., ,, , r,^sn,Lr .oun,r-nddnu" '" th' ""nano .i ,,. r.'ion or Lrr 'groniar ele':x\ l:r inlel:l;:', ;;"';' ;; ('L ";. l'',i r'"s o'l'"'."/ ;r aborition' a pdiod ili:i il:'il"J:::iil:,-" " than thF de{rrbirir\"1 ;:;j;.";1",;'r"."; "'at r,' hribrri*rn"'atr'er uurldqng ol 'ati a' d 'ru'l ati,lnion. so rl,i r.rl+r 'l'n rrcurng 'or 'Jil;;:;. ;; : .;;; :,, ,'v'ur or '/horiLion wcr' jr pain' ro i'uqmr" rr' ' ".i:;il;^." ; ;;';'"i . ",. ,, r'| Mrr'| 'h' Prin itr" or uPlrordinq rnd: "n i' ",. *,'".." nltl'is r''u' sas sousht throuqh apP'il ro Bll'n , DL'ii ",i,,t":. 'c ' ' ' ;:.:i:l "," ''': '; :' ,". ','"^', 'Ih" { nl uiJr "'rhnnF ror Jrr i,:; " ;':-,"1 ",",,,,. "', u:,*l:ruri's' i::::l 1 l-. i r'! l::],:J ri' ur' * "'d : ;f"'r''' r''"iL,r'4' l ';:",1.i;l ;:;'',': ; ';'" ', ""'""t'' 'o "n\ur' rha.Id $'r" r'\ :;^;;.;"' i
liJ
il;
:i
53
!
of dchjB d rle .@lffii, 'hr colodai namdK c@,Fuctron.
.lt c{rEmc posr{rlucruntie pdiri@ dar rd(6 ! .! rudr indd.mimrr @ dd;vr. Tt€ rurhoadr. 'producdo'r of& otrdal discoure' *em* rd}rln from psitins ft* oppqrd lNions a !!at |1 I fiDhdr. Mdit hisroriat tl,@jd and lhr Folidca r lnpqu corlrir,.nrs .hapiDg a* -""r--"L.t;* |
v It I ron.lud.
tho lncidcncc of sari rcse. The two wert we!
b
dli$d to lhmc a n.rradw in orda ro hah thi wan lllalqta lnto I vtolcnr {po'ia' bde€d (laiive patli,rchyg r{ 0qll.ldl1ln'r) 'objccr{o.rnation'. In -fo",a"g ; count€r ndatiw of rcllE's .on-
ardn. llo dlcl', Spi!".k is led to.tabulate a psychodid wiit' .*pr.. ,r,'. -.i,r lhuvrncMud Dcvi, who h2Jqed heBelftD. 129t. dE rrchiv$', Spiva.l a*on't ... ttot Lto"iut l.l of O. Rllll of Simur 10 l:r)!Mir eri had [fl.Ie !o lh ffJd |td io condnw b ruL .belrc --- or the l#.rdr of d'. li Irdia conpany'iz ' suhlt.L r lt(oll.lrurriv" p,oje.l m htuor,. moEv!,rd fi$ {.d oflr , hor} m frusrrared by rlF unaq abitiry *n$hun.fi, rOrc cncoun(* dr rcstimony or irrfinlrr lrNoious 'rcvo lirdc tisl hc&d frcm tlrm; . . . one nrJr lt h-, of counc, tr* .r**. a,, 'ig"il-^ orl iun ol rhc Urirhh impenuliqr @tu!rudon ot $e ISd.l vhrlrrt (M nn.t ord; nadle paridrchar endowI tlttldotr' 0rc "l), wlll rspivalq. Th.ir hnr .;.,1 analris tny nwrl h''w .u,1' lcsidhard .oroniat
.;
$a |o
. .n-J"
";n'r;.do""
EF tttrdrr yrrrr rtre |,[rrinl ADd inr.resrrd nDrcsenarioro oI IqmfiFilmtl ln i8',lticrnr nnpti@rions in ara of redarc ft, .rhc discouFn of'n;sdvarion. is rhe !, h Mrrrt tt$ rrdrtli'r ,r1 r ll{rll lhrl h'lr n w', ni unr.prFar.hlF qirrirr
llrd,
rrrr tt'r,
dhrr hirxt, rhc hcsrmonic rcpnssion of t4
rhe
RBFRDSENTING SATI
Edts in her $res
wonan's consciousness
upon
fie
abjectncs of womcn\
VI llJttt. rc Moiabharata,
subie(r-consbtudon'!6
sb d 'oroM FUUI' subjrd stu'lrirafun'uo" snh con'mporap rndtt' on' ll"fi 1.. !"''j. .;'r*red r'mjnis 'pu'hR 'm$cm to rur$rrsp(uradon' l;:;i J^;; !"'',oronir 'ontpxr! Mani e(h Panrr Fo hi{o' \r or re in the uunn ab..n.es ::;':;;'.. Th. n,enruD"rion widr
thP
I
---i, *t; ,^. *"-- ,. .U L||rfu (]lr.ma\ Gdls, i' dF R^,4t*t: r", *,^*, Ulr_lh d6rrh Tged doEzcrr q"*", i."ai,g rh. aV tr /'lrba,. :s t" th" M"hd*"; bir, -i* .r *. n"g ro-6hmn uri a, his d@rh. and ar8 ; !Lll'gvrll]]!h *rdro ro privilca. Fjnaly. Md,i peFuadri ofrly
in
'
r tru' r'4di\ prcjed '{urd br rhe Nro-don slr rd'th ',"".tions somdn throush mor a iduru hisbncd ,o ihe or ne Hindu womd b otreriri :;J"il';;"i';,;;;. l; r.r"',;rii"g rerl p't or 'alo N'r und'rurrn b) womm l'".1i.'i.'-i
llffiur of
"*
;H;ffi;;';;i;;ili,.a*"r. '[h' .i *r'-i-'"r"';"" ;;'; "J;:Hft*;" ""d -':"q'"lr'i-1'T1.. '.i;:l;l:':;;;;il-*""."' p"';'"r 'hrr $h'r' 'he brrak "'*
Kunu, rhr
foi hrr s,.prjritdFn a,
tt|c lc$ndary good w;E. rhr cpon\Dous .Sari. (in.rhr R/tuJ Ma, Nd salil'n (tn 6e naM),
-Iift_rll),,8||r ftll hlf.lmmohdon
llL
'
-j. * ".",-4.;"r ..iri( ,ra,*"i ' roi' ' in hisror! '' '-';;'.;;;"-a *,'"ro'r'"lo *Urtrn ot sad and rh' a,r bo$ the s'nd'ruauon or $e n"uc :i':;: ll:; -;,;. -omd $ho de widdn z .osniti'e "nnute th't ir b'rn m) incndon .ff\ 'o sub mr remns' *]1,"Lrll-0,*i. n * norand n"bvc rdrridah\ wrl'in rhc lrr'-r :;;,;';r imo.nalim s' nLiqu'''^-':.i'-l:T, :i *:i;,"; ;:' "" 1 r!u a'idtr :'J;il;,;, -J;;;""" "';'ii b't"^ the P'|orFd or trn'i{n ;;" r;* ;.;i :|j','il;:;:iil^1"1.'il-J"i ii.". ..;a,r'i' l. I'nori:ilLo 1l-:, dis'rd ll:r '-"tur --".-' l;:;:",J;;;;;, coro;'r ara:";Y:::':::' li:,H:ffi; ;#;"'. dhid'd b\ i'n' porid's tlur ha' rPd in'' ,'J T.;#';ff""il;:"., '*p', 1""#p.'"i",".'*, d)rs :r rl'':": "li-:::'1.:1,::,T-:::,. ;" ^'n'rr s'(bon *hich Podu '
ldnd. wheGer otcrmurc o, surpin.; rhr lrur
dl In6' lracrurc ofho Blu t6. rluld h tlrc txuo noti*-
",""i,t'", "..ion\ - *'r' p"'r;n*" dterDri'5r' i' weu kn"wn Xffi'-"aq;il..i,:a'.ir"io th' 'Fn$al lir of the Ra ol Noons rha th. d^bi\es havr no B ord5 ol Briunr l.i" i-a umouc.d hcr inLendon ro 'osmn'r eri dndtoshm hdr rook.'. "l"'i,t inrod res?on& :ffi. # ::*t ; **a', spi"* no dis(iphrurv br wix a",i rc rr;e'e h'r c rnr"m'tion i,.,i*. .i-*.1 "Fi,;;;. ;;o r'ar Rani" ffJ;: or hc' scr-ars*r ':191-.i:T".".'",ilililli e*r'i,don an f" T;'J:l';*':l;"," ';;;;*iiir'-"gt' a sro'v unta*lr ro sdrnal' must PIot $ho f
..,j ,i . eiro,runs hc; ,,. r,i,i"ui" ,r,. -*, m.n otonc hnd or o$.r, dnd r}lr;
$.-*
dddr(ngE!), .Br.a, lo.Irto $ a rfflp.tion ozon rhr suru. of LtrF ma, oq nihrr dMn b. read u d Bnruirous r, r of ,.tr_wdled Of wothln ro f..
q*1' d,' .:l':";; *;;";; Hindus "1;,: :li,:ff;il:'ff or be&een I rm"ns eith.: "-lih,^n srr' rnmorati"n " ;ffill #;;^.;;;i.iii*i*".*-"'.'*win b lariouJ\' lcdrlv tho is inrFl'(rual *'-po"' LI "L'ii
h
ll
rudes the Posib;rirv or 'ompr'x rcm'r" ;"J:'fi;".::;i..;;,tion p,n than $e dcba'c o ' li*,I''i'r", i";".*, rhar i' ot gr'rcr "iqnifi'anr. rli *'
i" ..r. "" il;;,;;; i,i=,*..r;'i"
rhe Rarltana and the ,tuiqc
dE.\^omcn ,,.. ,.-*' lR rumO c vcrys. ss r,
I
as wios.;, Allff lJle deaft orsaviFit l,lidc wirh $e god of dearh yma himel! ahd ttld lo rcclaim hcr husband: b..ause of her pendne
do.a
llar hurbrnd'o [re as a boon Gom ylJna. r ao io, ln rhylhing bun ti,e,at stur. eris: dr word",g,. ,tletf llDi..nd h rll !llc*.aq d,c wom.n mur subm, ro Eialj a{ldhh |nod wifchood. Blr s,vibi\.dcar}.. hcrjoumc} ro I I ldd rhrt tu ar lcasr unC",r.r-" ," p,.p.* +. n.r [Ulllld, hur hcndf comes ba.t to $r [d"e. whit" *" I Fousnr (or obE$ioDt is,virh tJir dfud hu.band;.r de\otion llltr!$tlnl h llli rathcr ltdh
lfi ml,
--.
ll
I
'luliltnr
tlrh du$ous idcatizatiq of$. p4r, ot Hind; -Iftflr{ltll$ hitlhl rrrr,tnrtn" My argu-",, J,, ,r," ia,.',i;y .r of ,r,. .g..d Sgllllrllr[F)h r brolldcr fRrncwork ror fehzlc subje(tih.ation ll (mti n. odinP ro tarer ueger is blscd on rhe -l {ou wlto b hff ditrircnr manif.s6rjotu,;nd $mr or th€se |lrrlwllih"(xl fir|ll ri lllb rithcr rtx r dcnrh. ,lhc reprcseniaron or rn. t male It tlft ltliht\tikn,an, wtrich r daminF nnlr. o,.upi.s,}lis
Zt li[ litltl
;{llrF
tft$ wll,'w who ,choorccs'lifc orcr d.rrh
l.y rtr **r,;,g -".i,i. ,r*"ia....i,^ ' ^'rkrc tr,.""i"';. hi.ll thrtl'rl'L'lnrxtIn,r.f .rr^f.rp+r.,rr"ri I,s lhtt5r r|ll$rl; Irrrt
rtrc rtrrrr'r
56
ni,r
-t"l .
,t
"
-1'
u.a,
"r,r,.
REPRDSEN'IING SATI
work; th.
secon.l century AD. The
story;
At{I} IMACIINID WOMDN
summarized in a Preanblc to thc
C wldowhood (p. t22), But tne vision of Koeld t{,llryr,'ll6lovcdl Stey rhcre, stayt Rcnain p€a.etully tr}u drh nr rn irrjur:cr;on t.-."g. ;"x d lt,u, ti,tl,* t,i.,, iI .t{ad,l beror hc is dvcn€"d. I
r,i.;l,i
liings ., a;ch merchanl named Kovalan He dissiPar ed his Sreat $czldr in the plcsure ofercd hin b) a dancing girl exPert in hcr art. He had a In the ancienl town of Puhar, iem"itaL capit3] of th. Chcla there lived
wile named Kannaki. With her he went to Madurai, the capnal of tlre ceicbEled Pddya kingdom. In necd of lunds, he ished to sell her bcautiful ankle bracelct. and went into thc nain bazaar looking tor a buyer There he showed the ankte braceiet to a Soldsdith, who said' 'Ody a queen .d sd su.h jetelry. He suCr.r'd thar levdld $air nFd his 'hop, rnd ran to thc P"la'. to inlon lh" EnA thdr he had lound the thi.f of the queen's gold braccler At drat momeqt Kovalan's hour of dstiny had come. The king ... did not bothcr to bake aD inv€stigation' bur sinply odercd a guad to put the &icf to dealh od biing back $c queen's bracelel The wife ol Ko!'zlan found h'n'll abandoncd and shed .budant ton. She to.e aray one oI her bredts' adomed bv a sdDg of peatts. By &c pontr of h€r \irtue, she bumen dow the gtat 'iry 9f a.." rPon th€ Pand)a kjDg 1he anScr ofihe sods * iU"a"-i'"ra
""I"a
There aft tuo najor thcmatic dptcts ofthis work, as the poet tu at paiDs t' Doinr ou,: tl,c domestj,, or lo.e Lair@/, and the Poliri'dl. or wat g''@ h 20l its drda is J"o of rwo bnds, Lhe humu rmqedv and th' myholo8ical pl'\ (p. 144); and thc precepts it jllustrates deal with both justice and coniugal ldf (p. 209). Thus Kdnaki is at once an inslruncnt (of Politi'at, as wel as diviN j;sda) @d d trsrlt; sh€ ficrelirt simultaneouslv ascrG her righlcourn€$ nl lumi"g dom the citl, dd e4resses sodo$ and guilt ai hc oiftl she mln
i!flict punishment "pon
upoD the king znd
irena! a shc tem
ou1
qtcn dd
he; bft brea{
a
upon ihe cntir€
poiit, brt aho
a sdbolic ftpudiation of hrr
'l}tsc conra.liclions an rcsohtd bc.aurc tiannati's vi'lr is concePlualiTc{l as a sociar rair,just as ttrc Pand,va kn8's injustic€ is a natioul share ln othrt wordJ. it is noilndividual moli\'ation fiat prompts huma action, but so'iil mles. $hen IgnDali .onfronts lhe king it is 6 the repEscnktive "f a cit). I nation, a cl6s sd h.r se\, and as a subjccr Kannakj claims lhat shc cann'r
act orhcMise 1han shc does bccause she codes trcn'Pukar, where ihese noltr womcr with fnsrani b.aids [whose stolies she hd narntcd] uvc f$esc stori(s arc true, and il I am faithful, I cannot allorv your.itv t.i sudive' (p l3l) H'n' it is the cotumunity thai dictates womeD\ behauouri thc reve6c oL tbn. tlt r! i'rvocatioD of thc status or behaliour of soden to delinc a communiry has fiBlred Pronri_ ba.lMrd or'advanccd', is a later arsumenl, and one lhat ncndy in tlc dcbatc on sati What is cspecially signilicant ;s thar Kannaki ;s faced willr choiccs as soo' r\ l" .r.c rc"rrcnts Kov'l."s to?se, betwc.n abicct and h.lplc$ tlidoilto"'l -" rhebnc?l flucndv I' ar cxrend€d' other. Passas' oD 1he hand, and dcath orc ' 57
lnf nd nrl hr ltujulrie r,i-*rr f."izo;. i 0D t!0 c[y l,y rhc powcr"s.i^' ofhq cuue, sh; taw\ dryr,6nd tlrcn dics'naturaly to *-^d m.*;;; lhnnrll
u a comptex ad rngi. ficur ifrhe ot scsrrm lirFrary rcpltjgtation of I r'lrt n{nlre dut l,i*r; am.-it i^i"G u".,, r-, llld ff._prcrcribcd "fo. humd bci.gs by sj"l ^Jadr I lt!.lrFhd|l (duty &d falc). W. k dj, ; $( lrm_ a{S r*} dllt of rno'}er 8@d vifr; radion ro hq rtl qmrdrcr hld stEn.d dle kina of Madu@ $ il mrk |lh quccn rhcn, .u,ubtc to bce her sim
{l
ornergcr
PrnpccUvc
0lo*
my &lrrg."'
Tlr
qucdion is
p6d:
.A
ti;s
Uri hrr lu.l'lnd did. Anodh lieddcd in &tsrt llln pw jud8cmtrt, -hic} on. shoutd w acmjJq:. ',,w.ltlL l-lt rr€ gr!4, thc quM wins he Rrards in !Ll !i.bltr! r. ncw SDddd of Faj&fulner. wbo wil tF h {t[ $qdom (p.-lss).,' I m lhlltlon of sari, while Kznnaki\ cu6e is m f*altl, f6mciou!, fcminjn" ..,,,j. p,i"dpi.. B;i ,, lflllo vinuc of good wif.hood dDt i5 @nvd.d" h_ tln.filly oppolcd a,pecE ot femininirv in Hindu F-Ir rm li'*.d in rs'uali indjorias ;, ,nr $lltr l_h lb rlnua rocumutatea . s*d .ii.." And y", ,o ^ !!!r $n t'l'* cxcc,sivc ca olelatu dt. dohe
h idhrl rqrudlltim of fie enlnc s}ddrohr ot .8sd of utl i Hn u r rh oruy or y e an rrcm. irm, w srEJ shal r,rd frd nir ih iD fic $. livR livc flalft Do'.u oflDdia.r. Th.se womFn llfi+irotr,oir rmrr a""iu". i"
.
eiDrs, n,vstics.
e; ;; #;;;'n;?ili tCtlr.tlu lllh ol'domc*tcrrn r.,"r, *r,iJ
** **,ry
"r this conni.t by €ither 116l of m{rdllgr. Tlrcy rerotved
lhqi
ror, or,
''ij"."#"a,.;;*;,-;i;;;,n ".-3lr flll lllulr ll. fn|rll|t rhr:ntl nor ro rcrd rheir poffy a temirusr
I llhtl.ntti I'f thc mnn-woman r.lirion.hin rcladonship n is nor -^, i,.-r iBelf trx.wutrnr prrrh i! matc,.^, r.*,. t,lu.,a. r,,r,",, ^ rrod.iad drom s fixh.{l rJn, lhn rwn. ,n ,h,,r a highty
'
Ndv
rlili
, nr
Mrdhu
Kj,r'*- r,,Ti.;"i"i
",i. t ",t
ara
ll{lt
Rr,PRF,SRNTING SATI
nake a \ociar spac.' available for women who 'ouhageouslv dened what ordinarily considcred the fundrmenlal teDets of rfi d4zma lwomen\ dut]a
I tl$ dilw{rncnt of Itindu rutc. Two vivid schir..( I lrEn nl nrlci rlE fisr, a scnc wheR vicdE :n 'l( [ins, d,cjr lldu Fln..fti lhour to dic with an old ltllt F!i. ehrrf rh. lina cun"s a *^-' r. iiik
a
iaee and motherhood'.5t lorcgoing .omparative excrcise har not bed substantial enough to Pro\ ' absolub di{Icrcnces bet{ecn t$o structu.es of rcpresenlation, thc one indi$nou\ fie other .haracterized as colonial/Postcolonial or Bdtish/European; strll 1c$ does ir scek ro eslablish the superiority of one over the other5' The absencc r any gcndercd perspectic, and th€ ultimately deteministi. framew@k of thoic'' in precolonial represenlatiom of women, prevcnt anv eav sntimental;ation r he
indig"nous irlrura. O. tn. o$er h,nd rhe colonial pcrtcPbon or 'r collective godcrcd identity fot the @m@ who dte sharplv confadich a on the individual fdal€ subject, rhe ed, who is frmcd for $rutiDv' Thc idcltfication of dift'e@c€s sd6 to indicatt only the neMc$ of tlr di$ursiv€ tmin oeloftd by colonial rulet in rc+om to ns ideologlcrl prcssurcs. In this discoune death @me 10 denne women\ behaviot, mr i." nptlv.ly - * nJc he,oin. nurq rdom. "' so' idc do LuLab$lu'rh:r'" $bj; olsati @me i'to being s*r absPnr {dead subjtrr BuL or' our* b'voa the'*oman's dcatl nlife (b"min8 alive) lay life-ini.atb, rht (r)consftuction ol tlbt I ha!€ tricd to e.dd i! lhis her slbiectivity: it is this
l.l0n.ln
'lllnrh fln , wirh rnc spr, ur;b, inrquid, . o, mn nmvld(l lln: nccsnry pnrcrr ror thc oicihrov Daall crlil$ rlc Didurclquc and mmtjre v.^,on
'hapter
NOTES I "m snkful to TcidMni \irdjana Un- ChalDvdrl aad r'r'mal' v'w"$J' ' h' 'h;l' ,""--' ,. -\. me Ircm moB. dLrau i6 sd mi'ur"' ol l- ' d lhG tha' sil rn:jn "F m) ow r?on 'lJ| -n--ution ri $b.naDre, Gmd*i" and lllhalrLh Brcni'n lo' rlc "dioir ch,cld rhdnk al.o b S;, oi.t n.c. 'l lu. A{v ali zppr^ in Si' rn W.bi"r Coodwb dd FLi rL"$ B lo l ia', oa-,* , o-it dtd iile'a dnn. Baldmm, Johtu HoPl n I ni\eFi'v Pn"
!r[ lhi ltnb k$ llrSll,
c trd\ tun J!- itu' ru "'r' "p,' -1, r'r- l dm rnr"F Fd rn rl '.,i..',*,... i.r""l.e*-, ift, -*.*ty, in the say [email protected] :tnctuG dc r@Im:d1l{l pdadism s- r(dlt JiT't"i^?' "'p*.a 'h-ugiiumdr "iir,i'i.a t9ljl*._ uni"enity P6s, ufuebt, tihaca, comei.
anong ihe Darative irtccstjng'ar$frent hde aboul tlE difrcnces ':9!-9i
:"::,::,li
gcnrcs nr
ro''mdnimll al ..?.'"""at', 'onna' b. our I h"" "l'o"'d Ji on r"' de .m-s.n ' or" (? dh-lh , ''.a' t" I'r-i r'*'-*.a 'dcoloF 'olonEl 'ou''" S-:r,"a* a- "i," Orma oi. ou^' "r *r '' l'"'tv tr'n'rdnrh L' ruNBn_ IlananL onl fat'MalWul,t 21.7. R.vi"\ ol \\ba'n sru li.' 2C APil lao' pl
r'
:
i' z, c..,-frvizna (l8lo), a -'Edtcnr Pocn Dow lirdc rcad' butntl]uo (lr bv nadc talc p.";"or drc cx;tic or ,r," PoPuiar in'i" a'r; ^ @]raal! oyton and Ntoor4, rcpt$nts rlc dcanns y.,.g-"* n.-;,:." 'l !
r<juci S..tr'.y's
1l
-. -""; i- .r.,' i"'.^""-",, l, t,rs.-s.1" r.;onalt,Lion m tndir' h
L"P'n' ' 'r'r" ' r" rl'.I 'ru or L'hdnd J d - ' Edi
ndn
lnd'd
Spcrk? Spcculjrons I2u-30, csp. p t2l.
Wa aad MMins llY rl!{, 1070.
ot nr
oJ co@tt a,
o! \\tdos-
rha rot.M, Nt,
''M"*
;nd.,.i;:
mos celprci floo.jtion ot d$ t?ttr. I'utrd\r. lll.,Shooda€;flcph";,. I h Ooorfr Ov.llt S* j,t-l,,B Lftdl,l, Mrdltr 6dcr & wrbuE t_9a5. id.rdliir* otr [email protected] c.td:rt is-;;mrdon Da |llqa d.ltlh l.lmh lndia. Mudih ru h4d rcsad.d n r lll.|ll fflo'dlns o $c sr@ ,d,. Msu- ;;. , bu nG lI .Mod'ul tukr ir'a' boL a s@s *nd asaibr I{.FHd .' o'dlnrM re pr-r *t a-u,. i@l,g Ir.ill|rr prnn n y n,l.Mncd rc lm. z Raip( prines, l.{'.h|"' Nlhcd ro dh a! ! sad. Bd htr s;'ud; sinsn xnl hl. .A.tu! who swd hcr ehd tle Djt. *:; lhrfh. 8N Romila Thapu, //&,t ot rndiz v6t t l, ,02i C.B. M']I,.son: Ttv &n6 Arbq ad ttu r lrlnltr ftrblicrrionr, 19S6, pp. t6a,{. Thc D;;li; hnl lll'iomc I rarrsi. potiticd mdc. Md he;.e ,lid .rlfi lrrt utnrnprcrcior'io" a ,r'. i.b;, ",i ii"i, lLa 0i nrnlrd d rh. !(uldism. adoninm rnil nnr
ll iftn Nrl.d lrrdld,qihtn rhicl Gc is . otfli routd liy rhd tllf lrexk eidr l}lc pdr,. in vc. rrh,
".1 I ll4ett416 ;, 1o11o, r* ,"lr,i. vk \ leia. "- ii' *tl'llnrl|Ion mutd ddaE d , aJ 4,],c aboti'lion n l+? *l rh h l,a x.d tlx.$ nfi," orro,v r,undrcd, o [.lfllll lllr Narhr SLr A. lldro liutun{. rc 8nrin,
r993.
ir-
Ip,
tf md lrny D, B.nen,"i,t
l's'ri'isthcn:lfimmolationofaHind!widowalons$ithdrccor]F'lhcrhurbrnll 'l hc koril is uscd hc( b rcftr bolh b rhc Pra.ticc and to thc sidorv wh' pcii)rl ? TLc t.xB,rc. for the mo$ pan, nadaiitd of unous lands' hles, long Pe$s, sll'
"r jB
doory.
I'e
PaEdox
woMEN
IMAOTNT1D
h
rina,;;;iil
r;;d;;:'';;
il'lil
_llt u dir {rtqrl Bdrnh luFwin'n 38 nv R..a\tuakp LLdm, l0ll!,lt,, 2ri, rB 0. ftt||, Xnnr fi nrtdsmdte :{or eiy j! h€ suitn ol ils [r r nrtlw wmn I vi'h, Nrw Vtrlt, $ Mxn'n\ trc$. 197U. D. 6la AI ild lnII nnnrlllrr { indica,cd paftn!hi*s "dhin 'n *ll'^{ nrhn'lnr vn{rr.. llowck' u, borh hoot\ rh. I l rfll/.,l Brl, , n Aftir dcat or prcdj\posirior b r lldilr lhnh rqtrickcnc" r. -,i,.. rr,"r L" ,,.*
*rt
IllllirlI)lrr,our*r,,liu
r{,lrrr.,l J r'o-,i, ,t,,ic llrttttr tr, ll,
f |thitdi't
llll
rhc BhbtishDcnr
ofsjch
,n dvd,. nt1iir,td
a
liv
it m. tt
AND IMAOINIID WOMEN 15 scc
hta
Mani. 'Contentious TEditionsi Thc Dcbate on S-A|I in ColoDial
i!
Cukutol Clitiq@ 7 , F^ll 198t, ?p. I I 9 56i Mani point out that annual nt sa1i, !omc. vdc c.$ as .nhc. p.ihctic or heroic vi.tins'. Iri thc aomld they r'.a sccn to be 'dominatcd b! Hindu mcn, in thc latcr rhcr }.rc coi
t{ly i llflt I r
rJirn.rs aE r.
1his
Md SrL Hamond$ordr, Pcngdn,
1970,
p
t tlt
irfli0rl
I
A Ninclecrth Ccntury't!L
Ptutalog.
.ll
Ltll
o Oft@l DirouM
.
'h. 36 Thcse an only thc implicn and pc.lups hcrcly losical co.ollans.lthcir rl(r) posnions. Bd $q arc givcn sigliiicanr cnphrsis prccistly drrrgh rh. (L'r $cy nsuc (such d'savohals musr s!.cl bc g{unous, givclt rhc Mnla'cr.v ' political .oBmnn.nli)i this .nticisrr or drc abscnce 01 vdnois n,l,jt1' v.lu arih o, rl'i, I colonial r..ounis n not ro ar$c cnho rhar $onc! 'licd vay crdoGc rdrt. Irom my pcspcctile, thc pracri.c sas and r.nran$ ii,.l 130)r'n slronld ftcrclbrc b! n'dt trntrrL
6l
i-1, N.. N€w Drecrios, r
1965)
1l
mr.,Lil,,
ta.. of \h,ch
Srnroshi Ma
cutt, /t{ruln
ut rtr. risnB
Rr{di'{.t tlr
llF lMtrhh\tr ,'t rtF i, rn"y
\ul,"lr"n' Sp".l. p. l l2
(Il.ni, Con(nlious lnditions'. p
*iJrllJgi;
l? Io llu, ri; r. 28, h.h l, rrli.rl hlli tr n;'dF tiri 'irrl h{li fiflnarfor$c le! shc roE\6 {lllr, l rlr. hh d fiitt ot hfl sotd.nud ro be eu:md $dr
]fini's long and nndcat !l ndn r,
thc Subaltdr Spcak? F. 123. Rd, r of Srn"ur'. ! ?ai 33 Spivak, Can tnc SDbaltem Spcah? p. 122. 34 Mani. 'Clodtcntious Tradidons', pp. I52 3.
$ stndl. r ,
rlrl,n, (Ncw
hl.ul.+llrllrrr
32
fmdudto. ot
gru*
*rf,9t{r\ Itdnv lrl[viour sd ,(anaU'! dj\e nsonr JHr!|l ili- f,"rll,N l\t srtih ,addJnh rfran! a wd
iddition to 1hc No.Ls :n.eady .n.d. scc also Cavari Spivik, "Ih. Rati or sL An [sr] i! Rcadn)g drc Archn\:. Htt atl IhbD 21.3, 1!187,pp.1217 il 27 N!!ni, 'l ]l lbdudioD ol an ollicinl Discou^. , t)P- 32 3. '
3l Spnat,'Ci. 3, Sp . .1. ll,"
llnludar, dtc rdition ofboth finau and Mustim om ()p. 301-2). w@s's !fttusion (purdah) {tlr pnrrri io bc rinL r.i l. wlihfl'r crrcfd ouial'6oti""
, Adn |t
h
30 Thn paragr?ph rnrmdizcs palt of
300
f {8, $lt ll), rlx.I,hrmbt" i" -.ia.*a uv o".,,i."r Fdll$ 'idrdl rc{ I'u ! b::: , :. il ,. 1,$
Pp- 15 3C
28 lbid-, p-
hcr,
nne,
Inlroductior by nB. Bradley-Bi't and . Dc, roMrd by R.K. Das Gul,Li Dcnn, Oxford Univc6ity Pre$, 1980. 23 Saved' js includ.d in a .< .cnot\. Nanti and Ah6 Stoftt, Dclhi, I'lacnrill.t This qDodlon appcan on p. 210. All funhcr quoudotu arc lionr rhn cdnnr, 24 AmoDs thsc, Nandy's.sen cnrd nirolt, is d impor{anl onc. 25 A slisn$ dill(d1 vcNion oa tl]n nnalysh of,.l"rdrnli Jdtd appcds ir nrv snl,i Aatj', rtu rdL J,utut af Oidiin 3-2- Sprins 1990. pp. I 28. includcd i! ttn \, 26
lfi rlnutdcr In th" r-* si- Ji. .i. ods b Ghblish t -.r' r,v.r,...r,. i,
&! ad ft. |alluiaAt of kidM M b 700, M +vi*"a r a,.,i-1" 'lIN ,lr .rlm ,'f sidow.btmos appcri o rraw Uni !i0llld'r lqc ftllqodffi'*8.r,*. wl," J,, ' tl"! txmd" or.;;,.;;-;;; 'di.i.i' I Etn..lnr. or lMriulq (P. t5Z)_ truddM in |n. al 100 to ll00) Iod ro Jr. gt-if-ri- ot -ilib.y ujtu*, 5 dnlm mcn wr'o f;;h rc!., ,t l-*i,l -a *-Muslim flllir lndrndr dicd (p. 247). During
dr nnletcd in drc !cxr. f,Aa. o.[
rh@,ies or coronia,
58,6". ",^,,p. 35.
ryrnholL
nl di||t| .n
ofut n r, Violcn.c ald Pr) N.v DcUt, oibrd UsirtBity Pres, 1982. PP. 7 8 22 ]tu !U"r is closcsl in plot oudine 1o Walt r S@d's balad 'ltrhiN?.'. lL l dching oudaw rcrcucs h6 nisr6s drb.li.alll in rhc nick of dmc, Thc dillir brsccn dcarh aid m"Tirg. ae. or,our*. rsr6unr. hxr ri' ,linor' ^ *, Sd Pffi af Ha,) Itun ftuM Diu,ia: A FagDthh Anglo'ln!; Put \ tu d.
pp. 27
ln
rlduokd
ulftnl Tcxts ,nd a q.idquc of Impcnalism', Cili.nl Inaui! 12.1, i\ pp.243 61, csp. p.24.1. Al pagc relerences to funhc qtroutions lrt
Ashis NaDdn Sad:
'"r"., r
I 0w x rn of qn$ n wu Ddiod,. Ther.h,,,; irt,.lrt,r" .'r'"iri" i'I'JJ-"5iff r;";#;17 I llaI lrFrlr, lairr!.. lla {s poirim Diri- dr .'f @b w6 @ t[e wh. .
l'hree esey
2l
otr
d bt n$
N.ncy l€i{ton, 'Um2G)ldns rhe coloni.l subjrd: subjcctivitr an.l drc Fcn,n. in 1hc Norls ol llom Annie Srcel and Anita Drsai', pap.r prcsrmcd at th CoDvcnlion, 1988. I a'n ghtcfDl to \ancy Paxtoo for D,ling rhis lapcr avan
1985,
29).
O dhnI||rrl by ilic qclusion or'hcr husband. rhe md rI0 dlcr. Sl va danes dr knl@ (Ihe dane_ or
.diti.D
"
20
r
0,
li.ilJi'1, g,l.lli l!rll7,
71rl
Suan makes lhc t'ns ofhcr lor.lty c\?lcn: I takc no medt for my str nclvc yca^, lor I lo\r her .. . brt tNc aDd faithful *Mcc gi\cs nc nght r,
l9
lll
l)ll'
bc'victimtcd bt rcligon
t7 Charlcs Dickens, Danrg
tr, l0ll,
lll{t, , n, lxtl, i'*l Ii llflr r,
(p l!9). l6 q, " Kumlum s'ngan.'\\I r V Lt-. i T.{' Li'.?D-.!ap"r drli" d r " . on Dnglish SLudid in lndia ar ltn?Dda Housc, Delhi Unirc6ity, in ,\pdl ll to
romc violcn' Hindu si{crhood or c.rr-
lllllrllonr Epcnl?' p.
!
'
Ii
d
Madu6i
"nd
or p6"rry
thhlr rltx{h i illlli.$,r, rDorc pc^onaliad and iiumar. I lnil l'[ rr l[! otllle oh hcm nn.n' xo,l, lhc 'n(mbc6 Thc movem.nr Itr{|,l+'r.flrh, Fr rh r, d rnDuchabt.s. b.s, n Fqlh rx xr tlx, lltrtrt th,{,t,tr , rnd con,inurd tor w.U over a
ll,'n' r' tr{l''r rtrmu8ro d,c counrrv. I am iFl 'utx10 'r,,;.*.u7.;.," I nlr r Llli'll'l, rseS, *o."i, ar.,rr, "n I lrn ihxrl llr 'lrh t '.'x',,l!hi (,r{iia y ro anct6 bv Madhn lli.lt, I rl, A I\ x r,,h'li,n,, i kira ro c"d rn d.; \to,h"f
.hl F
lr0ld
ftrlf
lll, h,n,'Il, thc wnt,t t't' tlt 2'r.
nr,,l ll' u,rrl',
oa,r!.Bt,,,r,un in 50,rh
REPRI]SENTINC SA'I'I
.1'
.Thc wodd of th. Bhartin" pp. l8 Sf'+Ev1$/, Mahadcli (scftrr c.nlury
*1
ics:
?9. Thc KaDnarla po.r
3
^D)
so m],lnrd, !,r.r . :s:-":.--. i. ., ,ur'!r,d Takc thesehusi,.uds vho dic. dcc.,,
(IEns- by And
Mn
, thc Rajpur
mpc and
sAzi?s o/ Srd. Hannondssl
fe
minism
pri@sFr!
I wi! d.g I
A.K Ruanujan,
AFTER RAPE
sil
oa
Doth.
Gixrccnth ccuu.y) asrts: (jirdhar [thc lord KrishDa]
r
siti.
50 Scc Ramanuian, Taljng ro lid . D. t4. 5l Klshwar, 'lnurduc6on', p,6
donain ol listo.y', wh€re
dift!&r,
s
a.c anriburcd ro .r!.
I laa.rod politic! bur impticared in th@. It ; it l!lul(! in thc mE.iturjoo of ri. sed $lhd nod}od uncovcB. My inwsrisarion in lhr t'{F rynd rromln !s fi. .ir':"",y\*j* -a
!A(1 olhisbncal .t
lllqdrdt .l
!Ol!!
l,o
lll 'lhtl wlr
d'c poctic! ofnanati!€ as weti
s
a
a'd &cir.riddsm.ar
llRltlr d dK 'l'lir(nlurc cotnparatilr Derhod. I inrcke two irr (l?{fl) in.l ,{ P^Ms. k :nrlia 924| whdc rqn rrl tlr firulc prcLagoDisr. I atso sele(dvery I ftu 4t th o'aa n;,a s',i, LIe7 r), nil;;." I
ld
llxl,lrn.rlrl
Crlrhril! film, Ttv Arb.d ^ji";\tg8},, to Annirlcrn 'fcminisf naoadves of l e [xrnry rly letntirynnrour, occuplng ditrerenr histon;a].
|rr{1,'r'r,'l1ih hc'cros.*ii, r.i,"^ ,r,.
"*i",.,-ot H illltht I hr'trrl rlNnnric. rhc ,cp,eynLalion l I lhl {trr t rrl nnrrarlvc, r,r'd rhc dfir,;nr poliriq r,,a(
nilrlhtt ltt tlr r'' x lftlhrt kcrirnr, I draw rorrhry rhesc $ lhr ltllr rnt'r t0 rclinlnc ir wirtrnr rh; potiric ol
"
RDAL AND
LIFE AITER RATE
II ,dluradhi RManan
is a
wil.r ofhtrjon. bod, shon sr..;. daci ro.a . Tmit mdSrines lpubti.hcd n-n,tl in .e rJr ,,
prolirr
ror I opurtr mds-.ir.ularion
Tanil \adu. in Soufi lndid,. prison.ti^r apper,.d in onc ot rhcsF n.dg"z,n,l /ln@do nhk -;n 1981. d dre priz.-winMg rnrD in a shor, rro^ , omp-dtion. it \ys subscquently fiined, and then included in aq anthology ot Rahanar s 'PrisoD' is a posr-rape lrdative concemed to show how thc fenale proagonin, Bhasidn! swivs the Iear and hmiliarid of hd l"i rrIE ty . sbGequ.nr abandom{r b) he, hucbdd Bh"si,"i,j'_;. .""-i..,,'a .;,x ,i!.\; . in Tamil \adu a rhe l8.vear{ld bridc ot ftr inptc pri.$ R,BhupJr}u. Sl. .arches $. €1€ ofAnthmy, rhe rich and Etish vilhg; l-ar".1 *l,i i.i-"ai.O. ploh ro arh her zion.. Thp srory brgnB hi. casl. in"ohnr Ep" o llhdsird,hi. in brcad ddy[ghr. ar . dn. $.hrn"ndr thr pneq is onrrinS pra,;tr.,
sheked ad fightene4 reb hc hust and: prctecrion. He sI,uhs .h€rBhsiad;, nr egq, dd walls ou1ofrhe hourc, ns€, ro return. Bhagirarhi $ de{ th€ sFe*, b€mes a bryord a a fals uolle.
r dFc;on. Shr g@s ro An*onyt hou.e, amoun.e, rh., BoinS to live rhcre. and forbidr him b rou.h her again Nen fiough h.
She thrn rcm.s to
. sI. i.
ha alfrndy
raped her on e. Anthony is stuntred ed remo^"ru. at Lher oM LivingquafleB and hcr own i ooking urcn.:.
t^i"i.,*,
he,rnhsR lor hcrro hd.
AJier somc ycaB he r.mon.rares wi$ hrr ar her.onfin.d F{s(tncr. an.l 6nr. find hcr hcl,nd fur h.r. Sh. no(ks b6 naivcr), rd hsisrs rhdr Lc 16 mu) shdr ld punisbm.nr her ondnuFd p!.setrLe in his house wil be hn bdc lhey sp€nd Lb;rr) )eB in l-hi5 t&shioo, livins in fie she hou\€- hrd \ uJknq io racn orhcr. Shc p'oudly goes .vary da) ro rh. riva ,o c., h h-, c\
sdr.r. Lrnynr rh. viltas-i rrunr. Anrhony tcavp, mor,. ,r.d n,.re ot rt . manaserns,l olhis lands to hc!, dd she is mericutous iD her dcatings. He is x Cl,rj"rDn. dd !h. a Bnhmin. Bur shr pla..5 nowB rv..) day ar hi! .hnnc J 'h.\'ginMary H"r pr.,ern.inhi\hou.cintnb,bhisdrinkingandwomrizir,q finally. Ard'ony [6 iL W]o h. so.s inro a ft ot co,ghi;s I, -d siop* a basin ro spir into rhere is no auendant - Blugirarhi hd.; him ;"j otrc, Hm.dlc basin, speabng her first direct words ro hi; in aI rheir years toelthcr llc i" hnv.d dr h.r oFrr ot scryi.e bur con\idc6 hmsetr un$dL\v;r h., Anthony djes shonly thdcaftcr Hc has lctr
h.r
his housc and enough
oonr\
'o liv" on .nrrorublv Th" r..r ofhis wcdll Socs to orphanasr". Ar hb d""r., Bhaqirdrl,i fJiz, s $rr h. h4 , dFd moR, for h(r rhan rhc hu\band who n"d.
hs ,nnrid€. \os ro h, r Sl.. rJk.s orh.r,r,/i.tbc symtJot otm-maq.sn.,. rcrnd rh. nc,k. and tla,.s n on rlx. bu ot ADlhony.s g!h. Bdrcr Lo ti\. ;.: h.Jn$ oi Ar 'honv rhdr. rh. wln ot R.,Ft,upnrtri, rhc d(cidc,. Sh" tr. do\ qLrpnr{, Ln nouflr him.
IMAGINID WOMEN
Th€ qu€stion rhat nresistibly ofe6 itsetf ir: what impeb Bhaginrhit ecial d ,exual rbellion? rl.hoos to read .prison' a rmin;"t t"ir it i. ;n ,pitl a rcmplcrr absene in rhe story of an) feminj., ^ roluro". ro rr,c is,e of ,.1p.. )on8 the pssibiliris tha( rh. srory ,angrs ov.r on brhaX ot Bh"Fnll], he, hry rulide. htr retun Lo h.i mp$r. or her r.tmation by h.r is. on fir .onrrdry. nor ev.n a sugeddon of rcoube ro '}ler 's groups and their sr-aregies ol resistarce. nanl"nm dcs .ot consi.jrr I,an a tivisr womcn s grcup mighr hrw provjdpd BhaFrurhi wirh teg"t aid lhd she highr prcscutf, hcr bpisr or se.k our hrr husbdd ro.laim mc: fro-Il himl Nevcrthels, a ceftain febinisb (heft, wsrm ub_
sraal .od.) i! impri€d in dy #c& d,erigious -9inl,'ltbj'ild' ) the lndiar soqat conl.xl. t fiis {,udm R-naEn giw; fi.
and re$u@s td coping.nrir€ly ro Bbagjrad,j d.!sh slr i, iprcducr a culrur that larsrty oesal.s u;ua_i* .d ;ui.,so -"dr.*ri -y subordiMk Dle for wmm. Nc€dls ro add Btaghd,it
rbrlli;us
_enErEl)
haritde to do h modem sxud tib€rarioL Bur rJlit.e ad socian; shc i& B}d€iEdd sriX Ftairo bq idendq a . srpftu .a,rF '-hough
.Td,&q.r l ro inrihidare hq dd dlen inro l@ding a tih
hptuL fr6 i,!ro of drsdry wrh h4
a.eptiry her iD hjs
rDsc aJr n{o ircnie he'e. Thr 6Dr is dEr a BEhmin is Mk by defiridon; *"T3 is ncirle! fornary inidared inro dre rites oi etehood, lYi*, do6,she folow.at'y scpaElf, pra.des of Bnhninhood 6.rpt a, rhry e b her connertioD wilh rhe nale Br"tnnin. A BbJmin i" bom inro hil a Brahmin rcmn is bm his daughrei ,Bialunin wolne, s a deri€d
it is t}rcugh layins clajn ,o onr or, he $aodad
prao6
Bmhninism punq thd, BhagiErt |tcues hcBaf.h. On rh. Frcundsor dra, co aninaad orh?Mir, she .omm4ds her oq l_ivin8 qualr.s rndsheh.rwould )&ng urffins. tud fer(h.s hq oq warer. She .@s An*o,y. ^q po."rf,t r he! in €rery orher way, by assening her supenor @sre-status. _o* .l he semioti.s ity bctu furlhtr lcruriny. We t o,.ri U,t in tlr;, Sruadon BhaSi; "ot"" .?ldTd of purity {@ste) to modiq, or disptac; eorhtr (ienale l-.-,: t, b) ctaimina ror rhe .romo hish., ,ar;q and;rcadd scial impon. zi rcuN rh. .omphxitv or $. e.El proeduB b) which borh :sre 'nto female chutiry are ;n\..red wirh po$er. ti"gi-di pt.y, on.^. .g"i^,, other
r,rl.
REAL AND IMACINI]D WOMF]N
LII'D ATITER RAPE
Bnhmin..infucne in the resion, rhe DEvidian politicj panies harc rheir earry ideorogicar strussres for arh ::::::lyl !,".d "d2 Frori., " :.*,1"r-curture. r€tiondrism rincxier po:,. ) r;i ;; *"; rien ycaA ia,qcr) ro.r rr,eir";;.;_""ily;;" ro,,". n" . ,pi,",a ::.r:Tli:, " ando*_mobirirv or ."".0,,r,,,i" i,.,p, r._ ;*:iJ1".,,
r;,;;;;.;
precisely, Sanstrjdrarion r
Bui qhrie
i. ,h. to(u, ot rh.s" "uprrior vdlu.\.,
Nor
in fie Brahmin
ofher
lvish lo chpl.a(ir dL, onJ. rh. , qr1|gxy,ri., g,,}mnism .1 u trd icminir 1-"1"_y1.""1*"d,*.rur rroq R,jmna ro 8tur thasiEtni a,.s
*"*_sl" 5.*:. rT:',* "",**",* r*ai, .o,n "T;,trJ"*:.li o,.us" .TT*1. -i-",r",
Bhasirarl)j.s n.gorrd
r€iutt *" t.g"nau; hF, op.a .,
"rai,",.d,,.il"
;#";::: i:ff;gill:"1i*.j*.f; :: T9:9 vioratFd woman";;; rh,oush ,ymbori. dra,n ,;;#;; J;
Xil:: g::,1i5,:: T:1::i. ,ri.is ornpr o arrmpkd mp. rr,. *;a i-i.;";,,i *-"n
-;., ;:" ;J;"; ; ;;"il';::';;, t-g:gi\c"r,;.r, T:"-".:,T"1. r+nrq rnlo so.ry Bhdgjrarhi no rca"on,o supIlos dEr she ld d
squal s@s with inpuniry. _
.N?wn}lrlcs.
ot ,t,rs. p,o, p$.. or ,.xudt violrrion
,e{
o,d..
*':,' r:,,r ,hf \orrn \,rn u,,d, ,!. rr.cm Ar,ary" .nd s,,d b,., :::111 dd Inuhphdt adunu ,,r..., o! husrJdd-wor$iI,: ,t, ,;fl::1a1.f""i:*":d,\ ha*.,,.r. F,ajn-d"ie,r_, u po*".r,i ;a_roei",r r,ora'o.
r i, ;;;;;:H: -*, i,..,r,,, ;rt:;J slto, Ls,aihed.ar t-hr Hindu bouGeoisic _ fiFr rh. rchaD,s Ftum ro h.r mD drn rh€ Brahhin *.-",'. -r-.r,i,"i." *,r,; l;;;;,;.;;"J:'; :,i *ry,s endiDs. wheD Bhasira,n ur",pr,.-",J-a, i ::::.:,^*.I-l*:ti.l'1" .ii;;; ri f:'";::::,': :::lc, :I h" dzft hrr symrr.r d ;".,,s.. .)mbor or pr,.,i..r _a":;:,' *-"r *",. H::::.:,liil,:o,n'r,,ar,pd.n, co.ro,naing .-,;!. ,"p" ,i,. :".";;J:;. :':;;-;ii..1-Jj:, ttint'r.nacrMron n,.. r, .
q:mndLon bvlh' h"le. ".a dDd EpF
*
,
h.m.nnr) viotenr ab;nation, bur ho,tr d^ ,on!,nsa'ed b). and en(njti,., . rh. m.ni rF.ponsibiliD to, rh. wom.n. .t hr ,]trfr'Er dd $mtuhJr , L, hcd phmi. derinsr 5.ruat doubtp sranda,d) Jt"o a mnr. cohpt.r iuducmenr 6r,t" ,i, --,h.,,.i_i"e,n d, inran( jl:.:o:1 wno .omm, .d d h.n,.n, . Inlt\. J,,d lu. , tni.h"d hr .rrr .in, e wi(hou, r,r
:":,
Bhagirathi adopts as .ircumstdces wananl theh, with the goat, a1 one of m€re slaival, but at another thar of $cial jntercgafon .na
I foregrcuqding and deplolmenr ofhe. c6te and mrirat identities howcret built upon a hanscendedce or oblrcrarion ofAnthony,i sexual
-
::T-_ :. -:luorarion i, ,his wq She ,hnn,Iry w,u' ntr sxud ",, ."ir'aosy. :]jy1.11o,"r'f l,* ch^t,v li.a, O,-*fr .o-"n forced to shblsh their
a womd withoul a matr. Wnn/sdow. umhmin/no! are alterDaling ed opposcd slaks dd jdcmitics ";ttqu"
insqibed via thc .risis in .are iden;tu
rhc .ward"
widow',
miq proteclion/autonomy
,rsph.r5: n n p,Fcj.cly
lus ehs, I:Tl1j:1'l',n:,,1".-i. empr,*"s r,.t*i ,r." i-r,m B" tl8 c@rel:t of d id€ntity oisis. rhe ser Tq*1T!l' m ,prison. or 1]sl]n'.*iu*in idcorosjar ,"u. r_," p"ut_i)*.,"j rpind , e re rl,p sp2nrion ot rh. Brahmin womdn tiom;;:;ffii rhe arahmn 9raT:E:.a ,ruiaj hjs,ori.dr qr?.,^ ;;;.; ;;;d;;;:il;:
that th€_Fpe of his wife
a1.r po,i;i,
tctation ofrctum .. .!' As long u rhe identity of.wife, allows her ro hainlain the identity of'Bralhin womaD' ed drus create a zone ot safety, she holds , ;t. But with Anthony's death she ca rcpud;re rhis idcnriry and become
d
;;#r.;l;.;,1
Instead BhagiEthi pre@1s
hrftlf
to Anthony
a
rhe
woma
woman who srood before hin gzi4S $ ficrery ... l€ rhar a 's gee -.. how l@ ir rhat he !!dnr tatlen bcforc il editr? wone he had .aped had der @mc ro srdd ar Hs d@r lil€ th;s w;th a euc tbar pifted lil€ a spca'.
Ram.ant framg the fenate lictim of rapc-nar*irt brume ttre ofa scoad nzrratiE, scipred by hd, lhat e!.aFs pasl mdets otrercd
e nanatives ('no woman ... had €rr ...). Bhagirathi ffir ,Ios b forget that the defining acr of their rclationship ir his Epe. Her ht thruting of her tJlen sratu upon A hony resutts in lhat forEgrcuniting, texual dififlen,iJ'$ar Cayarri Spivar hd emphei/ra in he, A,"u*ion mped woman. lhc eponwou\ prcragonis ofrhr srory.DEuIudj: an z.r trs h€r for her enehy into a 'pow&tuI .\ubjmt,", .a tcriE ing superobjecf.? identity of a 'raped wonan, rlEt Bhagjerhi embrac€! is not base.t, it b€ empharn.d, upon ! (oDv.nrionat aetplanct ot rhr b$ of rh^rity. &d by tfie dinuulion ol lull @manhoo.L Rmamn ar(M Bhagirarnj to tny
an appropriative. revisionary r@dins of
$e rclisjous texrs of Hinduisn rerurns hdte from rhe i* rr," rr,",r,L*,
ly to he. siluation. l\h€n Raghuparby, thc p.i€sl, he is
mmuring
the openins
i"-;d*
Pulrle dah, Pu@m idznr, pmat pul]]m uda.yatf Pum)a pu'ndm ad4€ pumd flavaislzr. flhat is ful! ard
th;s
;
rull.
Out of that e1erul whnl. Sprinss ibrth rhis etemat whole And when the whole is 1at€n trom the wholc. There still renains the conplere wholc.)t of Godhead d a tuetaphysi.al ptenitude is raler by Rahanan of huhan, including Gmalc, sclhood; and she finds encrion in arr rh. r-\r-r. j,,i. .-. ;-i.i. i:.-_. .. _:. :._:.1 ou. -r.. 11.rrri '$a, .dn bc losr. or a a ., ompon. ot.quat in,Fgrii'.r'Plecd 68
i:
RDAL AND IMACINtrD !\TOMEN
I,ITIt AI''I'I'R RAPE
'l'ltorrgl
rhc Idcnrlty tl)al
Pn%r/pubU.. ddgtr/
Blzgirarhi rerains/ador
J.-il'::';" i' " I ::,:fi , :;i :lu:"** ::-*l;: l;;;1#, u,ivr boundd*. n* -ruil. ",,j, ::r,jcn
,,
;
h
:-f
.f ilfill,..,l ,tt ,r'" p.oa*.na
;;l
a.rgate io..", ,. n., _ !'a@me5'orii' :;" !l-'".rro ,;.,1" orr" r-a,1.i,ii""il"'ir
'* ;;t;#i"t,#.i,:ij:" *:;:[t..::; :l rj*. l:: t*;T1., bec€mi1s ascond ab donn-,. s,,.';
iJilii;ljJ:[1:
""-pi*."l power a, pre.ir,y, An,r,.,,1.,,ra""r 4,,*Ti"Y"n::-.-ny.: Andon). rorF in.',e.Lh,*a. r--, pr","J..i, r, i'.#Jl: i):;1. L. D) her. hr5 s in acdve retmaboD wt,o;e mod.l
;::";T.*."J.I;: l;:r,1;::,::y;:"'::;;';'j5#::';,ff ci,-""".". :rtuacy di*ald by ,liir,"jfi::li:1il?, "..".^ri" o,,h: vrsjd * iJ,*,:*1":ij*:*9:,-1" reradonship .t.. virsjn i! ;, .r, _i.i. .,. .i u, "d il;; 'o ff.], :J,. is
hjs
::l.l1l ^.,ljj1*'*5 k r .umprrx
lo
"j;.
nerar. al poinrd ou
cd,Lcr, nor
v' !rr-
r,.*. a".r,.,":.
yrrc\
rorms oi
ri
."-,;;;;;;;'i:,:,11"'l::.i":l:
;J::::: Hjndu s-,p,. R*-- ;.jj, *1, "' lowFr.ar EPa',ry ot rhcf orisinal u,. ia-u*,,,
Pan
rrf r'rcNp"
d
r,,,, r"
"",,-n-tl,i" ,' ;::.1,;;;;. "1;,;';T'":.il:'i 1,,l, l":l lill; i; ;:l;l:,,-, i. ,lrd
rld idrclosic.j nruflur..
. _l] ']Er in andsrra,n. a8ains, it5.ondrucdon ol
,1,d,
*""1 *"* L.".,fi !.,11,",,,i*"''" rca,rr.,.a,c,lan tibcralizing. mod.hizjnS
'r
'T
rt...,vn.t,^r1, ot,..ar,\ !..r,.!
Lhc raDc.r
,)';ft i il*1il"f
di..our.c ot .l.mini\m..
-l'
,;' l;
ddnger. in bu$ jo^ Jnd ,.ri,L.i!h. , ,0"..,,,n* t,.9,,,t,., r,h,nln lnd'vjdudlish., Hcr , hoi, rs rdnr,or ,," ,1,..,t* ,;_..a . qohd. she yek. nor indi p.,,dc,,, ^ ,i^,,,i,, r 1,, -.r. p..",,i",,. ,^ " Fpudukr "..,,1," hrr.idenrirv * R,st,upa;1,).. *i,." i, ." ,.,.r. "r.,. :nF
-r, -ao"., .r,,. .nio,.", ADrl.ori.., tur. t, t,",, ;\r tr hq onjy.' rh. (o,r oftdyng w.sr. ho 'owa,d. *,,,, r;., ,1-" ,,i, .r, suLcerds rn securing her stety ".. and p;rjry onj\ b! c ,ucru,\ po,nE ou,. 'dnca lri'rr"i \rrrh^,' dsrqnruon ot-..Anrhony.s
br'inins\edudr desisnation,. BhasiErhi is ,ap.d
i, \,rc.pra,., " ;t ;;; ff;; - rony entes -..;a.,.a"*,. '"iii;;; .as .p": whrch A, if he oMed i1,. Bhas;athi heBerr :^:j,::y rTsllolN hom. Iptradok.dlt)
:";i*:j.:t,1.,Ii]1.:Tll i;.1:x,il;.
a.
ndppinq. he' hird piUo\ed on drp 6hhotd.. and tr h z( thF Anthm! lom... ThF lhr.hotd is. ot rou,s". l]rc opcn spdcc $ar .hr:hold .ontound, insjde of$e houy w;rh ,r'" ,rr,., i., -p.. shasiEdj is. LircEI). -"ra.. rorrd ,o sp.nd ,he ni;hb i' *. p..r, .r r,i, :ljind, loclFdnoce. Il",::. wohdn. or rtrr r.mprc courla,a .p;es shr h ft bolh wifiin hekins her oq DdctEmiadrF subjed_s66. rTl ot the ry*",*. idJ€. pbnouDe hd e wgrol a wrDn .of lhF sEee{s., rhf rha, _ushl
tg-
erded. ti!@al
tFtrul.
rl6rnt.
l.";.
a b%ry tor .good girls.
Ile discoxBr ofcim and punl,lm inonibil fores,our* &c .on..pt l]Dsn a lhF mc,r.rarid of dk indNidu,l wtu€dr in &e i ff6b 'c rc l2r8Fr,rodal 8tod. 8u' BhagiElhi: tut y mro prdah d6 tut ft inro
-
rnoral scheme
r+nt'} inro lhc dohesd, \pJr@ i5 pdromed as an -: .:o or di*er dispf m,e. Hq eopario, or 1::':1, Wacr ll*',.'r rhar E desjgDkd purdah. d rn. innd rcoo", rs u to- .r ,woman's L conqu.st. Purdah, in certah $slem femioist ana1rsc6, has L€n .:.9. *.*tu1ioq, jm\s,my, g*i,r -,,;r",i"", p* l*the il:lj: beatins or and wo-*: her
*i*J,"l"iw.r"t.^
sids
ur.
"r .,r,. * cr"J- r,aor-,y r,^ ."g,"4 T is....de-ay*.. ^1{l':" pli* .d my.urrural and hisbnc,J sped.i.iry. and ]:-"] eorcntiarr) subremre aeecs i**,ri,, i.l2ly :dT::n: ouL_ ln id 'Pri$n fip qpericn, e of pur.lah i\"r,r," prLirt1 rwin.n"^ir r.ms
, tortradii
rioro
and ib,.;;;
s occupdri:n or rhe inDer
l:iuxa p.egF
of uatun jun
;;.;. ;#;_;il';;*;il :.il:
rcoru .onhne, a",r,o"y
a fis
expuHoD Fom he,
. ,r," r,.I i", hubadi hou
t ailo hs disippahnF in,o z nrrp.rua_t diapoE,. Bh?Aint,i\ An$ony: hohc i.-. y,,.ay r,;. ..ii i",. ,-i" - " *"-"' enrll '""" lIl}ler. BhagiErhiFfuy"s lil.mt",ihpEsnmenl. ristinS jrubli, rxpt]ffir\eD rhj ryc.',o re,, h q,".. n*. n*"*, pi"* *r p;vare/pubri. i^oln,c_': and ubr@ehDrudvp ,_^ .d. &,"gio,],i :l . pubu. lll:, T-^.. ". figlm in Lhr snDx viua€r , omhuniry, is irotu."l" *rHjl" r) s korun , and is h,dp ui lJlr luuri, subi., I o, or nodo ribdld specLlaton specutarion rnd od rumour. rumou. p:.ar. mlrcrls rh. lrultl.,hF chtuh trladonship or$e man ::as,a 1l1.T l" 1. modFm fcharp BiaLnswu. th. a*"roi^.,t or female semrood
y
,
Ii",,,d8,, c"pror6 rr,e.,,nccpr of rtrc _ bn\on. ,,,."*.a,,.,
r,i.r,",,....,,
pure/poUurd.," Rjmand ddon.uacl5 rher
*- -"r,
Cli..'.tr,od.d b\ RMad&-" , soM. a oppGcd ro mqctv n trsiou|crm. it, '. sou$ rDdir dr, fd ,r,.,,^,, "s-::',r]]_Er rrr5r p." ron!'rb ,.,,"," Puritv-
dd\.
-
.:oo,:olT.'"
as the
*:' ).."," ir ;i"iau,r,,;, ia"no.y rhroush $ciar i\otdrion b,ouehr oD by,rr. srishd;r
:T-a**. imprcprtery *, sr,,"i.,r.ii t
*.-pi" .ri.**"-.,, a*",
r^.". rp,,Fs4s - build, Don suct d potdiry ot pri\arr in,"gri,, "nd . ,-"".,j"**
p;";;l
_'1, ", " H;,;,iEs T.er]- EastcLoq ;onfidc.tty ascned, for , that 'a nodern Clarissa wo,ra .ot ""-a ,. a;"; r"**e ot tne a.ces
t.!tl:. t.liri.: .fti:'!irisn.
;"J;
I
LIFE
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
AFl''R RA}E
to the help fiar women's sroups would extend b herD Viclimhood, in such an aryumcnr, also prcvides the female subjccl wnh she would (presumably) havc
acce$ to a sensc ofcollective gendered idenity bascd upon a shared opprcsnr, In the absencc of such org.nized resistance I have poinlcd out ho\ RamanaD nlcs out such a rolution within thc tems ofde nafrtive's discoftsr (its sctting ;n a small tural comnunity, unspecified past 1ime, makcs ttris enti.eynatu.al') a tenuous indi;dualjsm shapes the fcmale subject's resisranc. Ideall), this sellhood consritutes for thc fenale subjed existential fredom, spacc for gro$,th and .hange, a fuil 'inner lite', and somc acces ro power, €ven end, d a cosdy or slf-ddating v€dture. Cl@rly, the.xercise ofchoicc onnor
- dd
i. o
ilir
be a sum.ient .ondition of a w@an's frcedm when her choices
an
borh
limited and scve.ely detemined. I have thcrforc tricd (o shs how the fehale proagooist of .his T:mil sho slory nust botll deploy hcr'suPtriol ide ity d Branmin somd ed foreground hcr abjcct destiny as raped womaq how shc is complicilous in a pohics of c!sr, as w€ll as isolalcd by the brule ralila ol raFej how slt./aord hc pri$n as wdl as chess a /Em Thc .laims of a enain 're*nn' do not p€mit more rlun dris evenjanded di(;budod ofgainr ad losrcs for fie oppresd femal€ subj{Tr witlin dr short story's n@tive mode- Nevenhd€rsr trhe politics of the (ory its ircny towards od polcmic against sual noraliry, its overt pur?osc to rtl@r1 /? ,o!.s@d; results, indtably, in a wlo.ization of Bhaginlhit irdividualisric, ev( n antiscial, will to suNivc. A feninist dtical enterpnse is .herefore obliged. den wlib it is coBtandy aware of fic sroryis balan e of fo.ces, to stlareeically privilcgc its jncipient ulopian gesturc tosards drc rc.lamation of th€ rdp.d
III ID Samu.l tucbardson's Cla*sn 11181, and E.N{. Forft.'s A ?6.'qg, ro ,rdn (192.1), a iD Pdsn, .ape scnes as rhc allcsory' ofothd political encoumrrs
ln C/z'$a dr. main .h&a.rcs
are also anlagotrisrs in a dcadly class srruggll:i
lid;d rl\t:\ racial oppoDcnls in fic coldial conflict. 'l\.lbdral, protzgonist br:l:@c drc^ft vi.tin of rape as fruch beces of her mcmbtnhip oi h.r carc/cla$/race as bccausc of hcr scxual idcntiry: we hight eveD say firr slre is lc$ the obje.t ot sexual dcsirc dur thc scapcgoar in i lagcr sfuggl. ,,1 in,4
Pa$og,
ta
her author\ sympathies aher hcr rape - figured within rhe text by thc itude ofh€r lover's friend Beford, and replicared in cri.ical pmctia by dre isdship ofa host ofcritics. A heroine s totally laken over by authorjal aDd sympathy has no scope, o..ecd, lo develop any sclf-asertive dimesioD. In contrar o Richa.dson's lakeover of Clariss Hdlowe there is FoBleis rcpudiation of Adela qucsred after shc prcduces her account ofthc attacl on her She drops out ofthe mrative after the errnt only to much later a a reduced and disorienred witne$ for the p.osccurion. linitcd interest in Adela Quest€d ; rQli.aied by nosi crirics of the For FoBtcn it is th€
fdale
rditlt'
0l@ Ms Mer,3) whi.h hs the b6r
ofdeveloping interpersoral Elalions in the olorial siruarioq blt b€@use rea1,t (Ad€la qi.st€d't dr€se relarioro la als br jeopadiad. The vi{hin IeminiDity b.rwe€n s$ibiiiry ed eF tity t€lults, intdtstiry:y, in
Momt tundjm :&er tlle Marabd cas €pi$de. Mr tFllfu iD thc eres vcry.imita to Adrla\ fan, iX, de!€lops a icd hnosyny, di6 ed tu a:tFrheDsired in a se*x of dewtoFr€nts mre surceacy of M6
ore sufles a
reifcation of female viclimhood is a famitia prcccdue in the firion of nal€ novelstd(oe has only 1o dri* ot Hardls Z'$ aj. te d'u,ttuiLhs, Cabworthy's hene I'orsyde n ne hot t).b,)l thai is reaty tefr fo! womn to do is to fad€ away: Adda, doing lhe 'de€nt thinA',.etncts -Fned return to Cngledj Clarissa, fanscending her body's humitiaLiorL fals iL
M t
at thi same time thd shc bc.omes an €xisbntiat crpher rhe )€d woman also rums inlo a $mbotjc c?use. Shc bcone, ri. ft?resentativc
her social group, rhe very ebbodinc of i$ @U€ctir iddlity. The ra&bs lmbatded positions amud a raped wi)mn,s caure otid n&k a id€nity rfu for a grcup. a\ h;rori€l rvmpt"s dmrty prc...FlTl( worun; net; idotiq which nay bc nor ptupcrly d..scndcd a ]u f in €conony olscxuzl prcpri€ty ad p.olEry-' lre.oecs an modonat'.lion war-cry d the prcludd (o the virrual disapFa.anc oI ttrc lnems of tlt ronan li.lt Though Cldiss ha b.cn atienatd trcm her Gmity for a loDg streLh ,th€ novcl, ontc al1e dics her cous;tr tusl6 ro awtrs. hd in d€ture ofdc honour.[In ,4
Pusase la
Indiz Fotst
r
srbws
B;rfth omdaldom and its
In the tvo noveh, bowever, $c comtlcx idenli(y rb4t is.onsrruded lor rh( rransfomalion al the point ot npc. Clarissa, iloman's perception of I ror l anoihilatioD olse[ fouowing upon ,bc physical subjurntion, .oercion otwill aDd psycholosic,l humiliarion that shc has bccn subjccled to. questions ofyolirnr,. choi.e and agcncy. so ccDtul ro thc.onsri(u(ion of thc indiridualisr;c hunr.nkr;, femare subjecr undcgocs a cunous
.ry 'I aft bul a q?her', cxprcscs a ftpcd
of$c
novcl, arc s;gnir;.aDrly in abcyan.c.r'l Clarisa Harlowc\ scllc\Lindion is codpcdsated by her spccLacular alrsorptnn,
subject
inGnd rhesc obse^,arions on (be subjccrificarion o| tlre rapcd w6man in rljc novels ro
se^,c
ro rhe coDsotidalion of 72
1he
f.mat. rc]f
nr
REAL AND IMACINED WOMDN
LIFD AFTtrR RAPF.
'P;en. Tle succe$ive asuhprion, dmlou ,arhood Lv Bhasim,hi h":;rl;;,h"J;il'li -d ''pudidtion or suPcn^, EpFt. do h4 d,iFhinFd rr ra.r,,..,,,." ,-'::r l':l,r'lf ldtu:n upm 14 o, ,oninii ird,vjdudr;n in .: J;;;.: ;,:f,':l j]lX**,*-' rhorgh Bbaglartx \eeks"jier"-,;", etubou in hd\c 'oa nr.c. rFm,ni$ individuJi.m. u,i. .,,';T:.t.lh'I 'Jlcd r'4
;:::t:,;i
:::,;l: tl:::. nrerar) I,;";;;''--"iti;,*.,,il'lill,Til,J:, iul,, wrrern AEnfts a thpe.tv 6r rr Kins, Lf, a,. i r u"r'.a u-"i,",i l fii"' iffi ., lT:' ;l' T",:')'l 1 -Ha'd'
il*"H,iilL':ln:;U:*ff#i:
remah prcragoan,. in dr dcn undtr the a$ut, or )ape. Bhasimrhji r.uh@d or rdenr,tlcs., both cohstirured and ". tha erased bv subjo L Fusior., "o da,
"-J
.
^,c.
r*Li. , ilii"l,
j;;;;,"J1,.'"''1
in d'e $nder.d
o. ;i,:;;:;:xil."fl1#*:JJ,;'J.ff: ^,,o,,:,* ,ndr*iigui\habte in".s"n;.; such,dcntidesin_n,,, A hn,nlr 'rho'ai6 of lib.raunn . s T.F.. L,r@t,oqr,ro.ounrq thF Imr of ma dinr d. tlurtn }& .audon.d r) desjF ,fr, ;*.,...L"-",t". . Iru. h wl,vu"Tinirr rsr" of rapr mur Jt.o engagr In,exrut smr.!l6 Lo co@'.' ,anl.. d4aminin. ";
su.h n.sotiari@s e a.hid,, ;; $l ;; ottun,rivF htuns ro rhis end is l}tr qru.rurat to@tion of $p Epe incidenr ar Ge , ^or orgrntung ol a womdns sroryJNarative t*gi*i,,g. an.*i,i.,. a._.",.l; r$oD rn. poeuon otrhr Dp. jpne ar dre I d i,5 ,a,.r o-umme rN., z'rcrnauvc arru(Lures
.;, ;.;;.";#:l&:,ffii,1:,tr.f:,",1 , _.r ,,"7".",ji,*1,.ll lll. i:::i.1,::::: :-*91"d n,r,\" rn.er"., \..om." ",",,dJ.pt,*a upun,.t,,
^mnan ^
no atom
il:l"l:l:il;). ;:ij,;::";'
in
dclisturiner
hd,!,.r_dion,o;;;;i"i;fl:
j".?,.,,1#;3::1,1,l,:
L"Fn' aho ,r,"'"1,.
-6
jlr;;::"i,ili;l:.i
ol ,o", ,r,";,,r*
fLdl r. :. ,, .11r.,,, mdrlc.l b) d tr,oni, nn,EUrc r(ahadr abL{vialcs e acou of rhid\ !._
il;;il;;]"Iff
foU-..
r."J .i
,i,
mode rhroush shi.,.
T)::.:.: r, -.";_ounr of ontv r"ur z, ruatJli:;*,:;5;ll::l;: , p'" ::. - -.""".
l,,i o,,lu p"r6
b.;; ;il;; Th. br.qr) urr'e rorv i. ",ro.. ;;;;:, ".rL.J;; I., o{"nnn rh,' dcsir.. i. buitr up"n rhc |rot"ngrion oi s,,0.^; ;j;, ]"c or, T4.ota, t, . i, :::,:_oT:1 rdn: "ih:t",ty ;,,.,",r*,', r",*"j.,. q"n.n, rn.rdtrjli,! 1,v n,ix,.,r hirory .;,t u,"p;". -_,n,, 'r,.u8tr ih d...ndpn( q t .,t, ,.,_t,,1 u*t, ri,rnt,n.,, ,. ;;;:;:r"* /\' a r$tr. C.h._s irory. st r.tr L.Fn. qi(tr ".a .fth.r " cx,lane+
trr Lrt\. r,I trc, , cnd. sirt. oft.n rarrtv h,1 .,n.,u,,D, ir,,t-.,,A.,i r", _*,;",.i . -a '.::.j.'," - '!utu" Tr.,sc.nd;,d\..,. (.1,n..,n!. r,^r, 1,. *,,".,,, br rr. nrvr. pn\.rtuJ in rtri( rll\ .rn"r(, r,,r,, tnri.. *._;,gt, L.i"i.. rrF r',,o,d'i.,.
r
Crrila- in lonrnn ro .prison.. dtrtops a rtatilely (hon ppriod ot dhe _ a rrrc ro'sest nmr r,"g"a.,l,-,gi ly..*","::_r"*_:_lT a4aungry redl.ri. tra'"oiprior of mrrfin ^,Clruz, a f ;;^;;;;; @I'q vinuary tre q2cr rE!.uFar enft. of T::::l-" :':i.1. ,]r pbb F a-*br. mr€dva..$"rha,
i'i"
#*.iJ^-#-"irJ#
J,ip. *""r..,r,.i, ."..-i f H":::,j.lyi a^d ry **..*. s. ;i; ;; ;; _,*',ffi "::LTT"'
"* fraedon of rex*, *.-ru* "'os"d,* j1*Fr.a ctain ?_#i:::."11 ;, p1!^ -.-a*" *t,. il;dr*;;il:;; :T#:ff nprscourion y orqx
rur ir our aea i.*9,9e,! l* hosr,coirar/ €,oric ". dds. * * *.I ** i5 ofl.ftd in s@r *.: lyT $e nar tn. d@d, tr disapp€ra!.r or*. . -p"a *--j' s:" Dmativ€s iitr i!. of ouE., o,iry re ,., :,i,",",_T,:.1T, "f i"-,_i' ,*r ..p,.*" "r"eno. ""*.r1 "? #1.";X,ffSi,"ilJff T is
*t;:
hir e."v on ciz'xz. re.rv i.d".; h^ Bp.,Lser n. uhprsen."ur. .,r,|-:,iir'.irff;;,T..ffi:: ._::^::.Llir ofal r4guasc.s rhiA. ir appe4 ro he. L pa^",s'-ii or df bdrt &ound-hp; *ra6iii s;'__::ff"'.i"J; ,mystique to be teltd owr e.r o,*. q u/,d,-e., to mn ana r-s,_g.. Fri"#;;; ^, lY o<.Nbly llFT',*"1".t an sinpls e*plaDtioD: nemer ,either a.'m a(or u in ha hc .pisrorary .n;.,orr-, i.-_drama, .:.::i: :,*-T!: ^, ysns to Mod dr. trnr ornpr whi.h _ in rrm( of dr ",.;:: :l-:1",i"1 ra, v.njmrLrude rhr novct t tomnirrrd r" - rururat
"T51,::fi:i]]-t1ln
*_*"
6.*a _:*, :,fl:::-.l^yt ;, tule
,*",*
r.d".i "nough
;;;;; ,--.-.":oFlr^a:a:'e J uran$. as uruage€, dtu88.4 dd ,not rr_--rF &d=a lfftare in^a. rftta.e -,4uD. ds , te.zyJ rFn^ .-^, L a hibselt. when ad-F p*perra!-d. h is ro, ..,#il*_,.iilj p!dry
..+-rti;,,.
,r.,i, 'te.Eens.rnd, " ig.this mimc,jc abrnce,r,j, -e,;, Ifil :: ""1q*,jw .1"**t-r,,ft,, ji". lllTI"I;l,l ;;:i "-"-." :::1,:u:9 rh., dronar^rri.,hce abour rlre rap. is pan orrle :::::::: orm?mnq. rhF btur of .*o ry .**.r*r,i.r, r.^,_ r,.p., l^
i;;;;;fi;;
,o
ci,q
i" p-.a"
.l-'*i;;'iT:ff.;
-^e' ehd or .caws. **rr Ar.rr,e ,-.. rne ':a w.,k s..tion. f,crdins ::::.jau.mp, *:l "l:, to a.emin rh..,-". ;; ;;;:;;;;';;:i rd:^ trr u. i all i, dle guidF. ... t, *ttt ,...'t lno*. t,\ s iI I En .:o'll':l
:',.
iFr:l^n8 'lEr poli,h",r wzl in rh",J".'r an.t canor " ett tunher,, Ttc ,e',r durl'o, much in.vid.n...tr*t . "o ".. in rt nou"r to cxptain marrrE 74
:
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMT'N
LIFE AFTDR RA?E
and ktde
isu6 nser
tells us what 'realy, happened.
,4
p6sdg.
b
tndn prctrounces that, drrually and legaly at ledt, no mpe was artempbd on Adctn Ouesrcd. LWha, rl'r impliodons ol fiis $len, r a rhe hpan of rh. ,e\r., CkruJa ir , great prcto-feminist novel, ad A P6ege to In![. js a najor tcstament of libe.at hmanism: bo1h, therdore, are works which might be expected to be unequivocal
G
about an act of male sexual agSmsion againsr a wonan. Bur their reliancc upo!, and doubts about, the womel lunsuppon€d word, about her ordeat arc the qrnptons ofa deep underlying date fear that &p€ could be a tehate lic, or fictioDJHow a 'mmative n@rive' nay sulrEt e\€n a f€ninin .thenati.s oflibeEtion'a is itlusFahd by rhe implicatiotu prerent in Jonatha Kaplan.s flm, TIE Adt*l, b^s.d lpon &e ttue tife story of SaEh Tobiasl attempt ro indi.l hd rapists legally. In an atrempt to r€pticatc the @urtl sedh ro knorv whethei lh€ rap.'rea$r happeDed, thc filh su6umbs ro the devic. of rc flashbaclq a d€vice araitable anb k nanatis land never ro any @un of law, bow€vo leduiously it my ay to tt<:Mte rhe .coe of ctine). By EplayiDg rhc sn€ of 6pe, it @e agair rEles it €ntral io rhe rarrarive, $e.cliru' of thc gFph oI its linw strucrE. fte absence of rhc sen€ of Ep€ ar fie hsil ot a rElEdve las l^ CbiM M A P6ee' tr Ian;4 srves to mFti6, its adual occun€n e, the brutal nanralim of its .incMtic ftprdefi^fnn i 7fu A.1ttul provides a confiImtion thar cnforcs the sue con lusion: rhe ,uBupponed 1rcrd' of a raped rcDe (hnot r€preknt npe. Rap. is often treated a a Gnah nction oi fab.icatiotr ir anolher sense as &ell, one that suggr$s the conplicity of rhe wol!@, particulaly in.dial and cultural .itutidrE ahat pl:mil 'fG' r@n{oman relationships baed on .rcDalic' lore. Historically, C/dka re{ieds a p€nod both dad€d ed supponed by .hanges in arEiual fu.ttns, uheE mdiage basd upd the parrn6' choi.r '@ beginning to prevail. I P6We tt India A the Woducr of a post-Mr perioil which witncsed dr fi.st @jor movemen( in women's seruzl libcrarion and rlr emergen€ of rh€'emn ipated'{onm (of whom Adela quested n rhe rwcj. Additionally, Cldissa dd Adela are inwlrcd with mcn outside ih* sociat sphcm; the situations are fraugh. with possibilitirs ofm;tnowiDs, mix.d sisDals, ]@DB liming, fits. intc+etations, and prcjecrions of d6ne In such chaging and hisro;cal phes otsexual rlrdonships. .exual .on.u-.uoon ."1 ,o,' vin.ingly bF rprsFnrcd as rhe rvrn|har is premarur and.krwFd. r,rhc, rnd,, gatuitous and, thercforc, nor 'really' rape. Fenale choice it*lf by associalion is debded in h)pocritical confusioo abou( inrcluntary des;re. Chnse's self-blame is also barcd upon the consrtucrion ol' an iDmutable 'male' nature (rhe 'btute'), and a ,leb,le' Dature (the .lad_v.l: s, that when a womd is mped '. .. who ras most to blam€, I pny? Thc bru1c, or the lady? The ladn surciy! for what shc did sas out ofnature [i.e. she showc.] lordness for rhe bru14, out of chara.te., at le4r: what it d;d was in its ohn nature."'! \{e arc nor surpiised, eirher, b nnd 6^. in A pdsugt b Intia j\ which Aziz indispulzbly did nor rape Adela Adela slnuld fecl an obscurc
endo$ed by Fostet fo! a certain ,€nal lMess on h€r part towards Aziz,
on no more than he. preoeupation with hd inpending miage wirh holdins han& with A* while climbing the rccks, a lactt€s question to r€garnns rhe number of his wive!, and a pa$ins mentat admiration of his
dy,
In contrast, 'Prison',
set in contefrpomry Indi4 still rccords a society where iage, arc anangcd, and where all extt1.mrilat ftlatiotrships between the de inhibited if nor entirely prchibited. Anthony,s .ape of Bhaginrhi is a eklase of droil dc teignb, not the index ofa rlationrhip Sone awry. thiyrcipotrs;bility' li€s a.ltowins h€berto bare b€o $en q Anthony, rEking a 'spata.le' of hers€n T@li'h Bhagiarhi d ihe fr* tm,larr had ked to the rivd fou tiss to M watrr uheie Anttrcay was .ittilg alore
his
porjl' The licrins of INifid b{rc ial tu Catq tuph asi I K,ou uly Bjl Sograr€ dtil&dr iniriar€d into srual bd{t€dge by dre caiy
Cq,/
lntrledg€ sained by dle inonio& Thc tenDle sbj@t is @ghr up tEiec(ory It is hs fansgmsire wdering fta .ercr'in borrr ynses of word) dral led nr de i!$ ?iae ro irer coDtiaelr@t/isprisomenrj drc sary.ondition of tapa The in@rariolr is foll@d l'y her resdgence lhe public sphcr€. tucnardm ndates the long a €labont€ puHic of Cl&;sa! dying, and FoBrer rh€ publi. .rial of Aziz, whicn i, or cou6e,.dc bial of Adela. Th€ sucBion olpliEr€ d&al by pubtic .ould not be more Fonounced and - as nped women Lar again and testfied - more tmumatic. Thce 1oo are ordeah. tiiats tike those of and Sita, that appear to be ne@sry ro absolE ihe €ped subiecr of , and thcnbv mark hff 6rnss for r-.nrry inro rhe social or moal domain. .ru, rurinc ol pri\d,e dnd publi. ficrionat spa.es: rhF inrsir, toyeurisri, otnovel-radina: ,he pt€asuff of rurery and posr.sion ovcr rh. pssite. Fadrng:'' ndadve\ very tr aieclory, iB movemcnr tosards ctosurc whi.h the fcminiue as object, obstacle, or space3l it is th$ imoiptions of t/gx;I, i- r. :. iry i,*tt whi.t, ar nFqoddrd in a f.ftinjsr Ron-oru,i.rc hmalF sut ier, .i -p..[r.-i^i' texi of rape tounr.r namrire dn"rLeSed
is
16
RNAL AND IMACINED WOMEN
LIIE AFTER RAPE
mi
'
rs I Lave hed !o st,oh. in a nuhbc, oth.\- b, rcp,es.nbns l}le nu(l who b-omr. subicd haush mpe r.fi;r ,tLn ;errh ;,,. ^ runne d p^.,-rl." n,i,,i..- .t..:r subjc.trd ro ir. violcdon: b) ,rru, :,-.. | , stnregies ofsutuival instead ofa mpe-cenrrcd ndaarilr that pri!.iteses chasdry ald lcads inexorabty ro 1;a1s, to estabtish t b). locar;,g rt,e mpej"oma" tri "uu.rures ol oppres,ion or}er rnan h"rno*rual rcm.nt,. ,ciaron,r,io,, r,, li,ryalzins in r.dd ol mysrjtlnts Ll. r.p,ern,atioo ot kpF: dnd. hnar\. J) counting the osr of rap€ for its victim in tems tuorc comptex rhan rhi extincrion ofGmale selhood in dcath or sjlence. \!tit" Lg,* ;"t . r"-i,i,i thematics of liberarion' may not be a suflicieat .adition for Mitino rl,. limalc subje.t/tumal€ readc of na(ative, it mar n€veineles geDeF; ih sm.
lcnsiotu and .ontradicrions that a ow ggdecellterjnsd4aLjclirc and. Nirtr iL rlr yxual lhr@d: dEr $tuffures mu.h ndmd\r. Thcrefor d;rtu-,,mt moroB of Mativiry are interupred and signifi@nrly it€dected bv rhe foftN .r lcmitur indr;dualism di.ra,Fd by a r. , hi$oD. ideotos\ and .;trurdl .,o.1,.
J
is*
h2s becD, and contjnu€s to bc, a c€.rrai in fedinim, it is now opposition of theoredel positions add politiG garhded
tfue a cled arcund ir. Urqaly, possiblc to
prnetrarjon orrhe fehate bod; b! d,L 'ap.6 rh. foEible *!:j.-{ of matF rxual donl..ron ana r,en,e or g_rye*xpBsior patnarchyrrsex. uppoeDon ro Ep. vi4ed dru. a tu itrdu(ibteaDd uni\c^rt l:,cr ol somrni opp'esion ha. rn.d as nne ot fie ptar*s ofa gtobal hmi,,n,
OJ,cr f"mini,$ have to.aFd &e issuF otnp. wirhin a mre comple\ poliri^. .b,srd on $e rcogtudon rhar&aoiahy ts nol dlr o,ly "o,..* dist ibur..l in socicty, and rhat privileges and hddicaps -e heteroge"cous."i "pi**."
uncvcnll uongcategoncs oflrorh mcn add $omenlRupc fie,.es. a. -etaol,u, aryeo I'o,rl,Lr) ix rt,e $runs ot aI srtuggt^ r\bma,, sxua.l vulncability is hcightened by rheir idcntny as cls/nciat ;bj.crs. Rapr as 3n ac1 ofmale scrual violcDce may bc \iewed eidrer as thc paradign of atl heroosexual elatiocssl or a the mauifestation of rh; ind;f s".iat
r, d i.dJ-J d'd far
"i6esi@,
q{!.''.p'..j1'"11" lE,d,i\.. desc ^l,nurd po.i,ion5Ja I har. dsi,",l rm\N \lth djhrrcnr hrdn;ng\ tdr rl-F fchJ. $birr. Rape hA irs o.\ ^ 'ap. rural hgua,,on a nan"r'rr wh., ! F,ead a. rhe, ut ninadon of a selucD,, -rtru,
*d ev-erts based on hctiioseiual .romancc', and tbcrefore !s the consummation ^lmah r{,al /..,2 8ur vic$rd d,.1,. grdruirou. bur.yjehuli. cxe(i,e,{ rdlc $xual y'oua. rrp. is srnpped ol !h. loCi. of nandriv. and b..om". ,r
and arbilIafl act of violen..7 - -The* diffcrcm ehphsc mst bie locatcd isolared
within diffcrenl hisrori.al ar{l soci6i!8iei .on1exls. AhericaD fcminisl poiitics ha\c grown oul of aDd coD hibured to sc\cral sigdficanr aspects of social oisis in thc wesr the questioning
77,
nr (in8le wohen. and $e rvclarion or wilespread .hnd motcrultor, rmc.r.srh ,adical f.minim ha" n,turalJy rcndaa ro raU rnro qucsrrrri enbr-Nsue ot .ompulsory h"*o."*u"1,y.. ry6ol1. -t,te impuq,i;g r6p; a por,u..,ol hereroquali\. Anrrjon teniai,m fo(:l,s 1*" ,i,i,i4
'mdual palholosy. and $c viotation ot d,e vi.trh.,) individual""righb. bd.: lr cax-jjlltlgl3es:lape {:..{.' hand. mo$ ars or repon.a ope, -.,n,t-"e. or we h;8h, perp.ralpd by mmbe,s of reprslive tne eorrc d rr,r armn or grcuF rt tddrords, helphss :T::,y en of rhelppwd craser , ,- *h.,;.;; "pon * in rurody in p"lie or t'ound L,y .onrracu of bonded labour Whilr Sf $|men,s mowmenr oreF ht{r iD dtil a.a ir ha sene€ry l_refofm -*j:!upon,:-*'-: )(,ca o rcrledry.* ir altianc wirlr cjrd tibdtii gmps ad dm@ad.
orga I
tioB.q Thc siu$ijotr exptored
i! ?,isor. js d
r}lF mod ommonly ftponed r}?. of raF sirudon in _ol
liu 0ed-cas'€)
IV U,hik Epe
rDeiast a a itu udo. rhe emffgence of gay tibenrioq mowmcnu, th6 r$aice ro rhe.hatunqr of women io ,})e worfphcr. tfie phenoficnon dt
::l9i L
Tntf
wna
by
itrusimtjw
hdia
,be
r"i,ir-r" n*r"* -o. "pp."j-* is mGJrEeF
hlon'y -ldia
.
np.
* dE@j-Er"
qB
of,rape, accordingty, find lh.t empbae! d;ffercnrl) in lhes€ 's @ q$. r efecl of RanEd.s story sB hjgl,ty €thanic. ir s* rie unusual tsanJoes wirh whhh sfie reprsenrs fmate 8r pan dr ro 'nc rty..ESr Ismerl. !o_.s?eatl npe i! iBelf a n6urf of .[qrn_tiq!)_{ $rn rsung z hr obi.cr ofvo).uriGc difn<jum ro dre
x{al lit'eradon is mt encod€d in $€ srory-.--:' io the tadiczl ard utopiah *r. Ttv Cob !\qh of deir ad "T* .'r.. "..*," .a*i^g thtuu8h rhe .rerdd of Gmale ^ communiryl IJErrad. k rur ptar . in ,i,".-onrqr.ot s mc.pdo", m4red b rhr'pq; o ry rgii,\, ib rhe $rea of s!. ctroorrdp aga;ror rI} orinal.-1ll;""T"iT.T: \A ft An!fihg LikFldwm.,r d;,;;;1;-"#; ;; "b..t"r" ihe reprscnDrion ofmp. pehBiKt! [email protected] in dx. @ntexr of ailm-z rain otheuesLcn maar.r*o. * *it o poput ,: g" rii{( rcrue _ oown ,n a tusroncat sirMrion wheF dr firerary rprr ^ ud femjnir polirju rrd ,t@ th. me rcnain ed engase -iri .".r, orr,", d,-ugt ,n. ol rpresordrion dd rhe .@1._3 diric hho brjnss her oM .mdve,rar, nor availabt. wirhD rhe.anon, hmlarioh. ro a rchpeativc .ritical drerpri* is r.minsty a .naDve 'n nur' .on(ributrng {o rhe .marer d;youcr,. Sh. tuG rhc danftE ol rz'ng hcr wdr".. or implcirlv prjvite8ins rhffi a ho,r .aurhenrjc. o;more jn mn.n, o id.,rzj;,n;-; , ur,urai aporia., ";:-;;;;;'.",,em '.njcm.L\r: (t.arens"s ,1€n.m didi at th.-i T"". " -, "I-19 ':i"r .m"iu"e,. I n""" tneia to sidercp ,o-e broadln its cognitive of the$
REAL AND IMAOININI) WOM&IT
LIF!] AITER RAPE
san,bon or pohti.zl influenc: EBhmn pnc$ un: ndw o ly of tcmple ritucls and pnv:re ronhip in a hw l',urh lrfi
dangqs by my choice ofa popular contempora.l hag&ine story Ethc $d r Iitenry 'clasic' as Dy representarjve re\t. My exploralion of rhe te\r\ .oD tFdictions - i1s inv@atjon of .universal' concepts, dcmes and sLac ,.) (nanativc, ape, feminisn), as wex as irs sinutraDcous implicaliod in rhc specifi,
FA. in $. numb.hol Bunmin m.n who opt forrhcl,Brthooi, ri in rhc n',mbrn or r,iditiondt san.tri, insLi'rd;n. tnr (l;.rikh r;d da
hjstori.al condidons of production (.ortemporary ccte-politics, rhe rvimcr., movemcnt in India, rdisious ideolosjes) should tcad to irs being vies.cd simpl\ as a denystified .!],fttul froduct. Tbe compararive method nust not sceh_rr, rlatilize difiarence the expcnse of dcnying a commonatity of politics and -ar
mgnitive structures.38 The 'dtremc relativist posirion', Sarya Mohant) has ar8ued, 'is in no way a Gaibl€ th€o.etical basis ofpoliiicary morivatcd criti;ism.. ff on the one hand I have rclarilizrd the difierent tont€xls of prcducdon ol. cultual ideas' through rhc cohp@rive method, I have also m"ghr ro p.ono" a 'gmujnc dialoSue' among dr feninisi posirions on the theqi€s of Epc and nffiadve dar $Fsc diffpfnr .onr6r5 rl'rc$ uu. $u" Lot:,s rc r.rdl rt; ror. ,
ola lolirical citi.ism
him. public opinim md b. edshrd, and shc und.raG th,t slF hd Fmiin.d .h?sF
ra
6
NOTES Thi dup1d 6 onginaXv prrlrcd a pap.r zr a sp{iat siun an CmPl€.\ . ^ .@nwncd bv Mdsad Hisonni, a;dJ. , , rcminnr Crid km Hi:bry ed Thrcry 'r€mprflon). at Lh. MLA conrndon in NN ort""n. il l98s:;d "j-.i,:r ln",. Univftiry ol Calilomia. Sana Ctu, lt M subrqurndy allo prs.n,.d Gmder S,udiA torum a' JrBahdrldl N"hru Uni(h,q, oJ[,, l,tu g-rr,
Rama; sorv.
bc"n. rn
frr b prde
9 Realb
hoed or ir,
d rhe filrD n. 2l laun }.d,
in onveHdon eiih
Ft]d,
borh nr
-.
"
Univcnnt Prcs, I99l)
Thi'.h+r.' hs
ond.zl by
l]d€d a gdr ,slB. Thr BBhmD rh..di$dd'j ;fa Bnnmir ql'llh b.ing Fped. d hrll s rhc ndid of hFr Fpudi,dng tfi, ,r,!. Th. d,6 j\ i')6Ed sith . prcf@rd Elstique ? Car?,ri Spi!€li. D6upadi . in El.abdb Abct. rd, Wn,,s d1,1stut Dfr,tu.sre\, IIlllBEi, 1982, p. 387, A ztu Up6i'h.A, tur. c}ivu lkvi, Ne w Dclhi, S. Crsd & Co., t973. A:mdon {*r
lhank b pdrd, iPlnb in aI d'..enixaB ror rhcir@mm.;b. ^r* Ttr" sv/:n "ub.;rl ib pr.q.nr lom also rpFar. ir. d r,,lunrc of .ompdrdurr trninht. nri, nm.dueo, M gam Hi2$na Batdtuon tnu l F\ogn% ritt, Caata,tu rtut hhr
ComcU
e
$h, \a\\. r' rni\ cfitr. Itr
gFrcid
.tu,L
ro nr
motner lor bnnginq fti.on ro mv n,{i,.. ro m) f3r\a tor-to, arin8 Lh, l,oot , whi, h it app.d'rd and ro L{L nt'h.m dnd mt. L,, b,.d to,,nt"-,ron ou -,, aspccG.fTamil l.nslagc, cuhur. and soci.r): I ur cspc.ially iDdcbrcd rr Anura.t,.j
q.
ljndEn
I
hou;.
.rr rp.
,r, m".
!in"ri.
n,v
sdtud" ,o \r.;e,,
Hr€onna. ':f fri.nd. m.nror dnd cd or. ro, I,ry "upp"r. h"r rx,xptc. r,l ;..,4 ro rhis L5jav. +€ci6c.Iy. to rbc ondbudon stc has 'nadc Raand, rrdl.d b m, ir FFFo'ui , o'tr.F"uon ,. , rlEr t. pu.p"* ,, ,t," ",,^ reIoei4 ad rhi strc hoptd to Ghbtist! lhc Nfd for rhc'ret;abnitarion of.liltor'
2 Ttuo politjcal pariics, the Dravida Munncim Krha8an @MK) and
$.
Allln(Ij.1
Ku hasan (AIADNIK), hala cmclscd fmh dri, nraf.Dr.n I The mti,Sral,min novcmcnr ha madc ils consqucn.c f;jt h,scly in lhc rcla,(t sphms .f eduation ,nd cmplo)mcnt, s.hdc masivc -,"*-rio. "r pt", r", 'bd.lwrnd .td.r. and,.iL. by tr D,asndr, pa,,n. n, powq h- t.f( B,rt,,.. our ol-'ar-rur rdu, a'jo1dl In. i, n\. bur""L,,ari, Jots dnd pohrr d 1,.,,, 'iru "ppoi. Anna Dnvida l,Iunncrra
Aslgni6@m
di
rh";.".
pom of Bratrmins has occurcd wirh ihc mig.;." .f sralcs in thc coum.,wcu to coumrics trrc wsi. A a.trljnnr, Assmiatjon has rcc.ndy bccn lomrd to tislt ftc i$uc ot rcsc6alio!. Siicc rduuri,,j
to othc.
d
,!
j;
".,i
and adminishtion h"v. bccn ftc rrzdiriDD.l, and vinu.Iy nonopotis c, pnsr^r. ofdc lr.ahnin comnuniry. rhcrc n nov a scvcrc dinnru;ou n, iL ".i,J "nn functionin& At rhc samc finc Brahmh pncnhood h no longcr arcndcd \nll"n.di\jn,
Mohrnry, Undcr Wclrem EB..
D. 347.
?tu sd&r ,rh bv Narh;;t Hrwr}lom,. I D srj.rur oJoan T.npleron ror bringing di, analosr to my arlcntion. Rap. aJ ct4^e wnt 4& srui, od t:t^: sh!g/? u s,rul T"l .ee!.I.? /.r/d'drdn, Oxtdrd, Blackwcu, tq8z, p. 94. Thougl'.nri,. hav.,r&cd drrr Ct;n$j. iltn"-. rhSio.iry..d d"rrh ar. a<1 ot clbir. imrcgy dnd .orn pow.,. \u, n d, b n?R..nr. ullmd,rty. d tcrrl Ldst.,on
S..
80
REAL AND
IM
CTNIID WI)MIIN
C'h!,,.ld Smh 4.198! ry:.6t1 59. and Monit,F |,t..r,,t)ur gg[msron: Thr wi! Tt. w,! nor no. ,o io KnN ot orMkt,ctlh dr t Vpr: -9g!s!Eldgt&p., gui,
,
;
$tE[;{rrffi;i;:fig1,ri',
*rfi*t**ur;l ""'*rg'*,m*;r"lfl,ffi
st*r
j,r"'
;ttr'dffi
'mffi;'",exfl'$*'**uls*t*m"'E;.*: T'$'r"lHili:
T;:,iirr;:l'i'1*:ff #)r
#,;itrrxit$*il{'i.ffii,fu
r ir,r,,eu, ffji',.l,il:: j.-:rr"":f;t.:,f fi.I?Ji:l:;ii::.fi'::,t;:T:*::,".?l-llll,,r
;:l'c-:li;:t ;I "il; ljr]
ffi,;;#ii;, ,,
l:'i1;
f
i -*l;':;l;
;l:;:,1:
it{,;'ffi lfliil-
-rlr.,ljffi
'l':i
i"iffi
,*_,3,, *e,, *, a, .r,r, sar resi: ad crm.ire u,.",, :',HH:"1;f:qtl v- r."i-iiJll, f*1"*t} S:T!e Itu ttudatu 1tu\ SDdq Maeeu, lj Srpr.mb"r IoB7.
F
o.*
!:tJ*ff .ilJ;Ill
H
v^fit ta hbh ot is,a!. Ldttu tuaddft llla t@ Mousl , t ndon, zed. t994. D. ,a":ds, A ap: senr b almos meddroru D ar tndrd Dou6i tn. film E6ioD .f.l,rlfirt ti,c --c *y. r,;, ,r,"-r.. -ry ii, -r" ;.9::::lT,S:g': tT ?.age:.,r'- ncdonal "t--qpca Mrdrlu Krshea ind RnG
"-a;s,r.,,r,. -.",^
"irir,4i-,tir;;i;il;il:il";: r"!i-
FpltsErion pomo8r+hv) and rht rcjr Lrap.) L h-T"in rm 3jT3.^Tb9.^F vad.b\ Amm@ tininis ol oq dd .f ed, r. t"ai_ *," *,i mEt.m'lJh@uly forg. a dis6. of @mfn widdn rhb anbil i, i, ur _ao*. M,MdJu rs.h_@ dd Rudr v,n;a lfftitrisr diridib,natidq rd L thEb.d .' th. ori-pmos'phv robba Th" @h *y f* _y *nf, t"; 3_T:ljx" se or arcdn8 p@rution u.tar rhi! ad rclid b. ru to m.nrjon wmm ar aI wrNEolld bem. ti. ,***"ur* Jr"o- -a*y.. s* .a*al tua'tat d lta*b'!s ot tada 7-13 tu6a ar$l I I! thc rcds.of Ajj& Anhrd, ;6v or th. qu*rjoD &il on. voutd alr abour rhc krtd' t n mj/ tum dr ro r nftn'imit& b rlc qudi@ on. ha eted Rry abod Ens[th/imc'itr rfs rJdMn! Rrdoric of Oo**, *a o* _Nadod Ale8ory"'. .gdl 1*r t 7. 1996. ;p, 3_25. 6p, p_ 9/. t:jr_ryj1} .9" ":o-r]"-, o" ,r" iiri,;er BAi" or porricar crnicis., z,r te.Jtuwt
0J
L.tuinn 2,2. Sping 1989. pp. t_3t,..p.!L t5.
d! rh,pc; r i:* *i,',r," r"ri.-i.i -.rb dE, h.k prcvided trfl:::-tr.oenor 1,j eraboErjon 6r FFrai of my a,shc8 Bmd, {. sir$, 'rshc_l-@k
ond l]q/nuatnn R"$rntins Afrc Amd. d;hurn ')t tq. kLLh di{usr A}icr $.:t}crt son nh, .rislba :,!".._yYe.f"_e,trna dd rda B. w€rls i
treofl lLnthn^ \ fj:1_,"'3
II
l*li, :li,l*q##+***ru,
:::-:*1"*:l"ll"l *.ll
.
ilfi TF.:"*; :T"..,i ;::ir# rtlgh;,,Tll iliJl;
ii
pp. 3l -4,
Crnlonhip @dd b. enfocd bv G" /pplicarion 6j.dF lnd@ RcpE nbrjon of qmtibidA A( or igs8. isj.t k'l;.a alia.a rm!";*' I'm:n /lftno.tlfu.h n similarty divid.d on r tion i$ue dpdr.otEpty \fu Ircdtr
gro:g.*:1,*l
# #:, #tli-f.lii
i
1988.
pp.
srd Mtu,
i
ffir*r;,rifl-ffifijtf*, 82
REAL AND IMACINI]D WOMEN
men\ $bjrcrividp . a nd ho$ lne so, ;l oca!:ncs Mouchr und dr .. lsomrn\l IonB silcn.e' is nFlenhrhs nrsotaad anJ rrtv,d Lr' ologr.d F.our, A ot a .utrur rhal $, uons ,hei, kj ins urd rr nstdces and in many gui5e , a totruses, n new_bun bari*, air
+
THE NAME OF THE HUSBAND Testimony ald taboo in the wife's discourse
The udmrmding of um.n's snrnm
r lVhen the Hindu wiG is kiued or driEn ro sui.ide by her husband and his far ly she bccomes a vicrid of 'dowy dearh,, as such cc.x.artce ar€ popularly d€scibed- Bocaus of t]rc naiu.e of lhc crime - almod alws a dedth bv bGming is mad. ro l*mble a dom.srj. accidmr - *. c,js-"I u"a 'har "n.. rh€ 5ol€ so',rc of info:1ution about ihe ciculBtal16 of &e dead is t[e li.rim herself. TherefoE her tstimony - ib.€nror, ib for4 its crcdibiliry -;s cecial if d indictrnent of he. lillers is to take plae. The facr thar coDvicdons hav. talen place in only 3 per cent of aI r€ported cas is an indicarion of the problematic status ofthe o€urrcnce and nature ofsuch tesdmow. In the fist plaee rner m hqal obn&les ro dr admisibilq of a bum, wmds ,dyins ded"ratioa' a €vidcncc, d y reendy t'\ttod€ a a leult of rbe iftswentjon of rvomm\ groups.' But morc olt€n the dying wo&cn themehts naintain silenG oE thcjj ljitu€, D tils obrving e dtension of dle Fohibition dgoined upon rhe s@d Hindu wife on uttering th€ name of dre hujbed, a taboo lounded upon the bclicfthat with ea.h such utredce his life is shon ned
l^hy, ev€n when he r aausarion l:ei€s weieh! Lgalt does dre dyins $ife morc oflcD than not acquit her husbad dd Hs larnily oI t]t dnnc ot killng her or driuag h€r to ruicide? Social pts@s - fear, ha.bir co'sid€ration for hq childftn 6 'family honoul, or a 6ral ece$ of dEnty or forgivenc$ allow hd ro speat( only to save him.3 Her testimonl is.still cobdilioned by the ideology that wili not ,mme, th€ husband. Speech and silence testimony and tab@ - work toweds .he same end, 1he p.o(ction oi Wifc-murder
a
a widsprcad social phenomenon in Idia exprc$es
1h.
socially smctioned violen e agaiDst women that reinforces aad i, rein{orced b\ the ideoloSy of husbad-wsship (ldrtata). This chapt€r is an exploErion ot wonen's silcdcc and lestimoDy in this .ontext - why and how the prohibiiion lpon thcir spceclr is imposed and !d!;.ied, what the imptications an ofborh silcncc and ils obverse, spcech, for the cosrruction and unddsranding ol 83
and s!6ch hE! srcb! $ h l aoffiq@oefo,@;$pon y{4J y1_iporri.er ;"--:1j"T:::j he rrliq al ol wmen: spr.cb t"- *gt.r"A tt"-,y r,irr] "*r: ""aot m Dajor enrerpnr of feoini$ s.bol,s @mmincd to *r Drcied r'i{odo$apry ud .@,jdui, ri;Ery biQ' :,,Tp31:l-i*1:.n
r, r,,"a i";r.s.i* d* *r* *^ r€$i,nooy .!p6iary b.h€n d2r"t l'u ::i1".I^lT-ll-y::iMno; thdr indi.En€nr of a mate agrsor, i\ olrn ,L"a * *". "*",::::::"-l::lac,h ma s .nce ;rm rleo,q"l - -- ::r qrDny. remj"is' Lsaj
irimony
Sin&
ad
a,-d!j
attibutcotfei.iiiiisipotidc.sr€xpesioq and sle;c s s€f{xinlroi
raboo is a recmc
speech is identified as
dosely tied into the prcjecr of sbjcd
yfcud s:ciar.*:.*.. " *i:.TYTTryin b dFr prc@duE rhar I wtuh rD ptubleharie in dris clEDrer ruL\ bur,.' ' rireErine rfir rtui.m. *Er
:::l*Y
* :* f ^:Ti1'lTr".* agumsrs abo{t :€tcal
"ir.ncc
"or
I9":"Jtr"*,.i "1rur",-'"aai1n{ .ubjectrotudtudon. r to
", ";,r, {irriri ddeaws thzr remain n@red ,u:l:,-"1,1j".,-:*.*,*: blsaft en a $e) qu.sion jL and b diyM, sha! at|.tudv,; a' bla,ed rhe, ul,ual un, onscjous ouFdr riir pmbtem,;L o, in e\ 'n r. panicularly as they define somen! resLstdre hcrc rh I invokc Lhe u,egoN ot .a.don. vi.erd ,n comp.cx retar
Itis
and .ir.ne de mral.d a.d .q.n
:.":: ",:i:":^l :lT:-sr.cl, ,lF :i rrsl.e and la.k or td8x"8e
thc sp&e ot smenes and dFem(.
:8ory erceeds and escper -,t
:t]::1':":1" rndcncc b,
i. p-Utr."i..
stals
.m,op,.n, l* t,'"r-
"i,1, binary opposte to spech, n lmui pote trod, sitcDce. Spcech h., iD liberalory di$ouNcs: in opposiri;n to fil
::jn:,.11!owy and on thc opposite
a conlradictory
Fw.(riv.r). dtr\ d" inoiI 'AcEon,. $ a nq'1
RDAL AND IMAOI
THE NAME OF THE HUSB,\ND
;
yiewed pGitively a expresivenes, [b€mtion, 'trulh,,' poiler; i. opposition to actioD, it standr in danger of being disnised as 'mere words' That these categories arc in a Perpelual srate of shjfting retarions musr bc aclnowlcdged. f;thd they ae placed wjihin a strucrure of sri.r and binary opDo\ition @ ca.h olhrr. or th.v ar su..eprjLl. ro a pro,cs ot nbidiorF pemearion thar dissokes rheir distinctive characrerisrics. ftns straresic shiflins
is wel iliurnred in llann.h tuend'\ definirion oi human in r.m, oi sp&ch and aclion which I shal be drawins upon in the 'denriry couse of my labr a.g ment. My focus, mo.e spedfically, will b€ on the qucsrion ofhow, in s€eking
to undcBtand the contempomry social phcnomenon of wife-murd€r in India. {'dh ad a.riotr 6...ulat€ the subi€ctivity of the female sbjet of tlris violonce. In &. otuluding se.tion of $; drpter, drrcfore, I eqmine the inplications oflrre zds nurde ofth€ nurdl, s rcpGentd in a popular Hiqdi film, t?,oa Btdt M&ag (Forehead Sneared with Bl@d). That a possibilily as preposterous a husbdd-murder could be concened at all *irhin the peraiE cutture of pad"dra and thcn tu d€veloped into a popula, or'f('muta',6!a ed a a nqt stcp pG the €tre6, and firaly e.e.d in btcomirs a box-ofhcc surces, i.r. fnd mcs acccptance, aryucs the d&i€n e ola c.rain nodon ofdle ,scoMio6, fiich wil-condifionaly accept Buch:n 'aclion'- he.e, wh€n i1i! slEped in thc p€rf€ct gtrd rigid slrmelry of r€veng€ - as the return of t}le repB*d. Jemifer W;ck€ hd dgued, in the contcxt of colonial subjection, rlat it k difficdr for
.oneptiqs ofsilenc€,
beins put out of cate at ledr for somc dmli ll I fie Dhanwar ofMadhya hadesh.ven until tr lbw discrininatiou anols to.es' wo tnriLriy most ancicn! Sanskrit Lxts 'e
il P-:t*:'1-Y link betw€en human subjcctivity ed languaS€ a a 'na1ura1' onc'' l'qrdil xiss haw onplained that d; Lacdid model exdude's noi rncrcly tl (o -rruman or the prcbtematic.Iy hulrw, but ale &e lclninine 'h ordor of ageoriw qa:tu pcsition Ibit the "I" pGition in laryuage i.c. tla -. - ti""- vou hat * oa"a. o. r-'i"i". o'a iru8e dE 'l" in dE of d,. philun' S6ic l]ld poi.rs ouLI Th. d€Pri%don of +eclL or
con,FmDoFq drporiq of lan8urgr ,espcciaxv rne lacanlu) Lncdon ,; -arginaue dnd ddude 'orhe^ (mirals.
modce of +etda of a smp d indivind implicidv ffial. fm oI S€ci..' infe'idit). If wm€n ed peass e d.6s€d dd latted 6 subaltem bv tne condition rcurd lot 5i1ence, &s by a! od.rci@ of 6;s a€rdert iiro {iljcl{ditv &'v asseirio!' @t'goridl SPilalt Gryani $baltcm if th€y could St t! Thi! is
impo*r;irmmt of dre
,d6
an inder of
hcr txminadon of d,t olmial erhiKs of widow-iNnolauon ;n the (Nnal8 berven Fo@ulr's ddciptjon of *ould distin{uiBh r'ut Bur sn€ stre wouro eirrr entun.' mtury.-. te€nth s:lene aid non-uisrcnoe-trntiafS!9ll!4li€s within drc romadve ,""; **46,1a1q;a), 6a:G-Gfft3r;9;;-!-.t-""" subject and
"mn
Et*rr
"r
the oppr€sor simultaneously to 'sustain rhe fictiotr, that the oppr€rsed arc "'other"', and 10 @ntinue to bclieve that they m wirhout the porential ro objed to thcir absemena.r 11 is rhe posibiiitis of rhe r.ansG@e of dris argumcnt to dE particular situation of s)tsremaric female killins in India thar I wjsh to spcolate upoD in the 6ndud;ng rc.rion of this chapter
II Though silc.ce is not al\€)s a signifio of subatrediy, thc subaltcrn .ondidon is invariably charaddzed ard oftcn succcssluliy represcnted (especially in film) ty silence. Taboos limild ro those thar inr€rdicr tbe wif.'s laning of the husband are oftcn inposed upon inferlor casres and ddses in the intcrcsts ol presetuing the mlstique and powcr ofelilc groups, as Ranajit cuha, for instance, ba argued in bis analysis of peasianl insurgen.y.'The clds ofsigns...leasr noticed h studies of [subaltcm] insurgcncy', hc poinrs out, ts whar constitures, according to Bourdieu, an "official" lansuasr.','tvlerbal deference in .olonial India', he states, upheld
absence ol v$bal .r?ressiwns in tlt Potagonists dcs oot handicap portrayal or the suba.ltern a5 sbj€.t. Iils's €nomou pot@tial for Plitica-]
c, th€ 's
"ff""Cu" "r"re-"nt
is,
d
the cont€ry enhoccd bv rhe soPe of such
scmi-feudal relalionships bd$ccn old and young, hare and fcmale, hish castc and low castc. ... Thc baD wrs cv$ morc sclere when applied to a woman. Particularly cxcludcd lvcrc rhc nrmes ofh.r husband and somc of his relativcs. TEnsgrcssior iD thc Ibnncr rcspccr could lcad 10 hcr
iruck villagcrs and membes of her fmily !e. he. a a sati The subalt€mt
,l)
86
THE NAME OF THE HUSIAND silence in such representations .d sisniry onry her abject .ondirion a (t perhaps, as weL €nforce the irony of her rilence b€ing socialy inrerpreled ax docility, and sntinentally r".lonz.d (ar leat by viewe6) as sroic;m. 'rhis tuode ol represenration - the mimeiic repliation ot site.ce as sil.ncc docs not, obviously, alwa)s serve as the *ptssiv€ signifi.ation ofthc oppressc(l .ordition. Authorial silence abour the sitenc€ olxetued by the ficrional p.otagonisr is also an asp€ct of the higl y privileged mode of high bourseois aender.d
hs rr8led in rhp ion,e\r of rl,r opcn As readen wc are pri,negctl James's Porha;t of a "ot irsideB to what Isabel Anher decides as to her coulse ofa.noq Oeyond individudlkm. a( Kumkum bangdrj
endinC
dl Henq'
book) o! why. The
I'4.
futft dd cad€r
ac@rd to hq privac! acloowledges dr. int€gri9 of rlE teBirire' individual.ro In anoth€r contei I hatr specdat€d upon th. ctui.l widdrawat of ar$od,l onnisi@e abour fmalc 'corsciousrss' f.oh dte nmtiv€ as halilg other linds of resonoccs I! the three litcnry and filrn texts I effiine theE - Tasore's siory 'Saved'. Cautam Ghosh's flm,4,rztarJurr4 dd Anundha Ramne'! T@il short sloa 'Th. &nbrue' the joint &a&s oI husbed and $ift dne fte Fl{()dan.c 6fsti; dd the mlst ry about rtrar 'actually' motivate the wife at thc mode ofdeadr alos the autlrcrs to d€@!tr€ snkiowles a dE grchd ofsubjdti\tq,, as I sugg€sted in chapter 1.rr At the sa$e dne, a I rant to suggest in additio. hde, though th€ t€xts qu€stion conjugal love, this move aho aIoB rhem ro stop short of attributing the death of the husband to ay &r (eirher of om;ssion or of connission) of the wife's. The retusal to llme th€ po$ibility of th€ wifet responsibility for dE husbedt deadl i. an ideolosi.a-] meeur€ that is madc in re6pone to a najor cdtrral tab@. Sncn c, b,y the Name iokcn drat regzrdr s?ee.h 6 rhe €xpr€ssi{rn of thc scll may t'orrE a barier to a tlowl€dge of tIIe *E .o its pcnebarion by a p€rceiwr Wbcn $tu halpetu, *le opeEtion of silenc€ t ecomes an opention or power mther than powob$ness h hd hoved fron being an involunla!] or e olccd baD on spe.h, to a freeli chosen refusal 10 speal- Silcn& as $ilhtrctd .onmunicatio! prcduc myslery and enigmaj it €rgress displGurei ir rerains
G€
respect author
s(relsi it dcmonsrntes self{isciplhe or re*tdce (comparc faitingj Candhi\ peiiodic vows of silcnce, ot tum dtta, *Nad the s e fuoction as rhc fasrri it is an ind€x ofhrbisd stEn mainrained und€r tortorc. Silene as 'significanr absence', in Barthes's tem, is that'zerc degrce of unerance, thar lestines to rhe power held by any system ofsigns of crcating ncaning "our of nothing"'.r" The convcFion ofsocialy inposed si:an€ inlo a deliberate and volunlary statemenr, and $e subvcsivc 'rcading' ofsilenc€ a mcaningful combunication, molivalcs fehinist lhcor;sts and practitioneB of\witing and 6lm to exploit it as a fonn of political resistanft.rs Thc danger he.e i of romanlicizing ald thereby ackno$,Iedgitrg allcnty d the female condition. Thc cipressivcness of silence cannor b. invariandy rcshtant, just as its mutcocss k noi in€xonbly negalilc. In thc f.Einist theory ald praclicc of 'rc^dir6' dlcncc, our "-"ij-..,".i Le .!ilh.. n) pronounce dcnnidonally that thc subaltcrn cmnot spcak' nor ro romanricize 8?
REAL AND IMAOINIID
subalrern's refusal to sPcak tu lhml then led to sPcak 'lbr' we
"r dE x subaltem
d
lll'
t"*-'
ot sp"e'h' or rc cnhm '"".r The mcut d"ro' Politic of su'h irricl'vl
)*.' .'ii. J *'t"t
il-"r-;ffi;;;# argum€nt'
n*t
stage
a.ech
as
ar aq:cr:t or
ofmy
I rish,,o
s
speech
&.
en,i'"rr,'"*'
Tl:if**ff
.:j:,f!,1
imponam b t]r lq PrdI d po[dcal ir{'r@ irs pouDa c $nG siic rrs -" kin, of r bcing .tr De recognizod -:--r a5 ;'ht to sDeech d polidcal imp$anve mst of ftoE s'. c@ndios .h:11: n
t*i' "J,i.ia'"i""* 'ddd" J'J;:-ffiffiJ" f *''*e""'{'.ftT:91.Si:,*: ' ;-PtaUY g'ound' ft
hul'6 $bj'cdlitv - & asunPrci tt"r
*.i," t """v'r'":r'pt*,P-1**:f1"T il"" o+G3ivT:l il; raailestinr Hocc' !! spdh, is the !r? of
i" b€tFliou "".'o t'-1. r"''"; *-wbd -" pe'iodi' d" ur n@, L,." s"6s'"'8 arqss ,rl be F .tBdre..2 * ::-;;,* f husa o "g'i"g 'ri * #rciw in sdal aud politic'l cdEtrucboro i"e. \€rbal
ilce i! nor.t]: tdt:T1 au'y1-1"5 IlT'il ffi;"" * t"'"-'*t*' -Dditioa I .: #Ji';il;'il;.p"'* prcpose
ii
f,. mk at tne Nr
b
orth' subartem" #,*" -iru *'_ conrqB "-,a'e'*
dd'
q€cin.ar, v'
wotrnt
tion. Wonen\ speech, in sDedt in suppon of the latter PmblduEza
?i-ioii"J" .i"",i,"n""o
to
p tb' space,11the-T:i*'f-o11ji#
p+r' @u.s or lah edud'iional ::'il."'ii;il H":-;r"r.-'i .td il;,i-i;.i;;" ;"'€"cb "'e' 1*i;;*";l:1il |lT:'ffiff 'H" ;;i"li[[.'5' *,'*'pt"-tr'v "r't'i''*et'
ilffi'*ffi ;;';.
r"s"*t'.*. :*n,::#1il; *"ul'rat( nororid3rv in * o'"on* womens coun rla( rbogj*'t*x. '#*"S.H"Iiffi:;J'il" ;ns a..od,s of, for instdc. dain and disronion do t'v odw meu' f;r""il,;:: ;'t*;;*. :"?.H;t* l;;;*credited
ki'm iudsrd
b'vir
:T:f':t*j
' " tr rvitt Nuibudoi bY bdtrtg rciw ,nd as e-roDlequdce lhe s?@leF onff and berlAn ircred ro conuimenr. punishm{r , .- L.-.*" ,n. ee'h seN' to burtle'i t}le
of womens sp' ene'hip thcffJore is a drrird'tcdrunc armDulfi ' o 'r^;,,;"".t,ilcnce *!ean'e womrns p'r'iirt""r
i.-tive
ii:n:
soc;"] represdtalioru
il'-il:il.'
ll'T 6 sraremcnr.
-"t
t.sEmonv or commuruouon
.i ;"e* "' f[. J,i"T,ffJil'J;;;." dr ; ', h rals
advdcei and tuq bv beins r'
'I"lv * lj-T:"'j-:r :,]"
H:,lT;ill'f;
i"' "'..rti"" r''o ri.s h$'.ria" rod' f. ;:13ilj"};';';;ili or rExv ig..oo'c" r--. , --- p"m*"1''r'"'t::L^i*:i rt trrv. cmpN Xosrp. orur'iriry..mpN sossip ut :5::l"i me.hdnisnl inlaliddred
n. .imih--,...
.:nd lor.P
/" Othrr sub're and
:l''j1*'."i""', i;.**"ion
lha
88
e"ial 5p"'b ma)
pc Nasiv.
the subarrenis
on o('dron
THE NAMI' OF THD HUSIAND
REAI, AN'I IMACINltD WOMTN
aim at. There is, for instan.e, the rell-lnoM prophyla.tic pemission granr.J by the ruIng clascs to the 'lower ordeE' to trmsre$ Iinguistic laws on spccifi.d o..dions like c@ivalq harvest festivals, mouming, ctc. Sociai control and 'linguistic etiquette' is thus elle.tikly mintained by hegemoni. grcups pre.iseh by penittiDg, and.reatiDg occasioro for subalte,rn speech.l1 Silence .aMot, of cou6e, be th€ literai dd perpetual condirioq of huhrr beings, however oppressed. Thftfore inlerior groupi and here I shall as:nr confin€ myklf to the spccifi. instdce ofsomen, aft useB oflanguage whd aF both €x.luded f.om and Fapped wiahin a sign{ystcm that is not ol their malin(. Undo such dnmstances they becoine prey to a very pervasive kind of 'far{ .onscioune$', jtmifetcd most banally, tut also most [email protected], in th. lic. Thu the dying *ife's declaation acquiftins her husband of kiling her hust b. coutrted both 6 $e p@e. of languag. .rd.d to hd md as a trap. Orh.r instdces ofwomcn bfing p.mit1!d, or usitrg, speech only to buttres pneitinq ideolo&s are ubiquitous. For instance, in the fa.e of Gminist hjstoria , dcsperalc search for the ed's 'vo;ce-coNiousness', in a context {here her dea,h insi6tendy prcj@tcd d a lolmtary Iitdc re$a] cvidere of ner il
;
{r,
'wil
ircni.aly, in nodcm Rajasrla al 16r, numerous ruoouA circulr't€ about hq stal€d de.isi@ tb ai., * ;t r" coMicr r]le negalive con. notations ihat her lilence would olheivis€ produce. The powrful force ot hcr utt€Enas in favour of dying is .onveyed through stories of he. cse upon those bying to p.went her frcn burnir8 (lhc tati drarr)- A€oding to one such story Roop KanMr, the l8-year-old girl who \@ innolat€d in Deonla (Raj6rho), in 1987, prcnounced the nme ofh€r husband for the nrst tinc tr, the ontext ofdeclaring hlr irftntion to die. This lsBgrcsion, da nam;,g ,'l' the husbdd, wd received, wc ft told, 'Nitl exaltation nlh€r than censutu . as €vide!@ of a lupranarurat inpuls. m.thy of wndd'.$ Clealy lht tistorid's rTons 10 such storis iasot tE simple belief or disbelicfj it can only bc an alennes ro the context in rrHch tne subii, . ex.+tional ec€$ to spcech wa nade possiblc, and (o thc use to which .i €ally or ostemibly pu1 this oppdnuni+ Elen such @urion, hosc!.r. does n,r provide the nethodological rcute to the recov.ry of ho subjcctivin.r' Speech ' a 'ontaminated' ,M Gr re$d.h into sonen's subjctivities, an insufli.i€nt !. trI as distoning s?ssion of'rnolivc'. Bur I do not $g8cst thal il is for thrr reasn politicaly invalid. No crilic or histo;an, after all, would tr€at spe9.h r. a trssparent mediun of fie sel-f ev€n when she is obliged to crcdir $r'1, avaitable-6 But
t€stimony as 'authcntic'. Critical srategies of interpretation are cruciauy cau(l into play in negotiating the cotupleyjties of subalt€m sFEech. All interyretations arc contests of meadDg, md hen@ must be li.$c. ., strugglcs tor power. Su.h codtests are not enacred betwe€n the text's aulbor il. 'originato{ aod thc cridc this r€latiorohip is, on the contraryr raditionali nol an agonjstic o.e, but is struclurcd hiemrchicaly to place the c;d. in 11| ....i:iart i.slli.i cf cxcgeth( 10 lbc work in question- Stugglcs rathc. tal. place withjn the arena ol dilftring inlcr?relarions freighted wi$ dillcrcnt poltn .,I 89
Feminist interp.etation of cultuml tcxts mrk6, lu nolldd Reading rcmen\ tex1s, d Susie'Iharu end l(. lrlhhr intrcduction to a major an*rclosy of Iqdian womclrl wdtl0|| c€nturies, is ,n attehpt to r€ad rditanl narativd q$h the conshained dd @nventional foms in which such wrili'lgl nrn power dd desirc invcst (h6$ !0Lt 'z3 But an ac*nowledged will to Ma.hng subaltem voices head requim in the suballcrnirl, llirt, iht
iv€ F€mise that such voices qisq se@nd and following upon thlr, tho of arduous rfta;he;;l; tie se ch for the voic$, boft arcl'lvtrl I anrhrcpologi.4; dd firdln d'ei' *g'j_'"1,.t--.,"yT!prion; h'dslaii;_nj do.u;[adon, editorial labou, dissmiEtiql c.iid r€]Eludon dd fuht for jcano! .4 This hdi.al sterpns is Eaught with dan$$, failure of tad, rlE @.bitalion i.ct a5 it is to fakin€dd" critic aad the comqucnt'l'lericiation {c}iafedoizarion of &e $balteB.e It ;! . la.k Bt l a it is ncsszry dleir dF .ubalt€ai aoie' is .ought $ be polilicaily The subaltm's spedr la b. miocal singdar &d author'r€E '; but th€ appropiatio! of hq loicq 6I ha!€ td.d to a€ue, is at k st e strategy in politi.rl pEcli.a di!(bsjoq abov€, abour rh. lisil5 ofqr€d' as a m6ffi "f"9bi9rt'jry. . thrcusb rhe probLeruEffi oi rr'i-SitinoA-eqGriou or n,'tw wilh language us€; the id€ntiftarion of the slcces. of paEialcha.l ie6 to pr€-€mpt dd disredit wotun's sp€ech; dE rccognition of frl!€ iousn€ss' a.s endenic to subalt€m belielshcturc,; tll€ need fo. a prcband int€mtionary speafing 'for' th. subaltem by lhe witer/cdtic, is exehplin€d in a story by the M,lalatam Miter lalithdbila Arte 'PEti@adMta (1938) ($ii.h appem in Enghh tr&slztiotr d 'The of Rewng.' in Susie Thd aad K. talidEt dtlology W@ Wil;ls
'PEti@dcvata', th€ namtor, a womas wit€r, is li^ited by a ghct d work l,t in $e nighL Tbr shdl i! dur of Kuriyeda$u Tdbi, a wonan who in l9O5 tad nda8onc the rdra,;ch@ or l]itl held to Fy adultercs i^nen od to €x.@buniale th@ liom clit€ Bnhsin .olMuity of the Malay:li Nmbodnis. Ir h€r ouqoding wit€r Tatri des.ibes the sndition of NamMiri wni.! poiignandy. Nmboodiri Brahnin 16 often proflrgat€, wa allow.d to nurry sertral and was frec io abandon then when he ch6c. The women wft.oDnncd inn€r rcomi and subjected ro oder sv€.e restrictios. Tatri\ husband,
sb dr
a brief period of temp€stuou pa-lsion with her, bnngs hom€ a plostilute day, and €jects Tatn, aftcr mockinSty adviring her 10 bccome a prcstrtute Talri rcluris to her paMtal home, orny to lind h€Nelf un@t€d there Finding that her b€aury atbaca male Slances, and deciding to cxploit ah€ €xperiise she has sained tu muiase, she d@s tal<e to prosdtution, in couse of time a rich dd fmous court.s:.. Evcntuelly h.r own rctums to her as a clicnt not knowina who she ;. Whcn he discoveF 90
':
REAL AND IMACINDD WOMIiN
THE NA\{F, OF THE HUSBAND
Ialidnnbikak inaginaliv€ rerreation ofTarri'3 it(,ly -,ind lh
hG identily he fiees in shock. Taki is broughr to trial, d opponunig- she u to nam€ the Namboodiri m€n rich, fdous ed influentiaj mcn who h slept with
hetical, unsetrling vein ed hd !"luation of'lhlri'r d.llAn06 ll h3 restored it 10 'history', wen as rhis hisrory has bcen ic-ai fiction. Thatu and Iilitha a, ediron havc tl$n rnror
hel
She is prevented frcm going on with her conf€ssion. consnri ofthck disclosures, afte. shc hs named sixry-fi\€ mcn. Tatri dcsperately wish€s rhe writd ro uddctaqd the reasons *,hy sh€ 1( to prostitution: she 16 denied any other opriotu, she had been taughr to ext h$ beauty and s€xualiry she nreded to take rcvengr upou her husband. as
it
does solely
a
abovc all she as motirated to act on behafofall Nanboodin wohen in the meshes of dil cutoms . . - torlured and made to sutrcr agonics' (p. Talii seks th€ writer\ qmpatlry aDd h.r endo$ement of her action. first th€ wits frsly ofl€rs; bur she disgftes atout thc st€legi. €trecli€nes her acdon for reveng€. 'Considei now, what good did it do to 3o.iery, hurncanc you *t in notion? .. . An affair rhat .eftainly cared a tumoit, did not su@cd in pointing the way to anlrhisg positive. The end cannot ju(i the hed!, Sister' (p. 500). The ghost rcccdcs, benodins her sinfulness her wNcd etrort on b€haf of her sistes. But fiE witcr dcs aclGo&!€dg€ Taris grar achiwem.nt. 'Fsm G€ of a gfal silenc., leu ma@:d to thmw orr a erqrlosiE, briehtly buni Aark,' sh€ Asures hd (p. 500). The editos of $€ andoloSy in rhe; crili note simildly remark upon lalithambika\ oM achievetuenr 'No Namboo
frmini5t od€vouB d behaf of wompni spdll In thc 6^t placc, LalilhambilG ftcludes T.rri's histo;callmateriai idenritl
,
I
ycaB ago'- Eltablshing the o.rologi..l iden{ny of the supeftaturzl \isi sriter\ transadion witlt her, and hcncc to, I asks-
have
aldnng to do wih
you ur ess I knflrd
Tatri, howcvcr, rcfuscs human idcnrity: rI ncvcr
v
to be called a human being again, and particularly not a wohan. To be hunr
it;,
dr wa'6 h which lbrri! testimony in the l€gal rial (thc eBur€4 silenced, $bEh4 punishcd &d .oDtaired, R+rich tlnpath€licaly r€f,orts. At hd trial Ibtri is alt@€d to !!me orly sixty$b.n she claims she ould hrlr 'rtud€ ;l poss;ble ro .xcomeicate .. . mm b. a99J. Hd mdc in lEtng fie mm rhdudiDg hn m eily irivi,.lird ln dE .y6 of dE wdd b.r s:ific is only as a tcgal ai*ir irvdhing a prosritutc' {p. 500). Hd 1try is pmsoib€d. Then ther€ is dE bacUah: 'Men bqan io rq&!re Nuwonen alt drc more, uiins tltst incidot a! a weapon. Wc ar€ d@ now ing our hcad! onc€ again Dder rle ffie yoke' (p. 500). Th. Ery m€! have fqnale relrfriws whGe hgotry' @ntinues (p. 500). Tatd's .- 3h€ had s€duc€d 60j000 Namboodiri rlten - fixe, her rEpuadon in h€r testimony - she had tlmed s;rty-fiv€ of them is obltucEredhdks lhe no.ar €xplicidy i! h€r ston/i f.mzle individlalis is th€ ned is for d cAleidrele]iiinisln- The Mit€. asls: \i4ryaa ]bu to inspire aI the othq rca& ud slalish Nmboodiri womq? Wtry did . the burden of ereqe all atone? In datt€.s of tli6 li!4 Silter, @uot triunph' (p. 500). Aut h;hat the story cqually dmoBtr.t€s futility of (nrdividual) spech ud *ie necd for (@]latire) a.fiqr vhen s llal€ to be righted or rcvdse €j€.t€d lry &e residins subaltdn {sman). i a th€ rBistd/r€ven8€ sbalt€m mode that I critique inAr flm my tdt in lhe follo{ing s..lionfinally,
IV
rl
Thcn thce is the queslion olihc mcans and cfilctivcne$ ofcommuni(ari,4 when womcD's nanativcs arc at issue. Tarriis storv has been so absolurcly ccnsored ftat no Namboodin may ncDrion lrcr.amc. Tharu ard I-alitha ,.1,,r' fiat all dre dftumcnts rclating 10 thc trial have be€n destroycd by the fanriLr 1Jl
politics in th€ diatogic tailpiece we se€ thc powcrl nffiity of intiqretation in radinq the subaltcmi
rt
how crucl, whar an expcricncc of agony' (p. 492). ltf questior ofthe histori.al actuality ofhcr narradve rherefore rcnai.s a suspendal on. given the Don-r.solution of liLr humaD slalus- \{ohen3 voiccs lion (h past -cogle to us only through ghosdy visilalions, nor with the materialir! i
how dcceniul
ttri's
is
becomes a prccondition for the
belidin h€r story'But how.& I
to 'con€ct'
e,
as a gbost, and by dcliLcrarcly pushing back an event tlmr happcncd in 1905 to a dmc d.s$ibcd vagucly as 'morc than a huD
who you .rc?' she
of women bonded in '*terhood' * is poignmdy imaSEd ln tho by the lomal device ot the story within the story In thc wrltcrl
rlay
and irreducible
rprcscnting her adually
indl
ad h;toricaly and critiGlly 'pla.ed' Ialithanbika'! llory of l0l$ Mde . This mode of disrcnination of gendcrcd qnc(h -
this 6Ln text,
I
sp€culat€ chi;fly upon the
,uietis, s rel a
the
at their auagEm.nt, that in my view underlie fie statding repof a wonan's murder of h€r husbad. The popliar HiDdi fi14 is g€nre lnown for attenptiog radi.al or hitercdox ideological solutions to Problemq. o'. lor rha, malr', flcn raking @gnirdcr olsu.h prcblrms.e
:ndn M@s (.r\ddy tmnslated s A Forehead Sneared wirh Blood)'33 +. rr'ife s LilliDg ofh.r husbdd - t."i,-r," :!l.i. -:* ..:; . i :..1:J. i "
She retaliales not thbugh recouFe to legal (hence what wolld be
gt
O! THE
THD NAME
prindily
verbal) testimony a9inst
hih, but firough
action ofhlling him heNelc
Thc phenom
d
REAL AND IMACINED WOMEN
HUSSAND
for sati, Nandy turns up a shadowy s1ory of .origins': .The edtiest m)th about lati spcak ofa Rajput wife who poisned he. husband. llhis "cime", Diodoru Si.ulus said in 314 Bc, the ..instirulion t@k irs
rhe viotent and dcli
of @nt€mporary wiG-murd€r (do{ry deatlB,) in
r
requires a brief er"osition here. $,ife-nurde6 have been on thc rise nr i parrs of India in the pasr two de@ds. In 1990, dow./ dearhs rotaltcd _{.38(l frcm 2,209 recorded in 1988).s Th€ ostcnsible cause ofthc death ofth. \id h the for additional dowry nade by the wone's husband and -demand family.$ Afier s Tering months or yeaN of torture dd .tuelty. rhe $ onun dnvm to kin heNll or i, actualy ldlled by the fmily, thereby hakins \zr the husband to nanf again (dd fius bring h ano*rr douyr. He;dez(lr almGt alwals gtun out d e accident, ed siqe it is often caufd bv 6R. it
not hard to giw it the appcaEn e
ofa
kitchen mishap. ],ere the a.cidr
explanadon fails, rh€ husband's feily wi otrer suicide a a qus.. -{cr mulder is rirnost ;mpossible to prore in a coln oflas, gi!c! the circum of dcath in a domcstic plaa and situarion. Feninists have recendy begun ro dehald the reptac€mer of repErnb
of wofted 6 ehject! af f@ by enphasizing ist€ai tn€n 1 , agtn6: capacity for violene'. Arguing in th. specific
victim becomes unpmblemariidty eteEted to th€ $arus of husband). 'I l,-n for" I di.us rhe wile: kilinq ofhcr husband nor a. a d,-i-.d . ,, alternati\r 10 fic existin8 re.ourses available to Indian $,iv6 jil-ticard dowry aid cedainly not ,5 a munter-phcnomenor perc €d jn sociat tuati 11 is, on the conrary its mere conccptualization given how biz&n ard Ielchcd ii6 r@lization in '@l life' would be - that tales on significan.c i,, dtsulsion ol naan Bh6i Mtuhs. Ar th. sdr rine. $e po$ibilih drdt a MfF may b. dn\rn ro ki h.r h I.l,.l d@s not la.k its prcmonitio! in the cdturc,
the ill-treatment she receives
;.
gi€n how widespread and bhlr
Th€ wiGf Bpomibility for thc dcirh
.l
husband is a possibilily that is already coded wirhiD the 1abtu upon her u(.r, of her husband's dame: by speakins his nane she will shoren his lifc. .
Nandt aLo explains rhe relation between the Savithri myrh
-
the
qrh
"l' wiG who lud reciaincd her husband li.om the .ealm of dcarh and opprob.iu,n hcaped upon the Hindu widow in tcms ofsuch a rccognnior, hcr husbad's deatli; "ii,ibur.d 10 h€r,tailur€s in prcpiriarion', cvcn r, 'homicidal wishes magicall) coming kue,.r. In his rescarches on rhc cut q3
I
We enter a spiral of.ause dd etrec! and .he hyrhical .orjsinal'@usc immolation of the widow (dd, by exredsion, of th€ wiG of lhe living nd ill the nodem dosry deatll), is th€ wifek pemdy! Thc husbad, ii must kil, or be knbd. scenario produced by dns bftuous logic js kmilid ro us fron other of irl3utmtion and conrrol. Tlnnny is frequently les tikcty to be the slDise to aciual, mcted rebellio! thatr e eti.ipation of n- Such ion is given cr€dene by &e c61r'krion ot isP€ined i.eo,ric o. &tual po\ocati@ of obaltem inunction. Ard dr6 s,hen acEal u
o6u. thry arc ofrcn;r the Dlm ofeu-fdfiniD8 piophede ln € that initialy ditr€$ Iim but tuutv 6€nbt€s 6€ ptttB ofscaF' the victim is Gaed arhq thu tlrrl€d , but is in €ihc- .:s punilh€d of social safety.+l IIn giring, ed ilnasins, f]rc wiGt rardcr of a in the 6l[l I di.al.!, rysl$ to ll:€ ro sre 6 lucll a
An t Madg is quicldy sutunanzrd. R.*ha i a ptain, mirc dd ;cI vrilh two )eung chndren. She attracts the rctice of a chming and e fortme-hu er, Kabir Bedi. He dd his mistGs plot ro hM him
bI h€r offand marry each other on the irteritanc. he. sucssfuly, largEly heause of hft ap*.1 b hel childm, and : &om her family rerainer, her frimd!, rtc Th.y mafy, but do not mate thei! nrriaSr b@sc he deli@dy respecrs h$ soories of 1l€r On their holiclmooq (on which rtEy e arnnpadied by rhe a, wel ar by th€ mist esi, now ]rBqdcadiDa 4 Rctds,s frierd), Bedi c., th€n int€nd to
ooa
ttdde on a boat ride, p!sh6 her irro .he @re., and 95 hs Mpped .rccodile infsting d,e nwl Rekha, hoKwr, ua*i6q rc him, to swim to sa{ery. Slr is badly malle4 bu1 a kiDdty pd6r he,ls lrcr and othd coumry o€di.ines. lta fae, noft dte les, is honibly She wwr wenge upon he. husband. PlanniDa qrefuly. she socs (to t,}!e USA?), ha her fac r€pair€d ed re@61ructed by a pl;tic and relums a a glam@us model. She rhen s.rs our to s€due ho husband-dEt-was, gfts wirh him to h€r old holiday r;ftat, and him i.to the rivcr to be dcvou.ed by the crocodiles. She is rcurired &ildren and her new love'. Thc ridF ot rh. filrn pta)s on rh. imaa. ot Hindu wife sho frIs $€ pdring other hair wir; doa. or ttuntan \a .s a sig! of auspicious wifehood; heft she fits it wilh blood 2, a E filln, rega.ded as a texr ofthe cukurat uncorocious a Wi.te does of wolf-child sighdngs in .oloniat India images the fdtAies of both ;r3 rpr;:cd goups, erpressing both fcar and dcsirc. tr sives plcaure
and pewasiv€ way, wilhout ;nreryolaring vicw€6 into any spedfic,
I
THE NAME OF THE fiUSBANl)
or singul&, subjec+osition. The Bombay l{iDdi fitm can be viewed
d
ncnt
popular an lom 'of the people' .or suspiciousry as .put by the commercial film-naker, the mo;e Moghul. lrs ideology is nol idcndfi. eilher dominant or .esistant, but cai be selecrively rcad as either b€causc ol
kntimentaly
a
strategic wa)s in which
ii
plays ofi'fantasy against social convention.
The fomula film's strict obcdieice lo iint aric convedtions of a order is a precondition ofits inas appeal. In th€ fi6t place, a fantasv. ir h: bc foundcd on the paadox of.epresenting a rccognizable unEaliry i.e. n b€ a rcpresentaiion that has no apparnt conoection to any looM or so.ial sitution. In this senre, therefore, Bedi's att€mpted }iling ofhis wif. litdr ro do wilh dE @ntempoay phenorenon of dowry deths. Similarlv luunous liG style of the cHefchancteB imaged in it - consisting of wi p@ls in the bakJa.d, nce Lo$es, holialay rcsorts is rcurinely €rcked in Hj films A a trdlm ofdcsir.. Thc nadb ot mdi ot ttlc atwmprpd murdc, I, a peaon to cro@dilcs - is a complete\ bizaft and unlikely lom ofdearl, an upper-das urbd wiG (unliLe th. t}?icality ofdeafi by fire)..4'd ycr fim {o'nd not ldork' ud6 ir dnt har€ a r€lationship. m€diatcd and sith siar na[+ The&fore B.di's murdesuseq &.oding ro the frtn\ is notivatcd by greed a dowy d€ads ej ud Rrklra's crocodilemauled does uncannily resemble the disfigurem€nt ourd by 6r€Scond, popular 6lm camot alow itselfthc play ofirespoBible and subvc
posibilitics; on the .ontrary iG mnative is strictly controlled so as nor raftgress the bounddics of the morally and socially acceptable_ Thus irs subv€ftion is sub!€ned and r€turned to rhe nomative. Howryer @vj$g€d tlrc uifc's murd€r of 1hr husband @y b€, it is here o tuIed l)y nudbei ofnodifications that qualiS the act's lransgressive eflecc (a) thc b 160 is kiled is a second huSan4 a uutxi wbo has takrn th€ plaft ot 'authendc' fiBt h6band; b) thc maniagc is nor consum@tedi .incc Rckh not guilty of desirc for he. Dcw husbatrd and thereby retains her loyatr) (,, fi$l husban4 she rcndds thc *cond ndriase, h a knk, ihlarid; {c) li,
wome who kills hcr husband is no longd the wotu $ mrricd h hcr idcntity is co,nprehensively overhauled, hcr very appcanncc 1rans ID som€ senk, therefore, it is not 'rea.lly'a .e ofh8band-hurder a( ali, borh 'husband' and 'wiG' remain merc and inauthcnric designadons tbr the
man and wom^. wh6 mafr Thid, the structurc of the action ot the flm is cast in the srrict symn of Benge, doM 1o the fom of death metcd out to thc would,ba mrrd The woman's kjlling ofhcr husband is thererore a fom ofjuslicc, cvcn a li
ot divine redbution (in one sede in th. film thc icon of Kali/Durgr, avcnging godde$, is expli.il.ly displayed; and in th€ last fighl scene Rekla, her hair loose, wearing nen's ciothins, carrying weapons and riding a ho'xr,
a thc visual analogy ol dre soddcss). Thc notivc or reto{f I/'oo, derires most immediately f.oin rirc gcnrc of rlt ligilanrc lil,n, a ',(r phcnomenon in Indian cinema lhat reflccts a Irowins pogutar bclicf rhrr, I elokcd
ju,tice and order havins brcken doM in a basicaly lawless society, rishteous (who is irvdiably single and male but may sonetimes be a sometimes den be fcmalr) can punish the guilry. there is the hajor requirement of popular 6im, the happy ending. t is
the;ctin's
revcnge successful, it also cnjoys immuniry from the law.
'cotrditioro of success' of the popular 6ln's fomula @n be quickly wiln $e differrnr modes of studu;ng subalr.rn r.sistan, c in somF t€xts I have alluded to edlier The unusual d€thod of hliD8 in instance, is very diFerent fmm the delibemtely bdal realisn of
Ramddt
story 'The D'nbna', in which th€
breils l!)l)m
h€r husban4 setting hin dight Both the comonplrE mtui€ of tlis and its futlity a an a.t of ordt reknge, e imio y point d up
in dr. fl)E of r nevpsprr that r?orts the dent a! an addelt;! wLich 'a tl@ d;rd {fiitc rting his wif€ fren death . Compd, too, R€Iha's [email protected] strdss in lhe flm *f-destructive 'rorlge' thar lhai .€ds fircugh E*ral iuiDidrion of in I-atithmbita's ?.aliczxade€l2. Th€ niie'. li:jing of her i Xhoh mt< ako b€ mog,i*d & en FIy diflerem i! motiK ud Fom the 'dime ofpasion', or dt€ eurder for profrt, dut the populd audtor in a tanpiM to
t}f
ltory-
gi6
often attributes to the wife. Nor do€s dre kind ofbitter misgyny elrab in his exposition ofMn Macombeis gEtuitous shooting ('The Short, Happy Life of Francis Maconber') provide drc ideology of the filn.{'? lfrooa Srzrt.4taaq i! sigrificandy diremt e!€n fomula 'revenge' 6tm alluded to @liei WlEre most films of tti€ been uabahedly anarchic, th€ act of ldlidg in ffhrd, though a in the othen as self-riglu€os Feng€, is q€ut d in d cxacl
story
ffi
i*
l{
il
rt: I
30
ninSwa);
tried b suss€sq nmdiotu as a wamtng dasscs/.kc 6tes)aAainsl cxc€din8 of a toleEblc opprgrion of thr lffr ordc. At th€ $r',€ ti6e, by ing and thed prqjcding lne sifidio of insurcctid', it also pave the fun-her - and mor oppnsive traub ol (onuoL .[-t&n thrn MMiS Ecjsly encodr r}is double |rFes.. ft aLo subsed onradi.to4 es: it suggesls that victimizcd wiv€s Gn and may kill their husbandq but they should not, in th€ first place, mrry the 'wrong' G.e. here, the hsband. Nevenheless, the ctux of the argument of the filn, frcm ny , is that il envisag€s 'action' a an option availabl€ to th( opp.6sd, prsetrted 4 justic€,
i ha€
cd grcups (patrjarch)/1he tuling
as viohnt ed revmg"n,l h,{ juq, ;ts agrnt L a '}a' .hat h€r victim is her husbed. In th€ n€xt, and @lcluding, this chapter, I eimine the subject-constitutive bornds id possibilities
thi\ a.tion
ad
'action' framcd as rcsisrancc
lu
t1
tr
T'IE NAMD
OF
TIIE HUSBAND
REAL
^ND
TMAGINDD WOMI'N
In
ma]ring rh. djsld.rions bcNcen [email protected] dnd d.Lon. I hnr", the dfitrm.r. mong Fm ,lxrfly a .onrenirDr ,d.gort. cl\i.io.: rmdini,,8 a$d ulfieirRuidiq and prmeabihD. Ttru. i1,,,. r"i..., of rl'c .ilen(e rbar spedts. and thc .prech drrL lJit. e Lommrnidl.
signifrcanr 'supplements' to the self-definition ofeach.{r But in opposine .; to both sihn, e ahd 5pF( h d a non-ve,bal .nd peiro, md,nc ..pe, . oj I subjectivity, my ituistence on reraining ditrcrence is, I an aware. hoc lFturi(dll) drrendcd. The 6co;,ation oi d,r jpee(h-a.r - rhF run, u.n, re$al utttla@ s de€d - prcpound€d .hi.ny byJohn Autin, undfts thc opposition betwe€n the categories ofspeech ed action. But even {or Aus John ljselyn poinrs out, rhe ,perfo@rive, asFEcr of Wech is o! ! .legal, inrtrun€nraliry s thar wlich transaction, brings about a @nvqancc or a b€quest or, horc ceremoni mariagq a baplism or thc opening ofa ns town halt, by 6ins ccnain
appli€ble to sch 'opedtiw,
of @rd: in (eMih appopriar. circmsl?nes.d Such ,p;n h a;K. in , sr actual, sftial siruarion are more likely to cur in p;r,ilcgcd Edrcr oppr.sstre sqial siruad4G. or [email protected]. D(hcJ rtun
int\duJ
become oppored and hiehrch;..Iy posirioncd ati\t.ies.a6 A.rion is as., pr€polirical, wilh violen.e, with the .DrivatC rcalm of h.h.
wilh thc
dom.su. [fe. i F. Lbe desporis offtp houstrord, or of Asjd edpirs: \r. spesh, kpaand f.om su.h @de acrion, impli€s ihr potiricat, dr discol,\r pc$uasion, thc pubtic realm.+'Ranajit cuha also connccis adioD anrl \lr iD nrurgdry bi showirg how peasanl uprisings are invejabty ac.o,rDr,tL,l 1h€ des.clion of lesuagc, '€itho by direct;buse addrsed to . . . $trr
or
by adopting rhc Iaft€r\ mode of speech'.s Cuha points our rrrar rradiL,,t
sub.llem 'calMn), .ontcmptuous talk or intimidarioD, was defincd as r( or "shasa", that is, a crimc of violence'. But equally, such w.bzl dt1 -"." unacconpanied by action, wd quickry aDd rrrr
:;::iHlJ
bet{een spee.h silence on th€ one hand, and acrion on the orlrer, adnrirr
canDot bc maintained- But I wished also to dislosc the hierar.h izarion ,,i n k over aclior tlut pe6ist5 in thcsc, ar ;n most, analyscs ot hunran .rtnn). 'lhis liic.ar.bizario. sts nI.r!:i t.l;tijjt.t.1;nti ;t a.riori iMrhour Arcndr, 'Only shcer violence is hurc, and for lhis rcason viotc.cc "or.l, al.nr. l 91
int€Nention', since it.-is 'violence against penoD and
s I W}rcn I
events of dris ldnd'.51
prqrcn, llt
began to work on rhis chapt€r it was wirh rhe conviction rlut rlln0n was and o\ly couid be - a unique text, a re figuring fonh of repressed. In the couse of irs hiting I bege to hear of other tcrb, fflmr, featuq,_ plays, deufr€lraries, ehich als rcpEnted drc vir.l rining
'i M@q
:rsiol
the husband.s'3 I t!fr€d up new ir€B of sch rnuden, ttogh rhci iably att ibut€d th. wife's modr ro adultcos Farsiorl* I! a gl€n detemided' perio4 $rh as PltEits in tddia toda]a 1}. !d$€ of {IlM'6 is Eivialized $ .dnprhos;licb lhat o.n namliB att botrd ro 8ah
I do no' rclrbBrc rhFr fmdin€s. G otrd dis pDptEcy i' a +i,n oJ siat .lrsis. As I re n. rhn @rry lirde sisrmdnG for rhc phc'i!)'!nm of wife udq. As should be clear by now, I har ftated the ife,s r€r'tiaidy kining her husband in th€ cont*t of the .dowy deadr, F,trc!@n Dercly as ; eptual posibiliry I have not pl@d tne cat€8ory of.action, ou6id€ discourre: it is only within the di$rnlive space of th€ ]lmc of the hulband rhat ,pFedt and th. drion ot aJr lo.ared ud rheb r€latioDs 'evcnse .!6 Th. srifling dialrcric of.p€rch dd sjtm.e i! dmply exteDded ro a $jrd rem; and i. view of th. limit€d @8 tir sttu.i@ wirhin h. thconzF sui L expmiotr ha. I betirtc, irs us. 'esisran.r.
NOTES Gftk brn': and Pintt AL"d .adl/M6 q+lo arAued rhr l:4 of R viadq Kflr, bumr b defi in IS83 lrs at.u $r bnn d.r simitrenc. df N Suprft Coun judB"m.rr., whi, h *,'" i. . -. or -i.idc ; mmcd sobcn ;*""",-r .virt n... ma, t" edi'hd'u. m pL- ot drtu Nidtr;. Se ,rt m.ir 54-i. Seprenbtr D€.cmbrr 1c87. pp 21 4. The nagical pow.s ol lansua8c arc afimed in similar prchjbiddtu Faditionaxy
'imposed upon rhc rvirc's rcading
wft ajio Ooi-.a m Ue ruta rol. Nanc a.t3 eEcrly tike ns oppGire, ficin.dration,rh, j.p' o, Nam. ord,e rord. d i,,i;tu '.p,3hd.hadngofrh, asp.fl ol Hindu rleiou, sor.hip. tn borh h6G€ !igni6.d is mlrdficd dd;xdFd. sh/r;' Mrho'- s dcdh M. d ;" -p,b[.r"d .^", on.,],.;o* th. dnn,,,1.i"" ' ol ainS d. dsng d..L'dbon & cqdcn, c in @ud,--d Shaun' dird on 2t Aprit 1989. bd Miring
rh€
iusbud. Ink.cstinsly, dc nrdtcljon
Slt
gavc out .liftc.inq.{arcmcnts
ofvhal
wbich
;fiic
had causcd her ratal
bum.
Tlc lr' on. \l'.1' ,h, tudc nnm, diaFtv o,. anival rl Ur hospnd % giv.n ' unJ,' du'.. h, n jl,.' jn.tr1 .Ld Jha"dtl rh:.dcn.d hc. .::. sJ Parenb
sirl
rdnbndon if shc told drc rrutt. lt w6 oDlv later rhat Shalini .,cnt 98
THE NAMD OI THE HUSAAND
REAL AND
o! re@d b ey
drzt she hrd giwn hcr iiEi declaation undd p.csurc and &at she had actually h.cn sct on firc by her lurbaM. This articlc
als
relatcs the ambiguity
surounding rhc dyinA .lcclaEtionfs)
ofl{i
inhuon \ho dird,nJduart q90. s.. R".njnd VdDUr, Lr.4.,.rotuU.r/r1!r v'etu aftndu,7 n;tu.||i992, pp. 7,9. siialini,s rcond c""acsion, ti, "p;kd, h.r lospit l bed, $d Kord€d lilc on narional .tcklnion. tn spiic of tic pul,]t and dE narure ofde wid€ftq howev€., lhr ki.l against hcr husband and liis Ii,0 is sdll p€nding, dd lhe a(used aE fr€€ on bail. Sec the neB rpoi, ,jusicc
rrudc Shal,ni. nv 1w\ {Indn. tb Jut t9a2. 4 Thc phBe appeas in tnc cpigraph to SLahi Deshpandc\ novel, ?r,r Lag Iirl Lndon, \4r€o, 1986, aDd is lal€n frcm a rpcech mdc by Elizabeth Robbinr 5 S&h s*inal work
asj@ a.$y\
wond, Hitu!, Za9, Ctneso, Univcniry
Barban 5fi1s,, ed-, Htu Gini: A BluL Faianr Anhtt s,\ YorL, Kitch.n Tabld l^hmen of color hes, 1983: chcni€ Mmsa and ctr Anzrrdu!, cds, nn &i4, CatM tb Buk tt|itry b Radiral +1/m dj Cit,, I York, Kichen Tanb: Womcn orc.lor rrc$. 1983: Sedm Cilbc( bd Susan c trt eds, Tlv Na o Anhoh,p a-f blda u b ttan h: 'ni taini" it ttstuI, Ncw yotk,\,J. No.ron, 1985j Dd Susie Thaa ed K. Iili&a. .ds, WoM bltitng ia hdb 6A0 ChicagD
Pft$,
1984j
IM
GINED WOMIIN
ta Gulb. Et-rata! /1taL.p.46. cuha comnrm Banhci! z.rc dl{n s,tt[ tllo lmtlit c-amnrndr junrs n.bon ol [p, cuhd quorcs Lhr @hrncnriry or vuur I I cnmnabd /o'4 ar rh. nshb d,d h.b nj.\ orrlr r}in8 wt,i.tr l Fphc.r't,t . blrnt o, ar, i in sr\eral p1"..: utur"d d bavins a (.t cxi;,"""r i". nij.-- - '-19 M4,ol l'., vs n d .p., rat ,$ur ot fltrJoumat t ftDyI, I.hU Wnrr;r, t, J r r n:pprcDr. k,d I u'h"r . drv rs Ltr"s. pl@$A. Tnnh T. Minlr.tu t0ffi trnrtil.i I
\'rcn, c cdn only Lc subvr^nc wha, i. Lrcs iBctr Lon lnc dalcl.titrcd irnrl. 'r,a,ALqnr. tj.t. ol and
rrdr'6 rhinin. E*n.e,. wn.n i b-..",
i""ff";;';;i
3 3. Ap. p. 8r. ThLs happ.G in Lhr Sri"Lank nhF mjle' lf,st. Thorror,i,{Auk whi.l, is drsfib.d ty U"a" e-r.r,m * o.,,or sp""Ln8 wLh. hncldgr. s"faline wirh n6 losuasr: ,Tho-o" ** |*-"";ii qs'9-on .outs,j. idnsua€c. a racr ot ?.rtr. 6 a *+.*. t" ir..U i r.* oi $gn'n.auon rha rreJ6 lns rpM@id6 lol re4 rnd dr oridrl b bdh in empyng our a nd d nd.hbudon oI mmins. (K ha .No, SD.:linc qid; rtu.ft/ spearong w',h \o bngusr: I^li.'!trcn6\ Ab 4t4.. DiM a pp. ro: ir. .",p .
p_ 103).
r,,n ,l6ar, Dclhi, Oxlird UniEir/ P.€*s, l99l are predrcrs of ch a fh. lat. ntrdlN b el. N nor inrmdd ro !. @mPl.hm$w. 6 rn Iran ad Saudi A€iiia woftn cannor give cvidcn@ in z euri of lav al zlli
Paljstd the didcnc. ofM ftncn is equal to rhar of one @s; npc hs n, couniriB notoriously eive lnde crcdcn c ro rhe woman's .unsnpponcd' rcd. 7 Acording to Plab ,s adhc6 more close'y 10 tm& rhd td6_ Sce Hannah Au t, Th. Emu C$ditim, ChicaA.\ Ur;r^ity of Chiago Prc$, 1958, p_ I 7a, n. 4. 8 Jcmifer Wicke, 'Koko's N.cllac.: T[o wild Child 6 Subj@t', Ctitinl g.ldtttl:l l, Spring 1988, pp. I l3-27, csp. p- I17. 9 R^ajn e th^, Et ntnLt Aslek 2l Pe@t t&&rq i t4t iaL tnli4 D.th;, Unirc^ity Prc$, 1983, pp. 40 l. $'omcd dd &116 arc lmdide,lly forbiddr! tf hear or mcne lhe v€dd. ln rtu P\tib aI tztguas l79l-t819, Oxtbil, Clarcld,'q 1984, Olvia Smilh also prcp*s thd lansuge rc0cd.d cl6s diviriol .At of politi&i onflid, 3uch s !ria! fo. $dition or thc djeNion ol epr6ik lcgistdi.'t, thcsc conccpts werc uscd to jusdfy drc dcnia! of political and soci.l .igh6 !, h
l0 Wicle,
Ii
pp. l14-15.
Koko's
^"ccuaa', Tb,ru,l\bmen llnnns
tndi^'. Jonal oI Atu a"/ ft.ar 20 l, Itarch ],r,rl, 'h pp. 49-66, csp. p. 52. 12 Thc phrase appan in cayaln C. Spilljg Co thc Subalcft Spcal? Spccutllrh on Wdow Saqi6c', Wa4,7/8, Wnrcr/Sp.ing, 1985, pp. l2O 30, sp. p. 130 l3 Ibid., p. 120. 14 Sc" Chaprer 2, csp- p. 52, whdc l diFu\s in rllc fil'n, Ankiati latra, thc tt$:i Smie
Jaslob.ti, lhc wonan condcmnLyi ro di. as a sari, io bc r.alcd
a
aD at,i(1r
sac.incc, or as a subject who nusr cscapc hd d.ath. 15 146- (in Tdugr), .[r. Daari Narayana Rao, l99q iar; (in Bensali), drr Aparnr , 1990. In onc carlicst tjlms in Gis Fcnre, ,1,/rdl (in Hind . dir. Nihalani, 1980, drc prctagonn! a man wlro has lillcd his *ilc\ rapit6, sul)lrtr rll r.l@s !o speak drerealiff, cwn in his orfr dcfcncc.
s (irirl
ol6c
16
Ku
unSansrn. O.r.,dr..
C.n,in.r."nd r.
cd., WoM/lrug/TsL Fninin R'nAng\
a.f
17 Str ClEptcr l. pp. 32 3. 99
Li-aq
-Shor Cu, 7,,1s,
Nrv
,'nrotnc,,.,1 ,.,
Dclhi, T.iank., tlrlllr,
lo' th"opprs.n.,V,nion,fd. rh.c\Pbn.d dd rhos.vhosbd bd Mtgst.
$dc by sd.. a g,\rur ol drhaF rh4 hcJs. ln,r m,L: w mc. ra iL tmkd p6iblc. I' L Llu an oj +€tL of -&l,hng br.r- dur i! no m.F g6rR o, .mph sord.. rlDr i. $. rr?,** or -*iq r-* oU;o b s,bFr." Er i. tl. libc'.tr.d \.". (.Ia&iDg Batt'. t&e6,8. pp. 123 8. csp. p. r?s) Guhd. LltnabD A!n!t, D.45.
Ior
Lh.
rcmru.r-qnp'.-is m \oir{N U r.
Chap.rr 2. pp.
bus6, in csubtbhD8 rh. Ld! .wi[,.*
?6 Shakmtala NdAimrrd, Jidi A St!4, af ranM Bming ia tndk,.New Dclhi,14*jng, 1991, p.
7 Rclcr
9l
also
my lhaprc^ on sari m rhis bok.
8 Thr'tu znd'oLil"h Vo@ h/nnn u hdia..pr"k.'. p \'nn. Ib.d. pD. ru, uL:'. +" al{ rh.r;omprhc*iw .Inr;du, tion.. pp t_Ji. I o' r mo'. d(uihd o- u\qio' oj udi,e F"bun." in *o..n.Jn,-;,* r.irw of tri),', Idhu,n Roa/r RAitu\Vt,3, May lunc t9c2.
I PraLiui,d,'..,pp"an oq ,ppca.
on pp. 4qO !00. Ajt pdgc numb.E tor quoDtion\
,* -y fi
om thi.
r\t scdous cinma nr India is a kll_knoM phcnohqh"t^. o. t-: . .uhr cin.ma L !on\.^,, r,. dh.r^-. :( r-rd"nrnd, ']1" Da. LuFd. '..ddi o " n, tndijn .rnmd! tcadrnR;d,,. q.. hs tndi-n in parc'trhrsrs wi$,n rhc
Thc divirior lInrea popular and
100
gi1Ti: rfj'j'*,lq
TIIE NAME OF THE HUSBANI)
cr,.sF.
in fupur
Jayar /r,r..d.. /dn.
REAL AND IMAOINIII' WOM Bansrok. M"dir
r ransa'a, i945, pp. 34_9. c5o, D. 85_ 33 noon Bha; trdd,2, dfi. ?.d"es]. rio,t., rqas 14'11,^c fr@'e. w"r rurn h"d,,, nau;nJt wo,t-hop on.won, I and taw. h"t.t i,r Jdu 'ri laal and quo.d n B.S p.dn dndbt,ax, Ctrder lhu, c fv6 ( t"*,r,
t1. dhdu.,
"hI
-nhtt taat tnrhcpo.drv,r *.^,_t"
t
vonrn ded,D-, wa I Lnlo a.lodrng ,o drr hsub s MaLrur-,,t "..0. ".---,i -_ t a{ddhd tj{hh?r i. amorg rh. , t-i, I lndijn fimini.s *ho now ,,Exr $a( dos^.
(' 'l'h.
RcJ Vu'd
susp. ous .'.dmtun,"5 wilrin rvfl. \ra\ of mdaire". a^a -..* rh. qoman L r.bt t,.h.d r.".r,.r"*,,t "U..
h
,"a,,
."-r"
s.;;;;r;;;;;;;";l:ii"-
".,
sa D.N Gau,de and B.r.".*. r nud, Li,n &.r o**, ii.-) b{h \p,tut B,tue b rhu, D.z/ls. NN D.{ni. B!'* ., p.ida u*i^ ii.."J _l . trtni.ru o, H;-- AffajF. co*,nme1 of tndr,, t98b. d a. 5 r; -,t r/ P"\"|"pm, !iim6 s. r,ghinB Bod'^.. IiBho.d l4ord: A iro+ ua eoiiie of n,"" ^r2n Budn ddJunf\. s,oh. fd5, F@B rhtutirt tu paLLa|. :l":jT 'l}":h N.w Yqk dryt bndon. Roudcdgr. t992. pp. 385 403..sp, p. 401. 'rd "^ For , riAv.*) on !h. tch:tc qs ar" hln,. $e lLdhu Kilhwd od Rurh vJnla. .l\tatc r&cr" o, Frrnnl. Rci ng.,. td6,t, 48. sep._r*;-o,,#, i;6ij' bsDDria,..
]a A,l,i. Ndnd)
At
h,
4{ lirid., p. A. 4 i Nmr-.nrj.+ntun Drxcb ..romrcs
F,ie. 0t Pr.hot
n, L.L. moU
g. Nrw Drlhr.
O,Jord UniEFiry
pBs.
tq82,
to, l.xdpt.. vjvidlv ,F v
sm^ ,E
o1i.n
- .h. rr1, , L r \ rrututior., ri?tain d i; dr [gt .r*i. r._ S,. J,"
lrr,.u Blrd/\o,r , h d,.,,
o,. L,Td . rjn dr v,","J *a s-.rr" "." ,"r-i i,, ..m;ru,ie, nr I l7r {2 Lm-r H,eng\r th. Shon H:|Pr Lt" oI F,uos Mtuombrr. in fh.l_ ntut ntuqlq, rhdon. tana'ne CaDc. 1917 e1 s"pt r,- .. u "o iJ .t'" -n... ri-.ia" g,* i,. bodr a rh,, qhi.t tun, Jons ' -, . phtrrud(. a wdr a .h"r \hh-h \uppt.m{6. laddjosl onh ro @lc!.. ^arpr..i
\
rrr. A"{lGrndian
r,anr
c.)di ct,4,idvon spi"u). But,i;;,.
i: "i,,.y,,,:.,4 "nd Johns Hopkn, UnncRj$ lrcs. te7+. DD j44_5 44 Ulhclln: R" pox iLil.t \,'h rnd.,:d lbrtin . u, Daqd hbod. .d., D_.d, +hi crl,,/,(,ard (J{o.d. lur, t$.[ I'to?. op. 72 cL. 6p. p ?8. 45 Arctult, Hun 46 ll.id., pp 26,
o
n Cqd 27
m
DD 177
i,
50 Atcndt, HMh Cuditi8, p.26. Arcndas definiiion ofrhe nutencs ofshc€.
tolercc, 6 wclt
b{
tll
lohri I
m'ffl
about thc aear ofviolcnce goins bmerk in thc absme ofqE.ch, ti will boraa by m ea.ly 'new wavc' Indi& 6lm, ,.ldl'ffA refercd b cadid ln ,,t0l(lmt I I woman, mped b', a srcup orpolticians, kills hcselt Thc husband muitlco llFr hi Beg€; d thcn .efuss ro spc,k a sinsl€ word in his l)M dcfcncc. cvctr to lllr laryci Th€ end of rhe 6ld shos hin run b€Ml dd &ill his sisrci Wc dtr o$ty sues tna. h€ dG s to ev€ hd Gom a fat .inilar to l,i! qif.,s.
Gfi4 Ela&!d! A$.a', p_ 4a53 Ol ihcr, a 1990 p@duciion, lt 4'lr, lii M,lcsh Bhatt, m6t clcady indids rhr hutt d a a md dc*N;og to de I e gredrn ro Dy @t16sue, Raha Rall@, for dr ing ny attdrion ro dlb tilEl I .ls had of a [email protected] film mdc by Gia Sehsar wi& $c flf-rqla6tory ddq ' !. Prdot€d wiG: A F{e o. Family, Pow6 and
Dmtic \rnl.rm'
5+ Tlu Ti@ aJ'Inlia, d^!A 3 NlMb6 13!r, ror iftrz@. .di€d this n.s nco ptudinendrr '\ tf€, l()\@ lEld for md's mudcr,A.od6 na$ ir€m in dhe smc nespapcr, dated 2 lcbrory t992. &roris tb€ nu.dd of a nckha*puUer Sa.u, and ad& that'tht polia suspar involmt of Safft *ife', Th€ ft.c(@ ot
Kitujft A uvalia, an imietut India * d in Briain, \$o murdered hs nubdd a{ra kn rah ol sfl.ribs r@m h; ill@hcnr or h.r, br(de a ,a6. it D/. Al o*?tia 6 rLguined on app.al My rffple! G chorn tudom. ', rsiliviry ro 55 I hee addp a phff fmm \dlcl.r. $ho s?6.dah upon .de in(Fsd trc pNible fnding ofwolfchithn' &tualy prcducins ,on. d rrc actuat esmitet h. lr7). To prftnt 'discousc' from bcinA rrivialized I refcr itu rca.ld to ftresa dc titrtrits e$at
T&
\4olcrce of Rhebnc CoGidqado$ on R€presnralid and ccnder', l/2, 1985, FF. I l-51. lt is si&in rlc disriminatious 1ha1 dc Iaudis oak6 b€t@n map! &pesid ad dral liolda in rhc FolnddiD nolion of di$ou^e (p. 18) ihar th. adid of lusbaniLmurd€r mus bc l@ttd: d a coftcpl dd cryEsion vhoe enty imo ihc dirusiv€ onlen a angibic .(ritt. upo! n, but as ! (i.i;Liotr b ,loDcsiir riolcm wh.$ frarn3liit lics targch oulsid. rlx. S.aio&o 54,
L;ndon
/
9.
dFu.rn J, .om" r.DA'h An.rd.!.rhan., on td {n.. d li:1 | n ^i L+ lt".\(."n rtr. p.rtoTIjLc /nd Lh. .on.atj$. TFdinq h.., dF,i . b a L'n.-. opF.: ion. Arcndr n,.n .maD( ,r,". .,. ,n\idi. u. p,ht,, /pn.aF.t.Li.., on ,na, ti.. .,r rh. .;",,, |ii","_0,,.l?,;,_,i "r.,ri,,,* *" n^.,'h.I.q.,..r.,h .u...prLh,.:D.."o,i",i .A.1i"".,,, "i,i. f,.. 1'"'l'l", . !, nd - ,en.. :. ou n " ,1o,o..., .pa. r,u. .r .nr,-i. . Ho,'s h rh. n.l oia,uo il rlr. ntEat. Ardon p,od(B iL acro^ 'rdl I0r
,r
an Asonistic Feminisn: Hdnah Arcndt and rlc l!(,lltlfi nf a@t\. Fmhis^ Ilwiz! du Polidtdl, pp, 215-35, c$p, !rD, tll$ 4a Gnlrt, Eldndkq As!{ts, p.4A
I
n
$" til;s ot .";.a t:Ia., t4gd.,tr. a Aprd lq8g. "o.., s* '^r,. ^- M"ndm"nb JD e Doln trohibjrion Arr ot t961, anrd on in 1984 and tcnr, 'o " d. hang.r jn rh" tndir'n penclCod.. lhe C,innnJ p@d"- C.a. ,,,t ,t .;,,;.."i ln. n.E* in dow4{EraRd d€f},, sa"oon aqs; ld:'* l" yl,n ,h. :r:"y 'op.nal rndrn prNidnq rd ,r,. p*.u,io" or I o"" 11 'llY.T.'io' do"r) d^irh.. qhiLhcod. ,Apon.,bh , ovrr.d d!.hs, ro.;mmir {i.id. a ordin8 b , ai,r eftio r t,t.Ar of dr Indib u!id@.. 44, ".; raiz, j" uJi*-"j Pho ol nnt!fue i. u?oo rh. a<(r."d \h.n rh" derh ot, .-," ,"a", I
or , ., n rh. , Li(.. , du.c tor
cpisodic.llr tempomri\, wc arc its agonilric ichl.vonu
102
RL^l A\D
5
GENDER, LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION The 'case' of Indira Gandhi I INTROI'UCTION IndiF Gandhlsr hisrorical importanc€
.l a wnan t€adfr of a postcoloniat denoc€tic nation and as an innuenrial third-world potitical fgure hs no1
Fr
d to drend€d fesini't flquiry- Fthilisr .f -.-^ralr*. bm for the mosr palt in$6cicnt1y grsunded i! a fenid6r dery cniedy bec,l$ rtht theory ha! isdl bc€n d€Aly divided aqd ambialent on quedons of potirical po\€r and audtoiy ;d wDmen,s rclation to $e5e. Wdrin such a coSnidve srru.tuF e adequre gendeFd pecpective on womm leadeB l]lmot be reatized. Since feminist 11,6r admifl..lly by no mrans a sjnet. or hohoqrn.ous ualffr ,oe*t"d* -a ajsloeJr - i3 pnnantv dd sis,n6.andv ;a;fd bv;-;;;Edel ro ,l1;l dt4_S! 4r€__!{r{t!!l gq!@*! _.!.--j$eu{ij?_bly !!:,"_qtl[l"Es, r* a fo.g!!l-4ti..qo!$9 ,i!qe- 9traalala-aqd+oltuiczr+odrer- But women adirislr ln" L--'- ;n".1 io propose a signifrer .na$ @l]€.rir 6ght for pow6., Fmaidng 'olfn' tor rhc oqt pafl bring pr6sr upon SN|lfrenr. frcm outside, or to bacl synpatheti. 'o cddidatcs, or at tet to p.opose r 'womenis pany! itrdefEnde.t of pa,Ly anniations. In rhe Unjted Sares. for imtan €, the stEt€Ey followed by womd,s arcup6 ihat krl potiti@l .tour is pdmarily lo Gro organizcd lobbies. in Congres to press fo, l.:islation on womd's issq. But no ndi.al .ethinlins on de ;ssue of poliricaL powo has ema@red G@ wmen's Re€mcnts den in the west ;n spite or tc Leen lubject
po:is:€l leadm haw
recognition ofthe need for ruch a fomutarion.,
M)
arsumcnr b'oJdly vie$s rhc prcblem in i,s rwo as?..r. rh.,on /---(spu4!?adM or $bjl:dviq. and $e isqup otpowrr. F.minisr mirudes ro rfic
'
?r,le
rfr;F;6j;i j;:t;ei-enrro potiLi-
pono aF strirnsry markrd b) I bnefly reheae hcre. In fie fiAl placc fcmitusrs abilalFncr towards potili@l powo h6 ro do wirh rhF; nppos;don ro rh. inrin(i,,ol. of rhe srarF, and iD pani, ular wirh : disagrcement and debak, tbc rems ofwhich
repmsive and coercive nachincry atued force ald the ideolosy ofdomilancc. Feminist/fcminine v.nr ar as a cohsequcnce located in opposirio, io authority/conmand, in hon,aulhoriunan) caring, matehal and pacifisr rclesi 103
TMACTNCD
tlovr\
,
,f. l"
hcncr womrn d a.ign.d a rpdar. :pher or so.ial a"'t,r. , ""a "'"i",flT,g, alternative scial oder outside politicat structures tn opposiuon ro this postur€ of hdic,l s+amism, otltcr fcmhirt politl(dx fl\l' e;nu.'ihrrcqurniu.rJ$ir.l-r'rl-yo"1,.,,. -1",.)".1,,u,(. l . '.LJ.,.,,1.,,, ren/ed poliri.\ dd rhe o'gdni/.ion ofsrz,e po$e' tun bc rxplaincd pu y i[ J , rems of ma.ulinr valup anJ ,r.Jn.$. Fun}er, ro det,ne $omcn as ahcrity would seern to reinroduc€, 'howcwr unwittingly', 'exacdy thar disrinction of, ! natures and their connectjon to politics' ivhich aI the najor wcstcm political :.: ' philo$pheb have urgcd, ard which feninisn has been 'most at pains to dcny -o! at ledt to reduce'.4 Chantal Moufle underald a compr.hensi!€ rehuttal of th€ fefrinist postulation that f€ninirc valu6' should b€cme the 'modcl for democatic politicJ.5
Th: rcnaj:io of po\r' nsef fierdF ha to be r2dically rp@nsttuled if qe wish ro rcrain r}e .n que of pos dinofl si'lkne6ualy ft*ti&ins altditt:Ai-6i; bnd this $€tu ro iml"c ;rt inoe iirlir i il,iii;ft-nfiii'ii\ft if ift a6ept th€ broad distindi@ ifiat femilbt anthrqologi$. ha\€ &aM bct{en 'pow€r' &d 'atndry'. Th€ d;tifftiod is based os de narure of deision-making prcccso: (ho* '€na.ftd *sogh publi.ly r.ognized iBti, nrtions' are dcnvcd lrom the exercis ofauduiqa wh€re6 'rhe ;nfluarcc exdled through infomar channels' is an aspect of pomrc Authority r€qujres tult@l le8itination'r since it en@des 'rhe righr to male a parricul2r dedion ald to commd obedience'.7 Womq leadeF (eweciallyin ooErchic slslemE derilr their authdty through successioq divine szncdon etc-, or frorn attdbutes of mce or clN or castej gender is drrefde *ducd ro a minor onsideratio! in our undeBhnding of potitics. In dft divisio' polirig is vierd s a dcteminate style of funcrioning so that analysis cbnor arach itslf ro th€ sexual id€ntity of tlle figures of autho.ity. {€1i6c Tcminin.. if rcr f
life modeled on this activity'.' The second area of diegrccmenr among fcminists is staiegic since political authorily is subsumed within rhe lage. scial srrucrure of patriarcht some feminists would ar8ue thal change is etrc.red l€ss rhrough politi@l ndhinery thaD through soio+conomic, culrural and anitudilal rcfoms. None of the rvohcn leaden in the South Asian counrries wher. f.male lcadcnhip has strikingly prcdominated conccmed heNelfin any overhvay $.ith womelt issues,
l0.t
t t"^
CAADER, LLADERSHIP AND RtPRI,SLNl A fION
R€AL AND ]MACINIiD WOMIiN
"and ocn hs wirh someni movements. Mainsred poliri. in rhF.F coun$i^ my wel bc regarded as having been less sisnin@ntly influenced by the prcninence ofwomen leadeB at the top than by the pressure ofnas wohen\ mov.n.n,! upon 8ovqnm.n, poLi, ) dd fun(rioning.
Nev€rthclc$, the e\perience ofwomcn's movemots, cspecially in rlnrd world countries, hd jn redingly pointed ro the nced for morc direcl cortiol of policy and prdis by women's interesl groups. Though the succcss ofwomen\ movementi i! South Asid countries in recenl decades, and especialty fie impact of the International Decade for Wonen (1975 8s), has r€sultcd in sains for women through better laws and indeaed opponuniries, rhese have not sig, nifi@dy impmved dte basic indic of wmdl status 0itelacy, weatth, Iife
dpecbncy, enplqmctrt and phFical safety). Thes ildic€s lave rmained la$€ly un hangEd wh€n tlrcy have nor a.rually d€terioEred. Wofr€n actilisrs th€rtfG have itrreasingly b€gu to FMive thal it is orry by gaioing accrs to dccisio!-making that womd cd iniuen€ issucs- Il is or y tuhat cuts deep in politics that cuts deep all around'. WomeDt participation in the poiitical prce$ l:atmr bp dcred (o $< ri8hr to voF ,rI. 6^ividory son by org.nird wonen3aoiniAmt in-dr; i;aitti
lt]:6s ro public ofrce ad th€ addnistration of taws.'o runlo,iniiiy t€fihiirs smplain. Fatrianhy a an an;lytjc,l caksdry hs besd ro t6c irs runins rdger therefo,e morc specifi. domaim of poser dd mislan,. ne.d r;be idcntified and tl6t ofpoLirid emergB a a.tu.ial o r the arguments I have briefly rehea:rlid'iboni :tlate p;ddily to i$ues or power dd politics, mothcr ar€a of cont€ntion centrc upon lhe related ;sue of
q$|tlthttt fcminist ihinhns in this area, or to press for thc rccotr.:ilidlon 'rl'lht (Ir (on\islcnr letrinist porirlin' and Dnihcd llF 0flnln o, ro adurcr r mof I sranr rh" on.n .qual com.rn4s and validirv ol widcly div.ry.nr lrrlll0 Oit fiFsp r suF. lr n pre(F"l) rhN rmpa"r both rl'co,cri.rl ,nl Inrllhil lhlll nz-kFs i, ,nperaLv. to arrcmp, an inr.d.nrion thd, willmlhmo dl'. p't,ltlrrrrll"l ro rake inro a.@unr bofi: (./ $e hisiori.zl raliN ol Politi(al lcaih n i'r Inrr tllnol who ar or nen simply happ.n ro be, wom.n. a. wcn as tu tlc prnlL\j uropirn remiruq goal ol Fshapins tne aJIaiF olrhe world l Indin Gandhi as a r€preseltadve contemporary womurr in the next ecdon oi this chapter, I offer a briel biogEPhical a politi.arlhktd.al analysisi but a{ile in explaetory lf,ms this uourd covd thc individual 'cas', s method it wodd address the i$u€ ofgender onty tegedialty. Therefore I ieek to identify (in the fouo{ing sedioa) lhe @8oiii€ struclufts wlich orgmh dial ad cultur.I pd{ptiors aboui {cmare a,.ntbrity in a handlul of Indiu popular a rdl d hklkulnrlal tcxts {hich ft?rent th. lcmale subj€ct as leader- The irtpli@lioG of rhs i! tlalion to ftmidst uss on pos€. and sul'jctiliq, tm4y th€ nod secdd. I o&]ud€ L"iah some Gts whee.lins speolatioc on qudions of thcory, politi.s ad method aeged @und as altemti\€ instee of wometrt politi.al t@desbip whi.h Mords bttter with the politid of f€minism and oF€n feminit dleory a @re suir2l,le pediSm of fenale subjciivity in powe.. My att mpt to r€aituate ihe prcbl€@dc prindily of cou6e a theoretical amis, bul 9?icaly on€,that is 8remded in the hi$ori.al itutd@ k. ofn.estiry a tentatite one.
In
considering
leader,
female subjectivity.
tn gs€rar,
hisioriGl wmen leadeb hare
bftn rgar.kd
rightiy
vidualism, is undenlandable as
'-+9
tL
hdon.y
d
ideolosical positiotr. gttrcc€rfiIwmen-who
!o-41qryllull glinre."alizils;ate ;omsj a;d in turn arc cotrGrcd nalehood larffly in a gsture ol toG;iim.-Buit we n,iit rot iolget
d9-
Siivt p;inii oui; fia"1ii6;al;om€nt of feminism in thc wesr:, 'female acce$ to individualism' ha occupied an inponanr posklon.rl Thdc is anoth€r ddgEr in !€pudiating individualism, one that Nancy Ha6tock ha briefly louched upon: that of wohen\ enbEcing a fom of abjc.hess in rcacrion to dominancc.l'1 My purpose in dnwing dris sket h of feminist Fositions on polidca! I)o!.r tha! ta cay;tri
and the clitc aonan'd-leadd is not primarily to argue 105
II INDIRA GANDIII
- d
individual fguIt5 ard i$iatd Mptcr not suflicio*ly or signifi@nrly reP restatilr of &e statu! of &e nlm€n of their s(iety and in their rim6 Civ€n the *isting structum of lcadelship, indilidual wonen who achieve positions of authodty owe lhem either 10 bifth and circumrances (das, 61e, ra.e, ,eligion. fMily position), or 10 psonal €n&avour (nerit). (Brcadlr lpeatins, th. two 1rp6' aft reprcrcnted by Indin Cedhi and Marset Th!1chc respectiv€ly.) Th€ role ol geDder my be laxg€ly negated in both imte€fs Th€ feminis( opposilion ro indilidudlisn, sp€cifically 'mcritodadc' indi-
t}c iladcquacy ol
IDdira Gmdhit rik to powd and h€r su.es 4 a i@dcf Th. tre sought both in lhe lp€in iry of hd indilidual l:e, * well as in thc more general p@dsm 6fthe woDan leader particularb ai il is Producd iu coltemporary South Asian countncsTwo opposed bul not .onFadclory e*pledons, in biogEphi€l t€ds, for Indirat rise to pow€i are often debaled. one, most tuquenn| adEn ed by lndira \ersdf, is thal sh€ bccme a lsdff despite he*r and asainst her owD inclinationsf3 flre other, that hd driw for powd wa inh.rent, hatifesting il$lf wen in childhood, and finding support in circumstmce, eiamplc dd destiny. The first er?lanation is supponed by thc absence oi any special Precocity in hcr youth, her relative idon+icuouness in polidcal atraiF du;ng tle years of her fathert prime ministeNhip, her lr.k of charisma Ghe was a P@r s"eal.r, and Ms often nervous at public fun tions), add Nchruf oM tticence in Pushing her as his desigmted succc$orr4 \{hat supports the se.ond are examPles olhcr high-handcdncss and slrcrg will in her ct'ildhood, cpitomized in tbe slory of her fdtasies of h€helfas a loan or Arc and hcr leadeship ola.hildrenk Vanar Sera ('nio"i.y 1,i5"..1"', sinup .i ioung lrcedom fishtcrtjr5 her special a.d " intense r€lationship with her hthcr; his 'groomhs' of her, in a sens, to inhcrit
What
qplaiB
answer hst
106
REAL AND
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
dd signficdt f€nale population in Indian cities. Thc wo ttl' portEy€d in thek adv€rtisesent! is atFadive, educated, hardrcrking, rnC but grcwing
socially awd€. The last attiibute is indicated by her havins a
fmny of tlc dtht
md co;titution (two childr€n, inEiabty one boy and one gi.l), prdvldlnl rh. right nudtion lor he, fmily. being e\e\sivel) hygieni., and .xrrchlnl size
@n\dous
ed
these products
dd
ddibedre
a'nw'
choid
ln inr.rpeldrins
rhe
ol
'i!.n women, the adv€rtikmcnts not or y provide an atlmcdvil
d€sir€d klf'inage for wonen in seneEl, but als provide a nomrdvt mod€l of citiz€.ship that is, signin@dy, now gende.ed female. The pow.! aul succes ofthe represeniation derive not from faltay but frcm e dbellj3lmc of rality and G@ de 'liberal' idios ir etich it i! couch€d. Such d ana.lysis ; neiths ne nor particularly rewarding sine it infoflntl dd ir owrdy acktwlcd€rd io, th€ fomulations of imge'@kes th.h!clv.t,
a
snicle ia dlc adw.rising leciion of dE fitlancial daity, ?trr ko@ni Titus, ennn d'C^shing in on Wol)A Power', identjlis the purchmh{ power of cmer wom.nJ dr new 1016 that they play io wicty,s ad rhcir ldh vie€rship of Elelisionq as thc ftaso$ for &e con$iuction and argctting of r ''ry lndid @lld' in adrenising.lo It is horc produdiw to discem r. idcolosical @noeu\m, otor! snbde iad co€rci!€, lhat und€.li€ dle €4licit d sFalegic ures of th€ image to sI prcdu.ts. One purpce of such pmedu6, .. lpshita Chdda h4 dtutely noted, b 10 oblit Ete dE political prcjcct ol feninisms and appropriate cdrain a$ecE of the romen's movement'! agcn(ln itrto the constuction of a n sign sFtem which revolres rcund thc subjcr'l position "womm"'.rr The [beration of women is 6epdated Aon the con. temporary @benrs ndldrnc t'y saling liberat'ion a mattd .f individusl womeb\ achis€ment and deic€, the development ot $e nw wman is na
Fo! instanc.,
Th€
lw Indie
wome'3
libdatid
is
rend.Ed efc in a rubq of o$.r
wa)s that a$uage social fea6.'{ A longer dd nor nuanced ana\sis of th. whoie ange of @mm6ial advettismcnil thd I la urdertale h.re woull show, for instanc€, that ther€ ; a shary polalization bet*e€n ieprsentatioos ol youDg€r and older women. The young wome, or more accurately, the teenagrr , may enact actual rcb.llion, o. even prcjcct sexual des;re;15 whereu the oklo wome, invariably frdie4 exer.ises her autonooy - he. educatipD, h{' ezminss - on b.half ol $. f@ih\ s.[-bcing ror. 1 a pinch, .onjusdl s.rr. Both rebellion/seyualily in the one ce, aDd fiMncial autonony on lhe o{h.r. e controled and mdc a@eptable by a certain 'f€mininity' that is encoded tri ph),lical cham.16 The potarizadon, in any case, subtry decolsEucts itsclf nrr,, continuity: th€ young woman's freedom, beause it prced€s nariage a l domesticitl md will therelbre be 'naturally' i*,"ii by them in duc couk, youth a sdctioned space for a l6t ni,,g of rebelion. The .D.\! mal<es
he.
l3l
IM
OINIiD WI)MI(N
' doe, not, in eirher cae, jcoprLrclizc rlc rutlorr of r
lr*l&t
ese cd inlact in the ideaEed conjD$ rud dom$tlo q rl|tr Advenising's co{ptation ofpreciscty rbu|c !r ol r{tmf{l wnBsn's Eorcn.nl Lu ndt.d our tbr itrcll' - rrrlrlhh family - for definiqg its ibages of womanhood, wortr tt as simulheously a rom of sharing in rhc q)oth {ll.] $ r
s at one level it is not in conflict wirh rh€ goah of tilmtd nlrr it we have seen, it uder.uts then by otrering a limilff Acdrnrl lnrrp rared womn arired at by a direrenr tEjmrory. Morc $rrikl,r{ly, {tl$fl|{nl the most fr€qu€n. sir6 oI women's oppresion rcnuEl harl[mrni ic work, dowry demods, Miage rituat, thc joinl tim y . thrm in glrmonrd on alernatirly, I'iviatiad rcrmc ri rln itltr of
di
-
.nd
ilg
fenbl€ ideftiry Thu! rhc womn who anrads slrrc! lioh I rrdl| ay orher pubtk plac - a hmwing c{!.rt.rl(r{. ereryday r€xist halsrent for woren - n i.u€€d a rhe i&:t of dE lilflcrhr
)wd on a str€e! bus or in
I
sexually desirabl€ woma!- F.labo'atc sen6 of deckiag and bsury riturh weddiogs as wel a s€dif,otar ha€raling s.eo€s lEtwo eodrc. and ter id€alize maEiage in soii,foc y. Anons thc
.Iched and su.cslul ided
for.heing
prcducts. tor
insane.
ii
rhc
a€t of the itrouciant and deget hous€wiG who uss dE adrerti*d producr cl€an tubfirh of clod,€s or toilets withort a r.ace ofdislat€ or drudgcry'3 A! 'etuenr for a poPuld qDa; (t€rcl nu',. Pn Paras. drn def6F\ a dowrysene. In a meedng berwRn lhe pdMr. of rfip prcsprcuvc bnde md th€ bride's pent! are r€lieved dd happy to lem that rhc ody
'The conltruction of th€ !w India ity o well a her modemitl she is tndiaa il i\ ;drgely a functioo of *e n,d;.wid.
ar@d
10
her national
a wcll a new. TItc tnd;n dJr of (,@n-crdat advcr-
ts. Though Indian nanufactureb and advenising ag€ncies pdiodicaly ledge the n€ed to haw more region4pecific advenising - especially in
context of mdkedng in fual aras - thcy have tended ro develop and ic.t a hohos€nized mesese across the counuy (except ro. dubbing or ing the verbal medium). h is primarjty the clss prcvcnance of lbc mobile India! whofr thc advertisemenr interyellak that mosr eFecirotu out lcgional diF€rcn.es; within lhc cuhures of thc urhan profcssional cla$ in all paJG of the @unrry a certain unifofriry atrcadv prevails, rhen lends its€lf to a fuflhe. homoscnizarion. The sratus ot Hindi and b lhe country', omcial languagtr hs givcn the cutrurcs spaMcd by I32
CENDER, L!ADDRSIII? AND REPRESDNTATION
his mande:
hq edy
REAL AND II{ACINDD WOMEN
dd po[ti.a] shrew.tnes\: h.r tit r^-" rquainrance wi,h inru.nddl poLilical 6s".c" inctudi"s i""i;^.;:.;;; quaxo.s ol jnd?.ndrne. s.tr_quflt.irn, \ dnd .hra".. wr,-_r, "..rJ _"a. l",l r""li. pe*on who delrroped verr r+ pcnonar rciatosrr;p; s@iarin smparhi.s
h:;il;;
;.," ;":
rommiunFnr rc s.ruins rI. peopre.,,s._.,..r,;",i.. " l:1,-,^T._9 ooxe dd dcsDDI sould dpp.ar. propelted her ro teadenhip.u "r . ln her .rtirude !o powa lndla rFwdted confli, ls ana con,,,*.tion" ,r,_ ,,. me in.sencrr ni,e n no evia*.. , -"g,r..-,1" 1,1..::'_1s::.dT*: rhe deFp.lonvi.don rh,r onry s}r lll-Tlll*v: countr-y ezl hEaordituily suorg. But re dekmi,ari".,ra.,,a -io, r."a r.,
. t.fa
__",
o(aoDatt) $e.l€ncd by elpBions ot w@rin6s, ". - ti, ,r" r..";"" -a quer. orllnay. pri%rr life, mou nrajn r.r ea[s. tamity "r" d6, ,r," p.^,ii"r "a,U"a pleaucs.'" Whne drtre is Linlp idcnr. ot inEoWefton zbdr r}e c iG of peer.,:nd a I'ra, dezl ofslf_nshFoustrq ncihtr ss ,ne insrnsid\c ihdeed ro qorrd op'tuon m hisoryi \ffdia. Durine th" Emrgrn.J, L, t*,,_", *. rcamaiul lhr li:tr phicsrriLkrn. & f nd,ng a .igtr J fr.ir* ,U. . o., un n. ue "", predd abour hcr dose asciaq stre tqa ic ^ atu rbs,nglydbou hcrpo\d .nE rh. ftbls. rhouar, a nr.,, ::T:T":Fr-*a-I uxe ne, tartrr. a mular:sr ed Edo{alij 6}€ eee to dewroi,etigiou, supe titioro larrr ih life.tr Exmpte( otsu.h .onfli.ting S. _,,tfu"fi"i. L,edry. "i.r,
!"r
,
no dprrmDon m p"y.hologjcat ,ems. aingje
od
"simple,
can ror tne phenomehon oth.r.xFrcise ofmwer. "ciounr The qtrsrion of sFnder iftsisdbty poss ilser her, since irs reatiN k,. nreoba'ed ar 4ery iumue of htr Lre: rbm berg bom asaii"r rrr :_nomrbD ot a^s jn erpc.tato tbt family-z ro rne problms of _*.a ,:*, $(i.r).?-and rhe chauvinisdc tures of -a ri,,;ly ,,t.. rhr
:^.*Tll1i:".:"
}oritic.in
I h. la,Brr firld of gmder &d $( wfue t€ade; mun noq bc 3uNeyrd lor rhe ommon fparurs ir may prenl As RaunaqJdnd ha poi,,,cd our. ir i, in mod.h So,d, A,idn.ounrnr. ,In.rr, ya&sk. tsdngtadsh. Sn ljdr \and we e) pcrhap. in{tude Bumj ard d,r PhilippinA, - rhd|hc largq, numbe of wmm
U,. t ..1- m.6e oppo"irio, ro, rh. ronsesr penods i",a"^ "ta or timr.?,Jdhdn.. "l :::,.1. bz*d on &e inn nes. anal36. i5 r conpreheEive one aX drr* ""ome,, Bhu,,o. Ha.i;a wajea rc,,i.a" zi,, si;_,.. i.:::l n"*T "-*. s:ccerqdt"n&i, mate rlddr( husbands. raLhe6j: au or rhem s.L ::ld-alaldkF. propeled ro posilions b) panv suppon: ,f,"*ro* .on" ,],._ .,; , -rheir arassrcois poti[.iar: at b.toneed ro affiupnr f*it* "t to- ai,1 o, -a._" ruling classsj dd in aI rhe couDtlies .weat imtitution.[,"d",, suaessioq to pldail cven und€r rhe detuoaatic "n.;d;,;. systch ofgovemment.?.Jahar
adds thd $F'ajty lnse homen a.sumFd led.rhip durjng pcnods otl ri,i" r I.y kem .hosen by $e pa,ry bosrs rr IFdr inirial) beouic otr}.ir rel,Lir,. ,*ir prft q,cd rncrabiriq. arl d,"ir abir,v ,o ,, l1u"^:i,-lTlt.nm: . q. peoprF\
rc'ab\.s
a
\),,,!d,ii d,J {ppdr. rh. ma$ \._.irrng," "pp",r -,.pii.-.t" naru'J g! djan\ ot dr. drcd leadeB.pot,;j t"q,;'"., 1,,,,r 107
pcBonally incomptible and unquestionably committed 10 the .ortinuadoD of the tuale leaderl poLcies (pp. 851 2). In the cdc of so'ne ol t}e oldcr wotucn leadcs we may add that they could clain sohe legitima.t, id their own rigll dro,rgh Ihcir bacl€iou.d ofnadonalist act ry in liberation st.uggles. Ccnainly th;s brcad p.ofilc 6ts rhc casc ol Indira Gandhi- Hcr succcsion ro power was nade possible by various factoF. mong then her ba.kgtuund as a frccdom 68hter, her hercdnary 'right to nlc' and her nembcship ol an clitc (;.e. westemized, upper-clds, dominant cdte) rulins cla$. The Noman lcado in modem South Arian nations eme.gcs tr a 't}?e' prcduced und€r sharyly specific histolical
onditioE.
Bur the empiricai/histoncal &a\sis, \rhil€ .@tmr to aI xrdctandiag of contemponry female leade^hip, does nor frnaly prcduce, rc nod.e, ine crucial geddered €rTlaration. The tusuc of rcmen &d lFwq mrslifi.d or 'r:@i6 is trivialized. RaumqJahu, for ilslalm, ar the qd of hd Gne polfti{rl analysi\
pres
vhi.h wond catablhh thcmsihB and funcdon cltt d thal is the cscial ea tor f.minisl irvstigaiion, but dut *,is zrpect ta nws lidn '[ul]y an lysed' - dr attcnplcd tn her om €ssay (p. 852). Olher simitar mpirical studies oI nonen ed clics', like Epstein dd Coser's colecdon, are uscful in drasing lhe b.oad patlerns of rcnen's poliiical participation in specific sttudurcs ofgovemm€nt, but do qo1 v€ntur€ into an anatysis of their a.tu, excrcisG of authofty.lr Thc polirical colcedes thar
a
politicar
i1
k
th€
by
l€de6 ara bcing
scientisl, Kmti,Bajpai, d.aws a cataloguc ofilluminating pahllels and di$.reDes b€tlveetr Margarct That her and Indih Candhi, but avoids whal he cals the
'subteraned' ex?luation that is requircd 1o draw the conclus;ons frorn iL 'qui1e what thcse (ed otber) sinildidcs and dirercn es add up 10 a.y reckonins of sumcssful poltical leadeship of womo in potlcr I shall not bc rash enough to attempf.$ Rhoda Rcddock (€f lhe lnstilute of Social Sludics ar The Hague), like mny f.minin athropolosists, do6 noi beltcr dRi a gender.d
explanation of political anl ont1 is .nllcd f..; shc dismiss.s ronrn lcdd\, espdally in postcolonial @lio!s, as nrcorigib\' and ifloi1.dn) pilrirr.hrl nr Many \romen achiwe positrons otleadeFLip bu1 by tbe' hart sonnbibcd thc tuale-oriolcd lalu€s of thr otganiatioo llut lturlc dillcrenc is lisibl. bclween Gei approachcs and thosc ofmcn. .-- They can be qen nore oppre$ivc than the med 10 {trotu 'po$cr'is nor such a novcl espenelcc.!' Psychoanalltical nodels ofexplanario!, likc Carollm Heilbrun's, ihat draw upor
lamilial sfu.tures, the influence df the iadrer, sibl,ns rivalry ctc- To locatc thc fenale leade. wifti. the paradigm of achi.\'i!g s-dcn, while pe6uasi!( rnd usefui, are not entirely dos-cdturally vatid.r' In the light ofthe liinits ofdrcsc an.lyscs, womcn leadcs' c\d.risc
ofpohi.il
powcr nusl bc locakd, in addirion, I bclicr. within lht btuadci social a (l .ulturaL paradiSms that it shapes and is shap.d bv nr ordcr thit rt tnay p.mi'. how 'female' authodry is coDsrruc(.d and udcBrood. 108
GENDER. IEADERSHIP AND RE?RESENTATION
III
REPRESENTING MOTHER INDIA
One kind of identity that Ind;a Gudhi sought and wd accorded was identi ficatron with the Mtion: India is Indila. I! such an identilication thc femzle subj€ct is no longer perceived in nelonymic relationship to thc nation, as its leadet but d an actual metaphor for it, its equal and its visible embodimenl. This hansposes a faniliar equation of the nation with the nother, already a trcpe of ninet€enth-century nation list discou e ('Bhara!tata'). Reprcscnted as ahe 'mother', the woman leader is wcl able to reconcile aspects of nunuring dd *Nice in opposition to the autho;ty of the fader, as wcll as to subsume both Fr€ rl6gures into a 3iryl€ $bpld.udority figure.r! Thi. .€pts€ntation ha rcc€ilrd its most eloqumt, lal8e-scale c€l€bntion in the post_Indcpedscc Nehru @ in Mehbob Kha's €pic 6ln mdodr@a, Mott@ Inn;a $957), argubly the gEatest d6sic o{ Indian cine]@ bded on Indih Gddhi shc wd not yet at the Mothd India is ^ot,h@e@t, a naiional ]@d€r, or even a prime minnler in the wings tine of its na.king Radba *f qonymou! he.oi!., ; a siraltem f€ur€, a P€ent tv!)!r@ wt6e life is oF. long uending stEgglq at thc @d of it, h()\Ber, shc har a.hier€d the status of rlrc villa$ ratriar.h, a ven@ted quasi-l€ader ngurc- Tht oFning ofrhe film shows h€i being pEMd by a potlical leader to inaugurate the nes' canal whose gushing water witl b;ng prosperity to dE village She refuses thc honour, and thinlc back to h€r life up to this poiot - &e long ftdhback is rh€ Morna hdia.debfrtes woma in fie linked rcles ol daughter of the soil (sil = India), ed mother of h€r sm. The foma aspmt tninds us of P@l Buck's &od &rr,i. Rrdha is the strons, storc, serincina to;ler, th€ equal and pettto of h€r hurbdd. Sh. stoggles agaiBt the Sintly soit, dt element!, the liUage honF/endd and the fate that sudcswly ilGrrols her call.lc, h.r hurbdd and
tlvo of her four sons. Thc film represents hd in a succession of nemorablc inuses which arc starh static and iconic wl,cD hcr bullock dics shc lzshcs hcdf to th€ plough and we sce her stEining, aninal'Lke, iD the fields; at day\
she is silhouctted against the sctdng sun wilh the uprai*d plough on her sLoulder; shr is daubed in eud and ,lin€ 2! she labouE nr the ficlds- Singing {iEingly offir erdr s the rltothcr, shc lccps tht ultag€ft ftom fteing to the city after drought and nood have succcssiv€ly nvaged the vilagc. It is in this. rcl€ that shc becohes identified wi& India, epnomizing the Gandhid ideoLog]' tlut 'India lives in her vnlagej. Dominated by hcr ldger-than-life suftedjng and heroism, tlle 6lm merges eanh, mother and nadon to .r€ate 'Mother lndia' In her familial rcles, Radha is the devoted daughtcr_iq-law, lhe lncomPlaining wiG, and rhe prctective nother' H$ husband l^+. hi*rmr in :n r..id.nt and aftcr b€ing rendercd uscle$ by tltis los (his symbolic catration), he lezres the ellage nder to retur. Radha is thcreforc a glas widow; her prcgressilc ga d:, iscl.tion and indQendcncc are u.derlincd b-v this abandonmenl H.r Mo sons a'e a shdy in cont6t: Lhe older is a 'good' boy, the younger an
od
t09
RtrAL AND IMACINED WOMEN
aflcctionate bnt rebellious wastrcl. As molh.r, Radha is les tender and nurrurant lhan slcD and sacrficing. Biioo, the younger son, chafing at rh€ iqjuslice of rhcir lot and rhe machjnations oilhe wicked moneylende., becomes a d@r, (an outla\{ bandit), and aftcmpts ro cary offthc moneylender\ daughte. tlen Radba, always an upholder of fehah honour and chastit)', kills her om son raficr than ler him briDg dis$ace 1o lne village. This n her ultimate sacrifice, ho tn.scendcnce ofmothe.hood to achievc ihe accolade rhe film's tirle besrohs on hd, Mother India. Such a represeqtalion, with its bythjc appeai and prcpoftions, is r€adily e.epted by the filh! view€B. Thc apotheosis of molherhood, rhe el*atiou of it lo i15 larg€st dim€tuions, eulrs in a supnpaf iorism. The a.ceptabl€ fa.. of leadcFhip is se Nicq it dqies powcr sieNs sriGce and pGitioro rhe hiq4hy of public duty ed pri€t€ affedioG ro giw pdruy {o th€ 6rsL Thcre 16 no nftd for lnd;a Candhi to &aw codrcioE atr€rdo to rhr parallels - drc ny{hk
resoure of
such
Ddbolic hnsfomarjon ar@dy €xid€d-': Sulnlrem peasr
cla*tms@dsr patriotim and motherhood. In th. fditilt,/dtrEti. asFcl of id€ntity dat eey fiird-wodd q^ne{
and eh€ leado are lnit
d daushk6, wiws/widow, or bothe$. gendd is an ; inv€sred wjrh @6idnabL atrel (cspecially in populin
appeals to the nasc$. During the 19a5 ebdiod @llPaign Rajiv Cedhi emotively rcminded t]'e Indian pcople of his molhe.'s deathi 'I d her soq shc was my motlrcr'. Sonia Candhi\ coUcction of thc l€t1e6 betwe€n Indin ed Nehlu is entided Frunfu\ Doughrd ln a testnwal of symboli. meaning on the flial .elationship- Indira kklf used evcry opponunity to flaunt her (acruat)
N€hru idendty as daughrd,
a
wcli as her (s)mlnlic) marmal
corcm tor
rhc
people ot thc nadon; and thc 1ro wer Dor unrlar€d.'3r It kas during the 1967 elcclions - whcn she was as ye( o y50 that Indira !a 1fs r@red 6 Modr.r India'. h a spcech shc sid to lrcr vitla$ audicnft, 'Your burdens are relati\dy lighl becausc you. ramili.! arc lininrd and !iabl.. Bul lnv bnrd.n is nairold bccausc crorcs ofmy tanily nrDbc^ a. portry{liictd and I luvc 10 ld(
afler thrm'.3i Ti,us gederd family idoriris - cspccialll motheihood ar cullurally @pabl. of sustainin8 rncraphodc expesion 10 enbrac€ dimcnsions of Lzde$hip. l,Iatld lalialre{jdc thc lmsr moorable r.@id of rhe po$ibilirie ol su.h'uansfomdLion In contrast 10 the popular, c\rn nythicr appcal olthis early conmer.ial6lm\
rcprcrentarion ol'Nloth$ India', rbe.c arc drc mo.e spccifically political cdliques of Indira Gandhit pdme ministc^hip ;n rhc post-Emergency pcriod. I shal considq brieny he.e t o dctio,ial .eprcscnratiom ofthis hisrory. Th€ fisr, O.\:. Vija,vatr\ 'Tl. Fnelul, is onc ola sroup olsrories that lhe author has describcd as'allcgories ofpowd'wh;ch arc explicitly concemed with'power and t€r.or, occasio.ed by lndiar bncl ixpc;cnce ol llftergcncy'.3s Thc srory begjns wnh the cuBe visited on an unnamcd lillagc rulcd ovo for man) )cars by thc Ladr. widowed Sovercign', who rcmai,is imhu.cd and hidden in hd font!:;. :i.r foctus, 'imma.ulatcll conccivcd', scrs our liom h.r womb in thc darknc$ ro
RIAL AND IMACINED W.)MEN
CtrNDER, LEADERSIIIP AND REPRESENTA-IION
hunt, kil, rape and btutalize thc vilagts. ODly the vilage priest and the A"ltrologer aft able to witlstand jts power. The Foetus commtrds a folowing of 'young scions of the gentry', dd th€re are joined by other toeruses produced by the Foetust npe dl the viltage \romen. A5 the l'oerus grows in pow$. succesively subduing thc Insuft.rionist (a,Bolutidqary materialist', now gro{T old, silly and fecble), the village s.hml and lebeltious neeing peasants, th€ pricsr and thc Astrclosd decide to iNokc the love of the Devi (the Coddes) bv chantirg thc pnyer litany to her. The Foerus is rheq pcBuaded to return ro the wonb and bc bo.n a, a child. Bur both mo$er and son die in tne .hildbinh and the vitlzg. n fina!) d"Livrred inro t@dom.
h is a
sl€nge, powrfin and horible tale_ Th€ foc is on rhe Fo€tus. apacioN son, se€mingly the product ald insfllftnr of rhe Iady's t;1, along wi*l his foUaisA. But dDush her wid@hood ed the
inetuft ed
ght her e i{ilial ther b.cone erod€d by the gbsrh ofthc fcttrs aad hd prcgr$ive lo$ of conbol ov€r it. She renains invisible in rhe r*t, a in rhe lldadve orily h€I portEit is se€n ud wnhipp€d (replfst€d ih .the (:amal fu{ns or middlc a$, prcsnan! ba}ed), and hd voice is h64 .honeyed', prcmising dt€ youqg men the gro(rlr ofrhe Fe$s jlto rh.i! future t6dq. She too is the produ.l of her anccsto n4rc haw rfor many genenrim . . . villed thcir power' over the villag€, ard it is dis power, the mator explains, that 'hanifcsts itscfin this blob ofslime'. The use ofallcgory is a srrategi. ddce ofdisguis€, in rli3 ce made n€cessary by the .ontemporary prcssure or.erooBhip. Conr.mporary r€aders would of couEc har had .o diniculry in developing point-by-IDint correspondcncs bclween the s1ory and the people and evenis of !h. Erncrgency. At th. smc tiee, allegory )Ios politiel positioro to bc ohiourur{i sin nk noral, $ *€r rtmnq tuy i,. rpF.enrd a..vil. &d I'ecdom a qood: and rhc rcmptF\ide: cobsquenl lcgend of immaulat€ coltcepdon' e;nvoked to
autonotuy and slarus,
ofhistory aDd circumstan
e
maybe di$olved into rhc simplicities ofmclaphysi.al
.onfrcsution. l,r altcsorv rhc for.es of desporisn, rapaciq,, lusq reason, failh. rlkluion and lort aft n€rcly .mbodied in individual figures without neessritv molivadng or exdan,ing huhan behaviou.. Therefor€ thr Sovdeis!, rep re*dtins nrlaph)6icat €vil ad polirical (dymsd.) pow€r, though p€rceived in €$iddy sexu,i lcmq is nor geqd.ftd id any odrer significanr @y. The elago stic forcc that dcli\c6 the peoplc frcm &€ Sovercign-Foetc isylso a fchale po$er, now lhe'goddcsf. Since Vijayan cash rhe story as a fable of destiry, the 'goddc$' can only 'stand for' rhe divin€ powe6 of ghce. S ce it $as dre lristoricai collectilr will of th€ people thar prevaii€d in the ove.lhro\r ot Indira a:andhi in 1977, the pray€r thar inrckes the goddes dtrsr represent the law, or $c Co.sdtutioD, drough whicn mcans the Frn€rgency was revokcd. Wc might specular. L,i,on rhe possiblc sch;ophrenic dilisiod ot the 6gurc ot authorily il$lf in1o a dcspodc Gccular, actual, sexual) Sovcreign, and a bcnign (divine, abslrac! asexual) goddc$, ro account for the .onrou6 ofjrj. ..jma. Anorho poshodcrnis( l.ble, Salman Rushdiet Mtzi&nu Cr'um (t931), also
lll
m*c
$e fme,snry od rhe rcte orsanja) Cadhi rhp definins aspr, I ot,hc r,reFtrl,ado: of IDdin cudhi. Rushdie: prcrrsoniq. S.t*- Si".i. b.-;r the srroj,e ol-midnighr on ti Augxsr tq47. tndi!.s d.) of hdcpend"nce, 56 ciriid of instol, whose desrny i3 twinned with thar of th"
,o prrriv.. l,..r ob"cur
ennit
,.d.".'Brr h";;;";
pev(urion .r ,],,, .,t .. idj,id,.i ;i,; qews hctself a Ind;aj dcsrihy, In.tra Gddhi. W^, -y t{*T brlief in the cqerion betwecn the Stare and mysclf dnd
transhured, in ,rhe Madam's, m;nd, into that in_those_d"y, India is Indira and Iqdim is India? Were we conperito. lc she ppprd by a tu$ to. m"anins d prorom; 6 *)
f*."s ph;,
L"
_
_ ."d ,1,^ * "_i"Ut"
ur. 16 dhar u6r )s Sail'm hA displa€d upon I'd hn (M jqtous) ot h.r reJ po6s ro ted mbon -a 4aiDsr his mG feDds of ddD€ io (F 395,. ti4* d,. hd.drc ,,; atroroBFB, lh. P.imc lrfiniiri t-ak d()M lhr chitdEn of ni&id e ,lEi ihc hish, ohbar 1br d.+ rd wd6?read @nspiDc). ,tu,:,*n a t. i-p^i,t-.;, ot rmergcnry. The EnsSflry, d,€ prime Mnntd.s ..-hitd.- i. n d. atrls^,. ro.:Agm Simi, St.@-Shi@-pantlhjt son. who is bd .u"; ;; nd^gnr ot$e r.ry d4 oflhc drclalarioh ol [rl€r8!ncy. 25JuR ", d"l9?5. She d)ea unleahes Smjay ed h; :1ourh Cong€ss 1n@ with thc sme cudy hair and lipelik*wonent Iabia, as himslf- to dert-y tf,.;ty .frn* srffilizr tne ma. Salem is imprisonrd in a Widos.s Ho,ret in Be;aG _ ".a thc wdow s.ked he inro.rhe privarc }ean ofher renible Empirc. 433J and 0r. then ro'rured @ Bet rhr $hereaboub ot rhe 578 orhcr hidniCfir: .hndFn,
ad
Glally casFarcd.
Rusldir pm$nr' a enain LdiE Candhi. hard€xy rhe prihe lfiturcr or
.rn.r?
rd ir lo''r . wid@ tor fiIltrn )es. s \hr W;dow., Sal@\ nensr, and nval. ad fin rcDt 6tr!(or. Untite rhr wid@s of B6DE, beE(d woncn whose ttue tis €ntu wilh the delh orthei. h6bdds', .ti.
rels
(o bc
'Ddi,
ttao*,
mo&.'-godirrs in hd mo$ tcnib]e poscs$r ot *:..r3 t,j,e Bods, a hddlihbed diviniry *jrh a aspect l4ue_pm;s ,ftt scltaph'.nr b,ir' p. .t38r. Thr p6.rr,j neeadw connouti.n or ilinau wdo$hood. viFsed ,n rhc popule haginaron no hertv a fi. mnfotunc oi ,bn d^N.rion or rhe har.. qih a twido\rdl ar dsciur.d .* ::..". !": hho.. defrnhs Primr I6niikr a( is fir Msive serilizauon progrmhc ot rhrhe
Thi. \Vidow i. on. of bur aLo .abole J ,he v orF( of.qom.n who tu\t atso unmdd. .... \p. 404/. sateem aoe HN a,r hF,o undr^,dnd mr roo me\ won.n.,Ar lnr hutdptc t"(r. ofBndr"rz-m"r, Or r's.v.n mor.... a $e dvnahic apei I ofm2ya, . .o.mr. cnrsy shi, h L as rfir f.male organ. .. Vaya-h,ki 'etrernred mothe6, bur aho 'mufi'tes coosciousncss in ttr dream_$.eb,. ToGmanv'' f"n. of D.vi. ,hc godd"s ..?
mdd. m.: and
(p. 406)
lt2
CENDDR, LtrADERSHI? AND REPRBSENTA-IION
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
Thus the circuit is mde between individual, historical ngur€s - a Saleem Sinai, citizen - and Indin Cddhi, Prime Minisr€. oflndia; bttw€en the matc victim, dd tn€ fenale principle of energy; betweetr a mid sht,s child and a qomf lcrdcr shanng a (ommoD utional dps nt.
cdturaLly .onditioned misoglny and their reourse to supehatural qplana_ tioro of 'reminine, power (*E soddes) is a complete _...d- .f hi.;,,;"r
As in Vija)€nyf@1us', the SoveEign./lvidow do6 not rD&e a physjcal appeamnce in the t€x1 but rcmaitr an inli.ible force. h is her agents her son. Sanjay, and his .ohorts; ShiE, the orher midnig*r's chnd, Saleem's nlat Rut{hana Sultana, the '$tidowl Hand' (r{ho does rhe 'Widofs wrk,) - i1 n thes figures who execute the ets ofvandalistu and destnction. In both rexrs.
widowh@d is nadr a sisrificaut aspect of gend€r€d identiq/, e indiotion of porcw€r-the-male and of female autonomy. This5 hee!€r, i^ udffiLt bI the rcle of anothe. nale figue, th€ so!,a-agor, s:bose un@ntrcll€d dep ltdatioE are those of a Fr.ilditein's morsten Th6 rpioducdo. 6 a aspe.r of fenale sexuality is here not 'naiural' frotherhood but a bizm f,ervemion. The particular ndifertztion of dcspotism in foribie sterilizaiion progradmes nade it po$iblc to li* n with rhe perveEion of sexualiry (cffFnion, Epe) a we a tlE F€s€rati,on ed plwblion of dl'rtdry {dr powd of rhe ron). In addition thcre is the Ieler€nc ro Sdjar Cudhit "{rnowiDa' oftumpen yourh rcpr€soled as a lind of reprcduclion-bydoning, a rep:entarion nnic! funhe . r€duces the 'o.iginating' poweN of t}c sexual fdDre. In cotrltrrEdion for her reduced powcN of agenct - i-e. the reduction of her powers of @trlrcl
0eade6hip), as
wel d of femininity (rcprcductiw mothe*ood) -
the
Mother/Sovereign i now represented in tems of an absFact, metaphysi.al energy or evil, tlE feninine principle. Adual powcr is explained or rcplaced bv syml,olic power, drc womd by Wofrd, dr. widow b1'rhe by the tlp., thc leader by the goddess, history by myth.
'bawe
iviank!
ldia,qJodttl
of
Wide, rn individr,l
port-Irdqendac urionalisiq dd'Fo€tu'
and Midaighh Chidtd, lsm of thc Ene?gency Fal'@, sFetche the hisroN of Indira Gandhi's leadedbnp. MoLha lnila's romanric;zed socialisn and ir cDdoMnent ol Hindu goddcs-morfuF\qosl+ aIoN thc subaltem peasanr woDan to arain thc status ofvilaS€ matianh, md th€ connict betwecn actual motherhood aid slmbolic (nation's) nodFrhood to bc rsolved Ly the mother\ uDequivocal sadfift ofh€r sofl in th€ ift.!61s of rhe w€u-beiDs of sieq,. Bur dre sde pamdign of notherhoodiationarism thai repr€nts leade6hip 6 sewice als accommodatcs the represenntion of leadeBhip a despolism by ? sinple reversal oltle Gmale leader's priodlics. Ioi the Indian iDielligentsia the Emerg€ncy cm. to sne a m epnone nther than m abenation of Indin Gandhi's tule, occunirs virtually in fi. naiur ofa s€ll:rumllnS prcphrcI Tlie codn€cdon between Sanjay's panicipation in polirics and the imposirion or Emerycncy, by do neans entircly coincidental, made it pqsible to view Indila: partiality as a molher as a rvealnes tha! hamcd narional intercsts.3r there is rhcrefore some hislori.al jusdncation fo. Rushdie's and Vijayd's rcprescnration of I.dira Cu:ig Emcigency in iems of motherhood. But th€ hostilitv in their foresounding cl her widostrood must rcnain inexplicable excepl as a
. tn
thrce texts rne stncture of mrarive i3 au€goricar, thus naking possible priqlP pubh rotr. rn de rep, rs.nk r;on ot d r suble"r. Th. emtodimcnr.of^o!augoriry in a remaje fieu. iq onc ofdre in \tu;t, po\.; u gFndcrd lemale (d .ejo'urs ot fie hpa.l,ni$r$ or"... nanny indj.at.. In a.lt
rh., .on
dnujl
q: T-,**.-*"un nr orpiwo in ne r.mare n drrcus} tne.one;; Igi and embodjmenr of$c godd6s a .Shalti . .Durga.. or .x"1.. rtris
m.anr rl!t did nor haw ro be occludrd in lndiEi prcjrtion of r'er pesonality. Hd Gd@tioq of a stare of e:nctascy i" d,. ;;t;; 1975, IrEked by rhe r€peal of d.rnoc€ti. noms, ad hd -A;.""y.a"*rrrr- _ the uc.€sslin wa agaioit pa[;sta4, &ti.lcmrist dft6 in _ thF recourse ro mitihry
l(re
thc star.s
m.dc
clmr thar dtr b6n of pdiriot p<Mr ij in6;abl) amrd fole Indin\ llsa.nalron toreCmDd.d tnf, in *.pabt. vioten.e .ha! Is.lof, 10 tne lurf&e ol 4y *c r of rurhdirsie power in dE modm $at. _ .t ri* tf ur Mord dje by dlr s@d - .rM a i, b-ds@nded rlDr riolaft "* "*,. by tuBjng . 1""')'. D: *Tl ladcr a h,,ryr o, samfd,l fsur ;@d! 6,s l1,ll'. Dad ,nro rhe hatrmat paEdigm. crndFr rhus consiirr_a dlr ;ode of frnute
authohry. and nofid$ood/goddtrs}ood p,ovidcs a ,ingle mrbphor ror direBe f€mal€ hl.(
alesoriet node atso Fproduces a conhon pempdon abour fie fives or-Tfir the leadjng Indian nadonali( te.de6. uhose pe^onat titrs sem *.n in remj .omplrlely.Gupfd lry rh€ir political acdriry. Utr rh€n IndiE Cedhi na)' br
qc\ed A having hrd o,jv a ringte dmenrion ,o hd lit., U\rd aj n M; so ffbrcry ,n rhe publji gze ItKn rhe lerlfB Nrhru 1@rc ro h.r r,om jail whFn she t6 a Birl wft-co$iously pedagogic. ed haw b€€n pubLi.lFd ;d *idet; redd lor aLades. Bl ad la'$. tn.fttoF. drpr 16 no .6rairpd inrchr ;n uncovdiqg tu l,(mnal,a@s of her lifc. Ashis Nandy otrm a".pt"na!io; ror the scamless ,identiry' of rlB womn kader in ft@s or an ,rn;ian con
sciousn€ss' rhat confates
aale ald felnab
suai
attribuk . Th.&forc the rason
"-.'. min India trach,h. pinndctc, or publk po$e, and ,rosnirion -.:f whr women s.neral haF kepr our ot larse dra olpubli [C is rj;r ;om"r pow' are judgrd a casmtins ed phaltn . dd m6 ,s ..ffrmrnarr.. He 'n Socs on to explain $ar a woman teader\ public succes does not
fem to detret f.on priqtc s.o!.in1ine$. ttr insteces the Indian wonan ca morc edity integrate wirl'in her reminine id.nrirv rh. pzflroprdon ,n shar bv -"..- ,,.d;d. d. hanr) rouues bur in Indja ar eifir, nor d.fhrd rn rems of sex .oles or are tinged wirh bmsexual or bisexuat connorations.! other words,
;
such
be fie vdlidrt -i .u"h broJdly .ul,unti.,. )"f,'"'*.:,t lnd,Jn publi, i. urdoub,edly la( ,nr.re.,.d
in di,,Io.uh or
l14
.
^pi-.,-r,-,,., ,1,. lrirdr IrlA ot
Lhe
GE]!DER, LDADERSHIP
its political public ljgus ftaq,
,c-'";' fi;;ir*'"d"i;'
fhr mod.m T"rnr'l'.genrF
say,
AIID REIRESENTATTON
-- "-^' lt rhe British li
'heir
ir .00,6r ro dX.uarn.,t ,r,h bjF. ,. prdi.Fd Lpol a di, t.o-i,i,. ,u ,tin pnaar- rpl and d pubLi, figur.. Conr.mporar ..1;,, u, pam.ddr di,rr rh{ cnons ro peneb-adng hc ldc,a. i, i. p*.i,",i ,,i the public frgure to stt a1 ihe private, or reat , as rhat ^ L p"i"a*a *iii or biograpt-y.
lncwirdbty. tnd,ra bA,ne ato rnc.subjeo ofbiograph). Thr .p"1"
JS_",,r,r",", ,"t,.",, , i,.,; ;
hcrucrns m.moin. ,:.^. l,*,1:i* :' have ribu,es. memori;r dranabzatron ol he'.d4.Lle, l-har app.eed. nEry ofdr.m touoqD! hc; ';,",*, yrEl daih.
ed
prbfilhrd
dhcNon ol rhe b1qr ue
tftt
tu
thc wesq
REAL AND IMAGINED I{OM!]N
rcval raailv)' or rl!!
pcs€s ,t.
.l ,ai,l,'
,i,,1
to rI. aailabl. I{,owhdgf abour h4.to Ai ,trf of thc berely ppular, this inrere* ; 3 6a6". o1fo;o .b,,,
* r"-{fl,1' ,8be!..dr. }nva,..dinenj-;, p.*i*i,. ";;,;i I'.*.hMDg rxplaDirory oorrual tor d LDdeNeding o, hq tejd4ship r
:::,:u:j'o;rq
:l
traits such
s
naten,l fondne$ or arationalirv tha
'r,"*"#.1^i,'"nrrr"";#;":lil,,il1,il,:*J'trTH, titq'tlndna cudhr
j:li
E Ede4 sisni6.Ddy.7& /@
Ir
representjng .trroman leadd
in rem, of biog.apny there is atso thr
r.ivial popular jnreritjr her Terliliarf b.hich lead, to h;r beiqg e ,femininc' deipir. b.' authodty, o. a .unrehiniDe, (d**j, because or it in .idd cae, a @ftlation b€tween send* -j unprobleDadc,Uy ssri id. cendcEd au burcs are rcad
lifllcd cirtr.r
.-;;li"i *,r,.;,f
ollfmh
i,l
dctaih i,t
+f?r:n.:-mTna 94:. inr.r.B" reradongip. wi,h borr, .Fr.., -r,. r.! qtpradl.,rodir a\ ftir,pat s6 rc,a. i.. for r",",, .. t;,, ^,, ,,i. :.iir: Lnddedf,.Behind dF Inn rady In,s(. :i:,,
n .ontairo ,]rr lolr.*i"s t"r.", from bdng an trcn tudy,lndira cddhi always remined ba"J*y _ "i I a;,,,, woman . . . St-r wa BdDnp nor o rin htr pa$nat
$d* ""a .i._. 1", ,,, l.Fr arriruJFq. fflexc dd red.tioturltndiE; dom;"u, ;,"*.,.,,,J-i,,, @nmitrnot to ,sft, j$as as a leadtr (chnd w€ltare, cull!.,, k.r imiL,tL ,Fw.dr dpo !5 ofh{ .tchinirir) ,Thb ","i..,-";; "" I
. is an *f,",", ,, mate lr"d.rs rr L* cquallv Fph,pnrrd in,enn. ot "_" 6eir g"ndrr. , k.{Pm so.i.tie{ pos$i,.8 a scong malF dlos. in rrrm( o, rhe; harl! mo spora (J'illi. mili,d,-y d\Prdts. eri. dnd in.utru,c, tiLr Lndid in more n,,,noun..dl) andmB)do. rhJ. tu bo rCbdh,nd N.hrube,.
r.h,.
Nhl]r iF ,h" r
m ric.Stncn,t F\6 i hale .i,ed +. ,-,.f., transposed into nore ftniliar gendend identiries as tuother, "-,-," wife, or goddcss, 5
acrirc.sen, vof rcadr^hip. is my5Ln.d pre,i.Fry bRau.r
or yfrdr da)s: by bFins hf,ig"r, ,...a fl ;;T:,:Il:11 *,c'f "d ::: upon mar. a.,oF: d bv b,;"s,;;,,;i;.";" "jt"J-.t ;;.;;:.,
::il.b_:1,q or "nF,sy. In ,hp rpi.ar bioeaphG, ,.p*_.,,-;.;; ,:ll,Tcandh,. l,'.,+" tnd,E rh" p,obre; or -.-,,Liio q""a. _,,,j;" j.1.,",,.j
*:::1,5"9":**.'"mi,ins
orn.
";j;r
po$ibh or r(,rp'abh.
a
i.,o,""a 0n,".
*,,:;;
_tu*
,1".
,t"_,r,; "q. p,.ti;;:;;.-;;,
,h;;, ;; ffy.i'ill} "*ui""t"r,t a imitusfi ha pcrd dFh widuh T9 reprckqtauon
;;i:';ffiH
a"*'.p;e.
pj.lll
require turdrer
elatnnrior
;;;:
in f.mini"r ,r,irt
,rpresntauona.t hod.s mu, bF cotuEu.,ed d,ar ore ine.oncilabiriry beMeen eeDder and aurhon
Etion! i:,sled a Jim,lc .tro is, p,,r,ri,. . W}endrs.h.r.p(,r hguF, ddobm ltrhel ilin;6es: rhc prihr"ubic.r slf.alon. is gend.&t
lrmal.. ud r publ, l'$r. hil.&er nE\ pcuona or ,ol. s etuDd.x"t, reprerned i, mnrersr 'n.unat rorns I he $o spheh * .. kpant€d rtar th€ fen,le subject cunes to be seen as a sprit or "t^"lrr"i; scbophuii p"6onarl,ry.. lorec. bc ren c nltsisribry m.rrudirrx lnnl lars.my. upon publi. ,Hir brlrviou d d prcdicralh ir $se.irumsrancrs, it L tne.teminuli
ir:,h.
l;{f.::t
;?
*i. i ".
MEPRISENTATIoN: CULTUnE tND pOlJTtcs
*.p"
cIM of rhe eord ic. curruRly zs a ensbu.t *.il,rri.,.;J, :i1 o**'"
1:T:":,:l sluping. dd londidonFd"-:fr,.
;:Ii
::.:j,:.d uy d,yu$ion of hadcshjp" "i..ll'I_'';i;:#rffl:),iuil*;. r,a"y.'1m." ,::o:' *: -,md"d io mak ,r,."i*" .f ,",.",-.t." ;", *j:L: t€xl: of the culturc Bort to in their aren.*"gi* cerain h reconcilc Gmalen€$ ad 'npt authoriry
-il;;:irj.jii:jiT ;
lha! dFm(Eri. rbrid. c .nro,.4 _ hh.,e ,,,"YlT:ll: "... ',.*. .f, onddl.ftu. n'fresls or ma) in d,. ;;,";;":",,:l.j rnd d(ud\e :lji:':'..u '}f *,i."0 nd on: r.si,radve bodie" I i, atso. _,".0,
p,ffi*l:',#: aq. of sono hdd.6. Onen $ohrn leadr^"",, zdopr a .tou8tr.. Aen ru J6s and zu,horiraiian poli,(at qDh Lhar eff.ftirty plkmpr..ny fD$ibtc id.ntit,@don vi pnrusan:n,t,,n rh.n pdl k, L o, d. d qrcup., \bnna, *ttrom rr,. ore.ri"ra or *,e t,u:'r,'s and,oldari*. ;ishrisilu'; ,:l-_.l rnr,F,. in d,c.'n,q, or ,h. o\";"r i*"".p,.""*".". :':::::or wohen jn poLitr.dr -o:,,::l*zftu,y p*i".rf
w-;J;3 ;;il; ;il;ffi:;:.:-il:
il*^;yl it:^
eomFn. qr d
wo,tshoD on
r,**.*""i1";;,';:::il*l"ffi; porir".
wnden
d
r,1 Ur"rStO UNlll,M'e.en, ",s"i-a Unii.d \driuro fu,,d tor Wom.n/ Fpor.d. Neirh.r rh" r,Ir tndira Candhi no. M* Conzon Aquino, iFade^hin 'u s na.. ,aflurnr.d hom.n towpr do@ gr titu tV"-." *-1" dr-pqhrr^ ofrh. splr,r. ot power and infu"n.. znd,wa,n "" rem\of
and
Jb.hnuq, rlom \oling and d.cjsion_mdting. \omcr1 t"ni.,pdLno ha Drcn uh,,np,c$ive
Tht rcport
also suggesrs that women vorcB do nol !cce$arit], casr a femal.
n6
GENDER, LEADERSHI? AND RBPRESENTATION
vote at elecuon time instead 'votes
m
shaPed by the
frcto6 ofclslc'
REAL AND IMACINED
d l
civen ihis failure of rcpresentation a1 all lev€ls women lcado$ {in
?
ac@mmodated within leminist theoretrcat and political nodels only wllll culty. But the reaons why the muual drsowning ofwomeD leadc^ and lh cdot be simply left a1 that, as a malter of sepdate ed unrelarcd nft rr ro b. brienv ditusd. What I wish to dcvelop her€ is an analogy befiv€n the woman lr"d'!r tl the wo@n w-ritcr, add-eJ$ldiC dit i,rcBiafr;i;;TTa,-nfrE-rr,trth-I-mhdr ll mmff;Iiliu;lddns fir fiNr " rel"ti!.iy Linl. i onsidered i!"uc nr lbn diiDkins - ttisugh refer€nc€ to the $cond, an @a of otuid.rablc ft theoretical invesfn€nt. The histo;cal, i.e- actual, {€l'6 l@dcr, lik lhu vidual @md wiLt, acLnittetlly docs not €dicaily utretde tlE qucnk,n wortlenl polilioal powe r oi of wom@'s Mitina, s d@ ca.e tuy bc' iimdy vinDe of ex;slins. Bul on e w con€de ahat wonen's acces, iir llollt
s impotunr lo, a femiinn-6iid.s-Llcn thr F.ov.ry .'l' of rhc lerdertMr.r r'oih *;'r@& dut rndet cignlncl subiectiviiy .dsritutertt - ce tegin;.innbne{tisly it}i_&a..dlulriry into th€ rclcvm(t lf gcndei ,o Llr efiry in cu4don. : Jacqftlins-R,tiaTicart6ule listory md perc€Pliw ana\ais of feminiim rnd literature in tfrc esay 'The tnstilution of F€minismn' w seoe a my gnkh power/w;tins
thrcush the tditory Ros€ loctes th€ begimings ofthe uomen\ movcn'rnl hl the c.idque ofr?resentalioN ofwomen in literatur€ Mlett, Elnann' cl(r')' I critique bsed upon the Eognilion that represntation is a crucial a'tr lhr w@@: oppGnon ed liberarion. Therc is a simila ccoSlition, at I lrre. tried to show, pnicula y;n som€n's mov€ments in thi.d vorld countricr, lh ,rJ,kal F"'ddation for mmen, k. tieir participatiot in political dcciiorl'
iight3, wl (lr rqnrlhrlrl dd politjcal sfucturcs Gat most social the recogtition acconpanies women-in:powo or view 1llm neSaotly- Rose lo@tes the ncxt stcP ol li rnirirr lit€iary cniicrl fldavoure in th€ 'focs on woden witcs 6 a countcrii 0r y to the dominant liteEry paadigms and pefer€nces', siich also mcan! tlflrhrl
sakidg, is
Mtial for the etrecli\€ attainmena of {onen's
up lir€rahr to the wider arena ofserual inequality'. Sinildly, fehinisr Polilir {l rrreory rcmat&s upon tln aclusion ofrcm€a frcm th. Political pro@s, c$Fxlnlly from le'denhip, ide"tfies wom€n leade6 and their modd of acccss ro nnrl
exercise of autioritn and calls into question de daluative critena bv vlil lr teadc:lhip is judged. The dan$B that Ros P.rceiv€s in dre second nUvr', na-ely rne co"opt'tion of the wohd witcr widnn the litcrary instituti(nr trnrl thc cons€quenl 'narginaliration of th€ quesdon of $nder and sexuahv" {rr
implicit in political practicc
a
we[. Thus'ary aflimative dircows tnh
rei;scribins itself back into thc t€ms of the literary [Poiitical] as sucl" II individual womao witer/lcad€r day thereforc be accladed both from a li rr rirrlil as
lr.ll Ros€
r nrjlsf..m pc..i.nir. r'rt f.r ditrerent and even opposcd n nru (rrr ' refuses to shm (ha1 1he fansition from the critique of milc disr
as
I
t7
\{OMEN
attertion to woment writing in fcminist criticism a progression, though c€!{an y a loSical next step. 'Animadon' is a politiclly 's complex mow for redons: the dd8er, alrcady notcd, of thc ccopladon of women\ ieade$hip widrin de mainsrc^m ofthe institution literarure, politicsl; frequendy rerdonar-y content otwomen's wndng leadership], the rcsult ol int$nalisation of a paldarchal nom'; and fiMIy feminisn's inty over whcther panicipation in the literary as such or in polidcal can be daih€d by women when il is simultareousiy cnticized from a perspective as a politically suspe.t i.e. hegenonic or dominant /institutio!. The simpl€ \rlolizalion of women writeB/leaden, or 's Miting,/lerd€nhip, is not - s it lanot be - the cenEd [email protected]
atrum'ion a! a lDliti.al pmj€cr 6it cotuider. 'a diffdft ofpdiri.al ' to b€ at slake leads to thc ida ofe fdulc a61hcriC. Thi! &idEric ran th€ fom €ithcr ofth€ '6*nion ofa liberal con cpti@ didlhood', or of uDdoing, disintegFtion d negrion of *&2.t @d liqgu;Ito idqriry d 5uh'.
prc
[o be obsftd ia a political drcory 6 a'difFM@ of F)liti@t sna', {,18rc th€ po.ition rorcpondi ro rhe.rl.b.rrjd ol rlre ahjermenr of rwci md by won€n, dd the i€@nd to th. adi.al com€ptual sii6 of pokEr ar€ simila and
pnv
cges
€quiEtst
w@cn'r ieadeEhip
drc mbhce of a specficaly 'fenilin€' mode of power that de@nsrucrs
fdomindt paradign of s*ual ditrerence'. Ro* wafrt ofth6 pcsibility of rareficatiotr of dis position (its b€oning'aother r6ion of the asrhetic ist hish prce'), as €adi€r I lot€d th€ danser of f.minists mbracing alt€rity in a posture dut mighl bdomc uLimalery politic,lly disdifficdt negotiatioru tlEt f€minism mu.r .nter;nto uitb th.literay ai(e its major inlo$do@ry thtsts into the siiurion of &re€n- Th$e arc ificd b' Rore as fiBq 'that wider redcfinitior of.he lircnry {t'i.h brings n connection with other .uihral foms as rveu s wi$ oibo mdes of
dd
political
critiqu' Rlating to
clas &d
.€$rl i!&En
es:
'2c,language and;nstituti@ wbjch lhe arti@lation berted suqftriliry, ;st ..iticism brings to bed upon rhc 'domain offadzsy and lie \nci$itudes lifc'. I1 shodld be similarly posiblc for a feminist politiel to br@den the scope of its enquiry io include the h;torical, crntural ald dimemioDs ofthe structures ed institutions of political pokr. Jusi d the of wonen', qclusion fron Miting (or spftch) is lot a probl.n that be lesolved by 'sinply encouraging more women (o speal', the problem cf 's €xclusion frcn politi.al power ; also nol one that is resolvcd by more women to vote. The qudlion of repicsentation ; bolh 6es tlr liberar Dotion ofequal acc€$ to rights'. Ratho fic prcblem nrquires to a fom of critique bur dris time lo fie eudnradon of $e 'foms it.ord,
;biain.l ihresrmeni .n,l qrsreF, which individual and cotlecti\r 'hrough rdn@iions are recurcd and upon which 1hey come ro rely for holding l18
GENDER, LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
place'. We would ask .What are the pointl
rcpresentational images in connection between a sexual imaginary and the accredited forms of discourse and speech?' Rose argues that it is the 'intractability of these scenarios which makes other forms of transformation often so difficult to about'- My long section on representations of women-in-power in the tetul
contemporary Indian culture was an attempt
to identiE' such a
discourse and speech' on fernale authority, though without having rccoun€ the specific psychoanalytical procedures that Rose advocates. Rose rounds off her discussion - fortuitously, for my purpose - witlr investigation into the 'psychic investrnent in the image of the woman' i
by *re red€ctfon of lflargalt* Thatcher for a thind r€nn at *te time of of the essaf {t is another instanc€ whrre the impoltanee of the
*itirg
whoee particular &rce femiaism has alrvap recognizcd, bads outside the litrrrrt and educational in*iultionsl, pase'ng this time into the gerreral reaches of pul{-
fantasy life'.
The question of representatiron, then, straddles feminism's_4{dress to botlr d1
ti*p1y-"q4.tlf.1pg1334: p r* r
uw
ffio
thr odror,
Clearly $e quemim of political power is nror:ally and politically more rrexcd fir3 feminism than tlnt of writiqg is. And even when femini$rn acknowledger thp necessity of wsrnenor access to political power) the slornan leader is less eerlly recuperable for a feminist politics than the woman writer because of her molt problematic, and, difierent, 'representation' of the collectivity. The tyrit.d transaction that takes place in the project of feminism catrnot be consummalcd when the party of the fint part is the elite woman. The 'agency' of leadcnlr\l allows only a riflgle subject-posilion for the leader - even where the function of leadership as domination is replaced by service, this position is marked by isolation, dlFersnce ard individr.lalism- h *y dfucussiorr of Indira Gandtri I have tricd to in$c*re gender as &c 'Iir,rd' experieme of, dre woman leader ln order to fracture her monolithic (non-gendered) dominant identity - to find tlrst as n"ethod this yielCs only biographical anecdote or analytical impasse. 'l'lu, eploration of&e limi* ofcuhural attitudes and cogaitive structurcs also revealr the occlusion of gender in the represcntation of the wornan leader. The clita female sutrject brings both &e caregory bf the subaltern as well as the solidat.ity of fenrinisrn to crisis. The typical female subject of feminism has been the subaitern woman, ol specifically the woman-as-victim, whose subjectivity post-structuralism has Ircll'rrrl conceptualize as discontinuous, heterogeneous, changing and contingentarr orl as we may say, less than one. The fractureC identity of this subject rnay cntrl into alli2ns.r with groups, which then makes possible a feminist politics.al''l'lre collectivity represents her from the premise of a shared, universal expericnr.r ul oppression and handicap, i.e. powerlessness. l'hough this premi:;e has lx.r.rr radie-alry-questiord*by-worrrerrrf*eotum;'"wo1kihg-class womerl, third-wor hl women - subaltern wt'men themselves - feminist theory has recently bcgrrrr tn answer the challengefro- u variety of positions.50 T-tus feminism builds'uprrrr
'i
i\rlJ
ll9
!
\*' 1r,,.i{,"n1 {,' !'/ 1 tr '''' r I @-.
that either disguises or legitimizes difference and hierarchy. we see synecdoche as the non-representational figure for feminism - a where the more comprehensive term is used for the less comprehensive,
- then we can understand why the singular, inciividual, hegemonic subject complicates the equation by being both more (i.e. hegemonic) less (i.e. singular) than the collectivity. This makes it imperatite then to 'female leadenhip' in different terms - in terms that will explore ontology of the collzctite subjecl subjectivity of the collective may be described as 'greater than one' in to the 'less-than-one' subaltern subject. It is a subjectivity that is formed the pressure of solidarity - a lzilue', as Terry Eaglaoer &aintains' 'without no significant social change is eircr €orrceivaHe'. Much poslrnodern - Eagleton designates 'dconstnrc*isr' qrecffisalty - is 'tithcr silent or ive about the notion of soUarity -.. @nflaitsrg] it in lScaschcan fashion a cErv€n conformity to the lad- Eagleton trcnds'unity or idcntity' fu ing th. dialectical thotrg&n cf Adorno: versa
given social ordelis not only a rratter of cpressitre sdlidenritics; it also a structurc of antagonism, to which a certain notirn of identiq be critically opposed. It is because so much poct+tnrcoralist &ought a conflictive social systcm for a monolidric orrc that it can a conseruius or collectivity only as oppressive.sr Jameson, from a similar perspective, shifts the terms of the discussion the Marxian 'realm of freedom') from the individual subject generally
only as the autonomous subject, or as the decentred subject, to
into account a 'reinvention of genuine collectiw life, in whidr" if one likes,
subject is therapeutically *deccntered" by other pcoplc, but *hich arnouns whole new mode of bei4g on which peoS can lftre"" Thc cntolosy, as terms it, of this collective life requires an er
ical feminist positions. Chantal Mouffe, for instance, warns that"'a munitarian type of politics' is 'incompatible with the pluralism that is s'iit:;tive of modern democracy', and conflicts also with democracl'''s 'notion '.sa Nancy Harstoc! while sympathetic to the notion of porver vesting 120
, 1..,
I
\+
i r','' ' I
\ (,r
GENDER, LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION
in the communiry fears'the submersion of the identity of the i community', and of women thereby {irlling into a 'form of thc fcmrlf of loss of self, a fluidity that may submerge individual identity,.l!
In the theoretical work oimosi iviarxisr an
is goal, a move that at this historical moment is utoplrrf have in mind is less such a radical ro( political resolution than the more modest identification cf structures of go\ryrunent wlrcre they @ exftt, and dreir ad"ftrtiooT"o-optrtlol purpos€s of political power &r r,vorrren.s In India &ocal goverrun€n$r qll udle4ae pchgah, provi& an (in&altrrrcture widrlrn) whidl normrl attainment of
it is premature. What I
niglt
furrctior with surh a ceruc of coEec*irrc identity while exucbing lGr since at this level of admirdstration dre Indian government aho pcrmlU cent reservation for women- 'Positive intervention' (i.e. quotas, eocial mntrob! as Cya&ia Epetn mintainE i$ oseded to crcatc rool|
thc pa*r to peftical poiw br
as shc erwiragcr lt lt conc.lusion, is by'all &e rnrtcs that men take'o as vell as by'eome nc* of dreir own in cqrccrt vdrh a[ vrorncn'.s I end therefore with the story of Vitner, a small village in ldahara.rhtn, In Vitner a women's panel was ehct€d ta tJne p@uhqal (niUag. body) inJanuary 1990, and 125 wornen wer€ given a share in their property. Vitner was honoured as a Jyotiba vilfue (a{icr Phuk, the great locial reerma+ for aetablishing luom€n's righs in thcrc Thcse rn4ior*rya canrc after se*ral years of planningand acrion by the ndahiln Adllodi,a wonrcn'r oryanirn::o:l 5*!icd by thc futkati SaadhdaM r,mrnnn.u?
r'Four€ro,
Group). In spite of the shortage of women experienced in mainstream politicr, 30 per cent quota for wornen is Erow being 6lled by women n'ho lia.,.r active in rtrornen"s grot+s" 3ut it was only in 1986 that tJne Sk lhad pionrered dle idea of 'a rnass collective fight for pourcr' and 'fufrndi all-worrcn's panels at vrllage, municipal and district local bodies. In in 198{l five villages in Maharadilra dected a$wornan pnfrqats wldl' suPport.
Gail Omvedt points out that, contrary to the predictions even of feminist activists, dalits and leftists that the women leaders would only h 'puppets' of the men in their families, and would b.lorg predominantly to tht , dominant castcs, the elected women who have com€ to 'local political powru *l part of a collective fight' are from .the lower classes and castes, and resirt ntil only male political power but also the 'forces of communalism'. Thouglr they face problems in political activity and especially in fighting elections, they her.e been successfui in bringing about much needed imnro.'.'ements in the village.
The
success
of this handfirl of all-women lmclryats is leading to the increarllrg
l2l
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
of women in local politics and pointing to the strategies by which may be achieved.5e is, of coune, no more than an indication of a future trend of women's participation. A certain historicai conjuncture of the women's movemenr, movements and political party realignments has made this mode of power possible. It may well be that the traditional hierarchy of decisionwithin the pyramidal structure that places leadership at the apex, will rfully determining in most political situations. The problems of collective at the actual, pragmatic level have undoubtedly to be negotiated at stage. The case of Vitner's parulryMf also makes cl€ar that womcn's access itical power rnust be atrdnpaufod by arcs to €@nomb indcpcdcncc so that subalternity rnay bc ryre*nlngfully overcome"s It is uot &c csse tlrc exirtential realiq' $f gcafu - as social rolq bidogld dcrriny, or Iimit *i$ ranscndedherc aq/more dhanin dreirucarredfis lrrlian leader-{l where in the latter *c r€alitlr of gender is rrryrnssod in praahe and
in reprcsmtarimal mod€E iil Sr o&cr it arxially and cntratrly
ines the groqr's pditicd dei$im.rnaling as urell as makcs banspqrent rest group' prioritics. Tfurs arnmg tllr- uwrrll pa&qnts first cnterpriscs
of drin*iqg wat€r in Vitner. Thc men of Thner viilag,e that no eadier (rrrcn's) pm&gst had thought of inve$ing money to the problern of fetching wa.ter since it was 'wornen's worts-e A subaltern collectivity, the seat ofpolitical power, at one strok alters the of governrrrent and tre rnodcl of wonrcn bt tlre top'.
the provision
t{oTE8 1917 into a &xdly alr€ady I@ in aat&rrralis potitic*. [I€t ldeluu" (*wr f'C€ ro lrtcr ftte ladia'r P{imr Ir&nister Srs .p.Jvrrt 198*), "favahadai her grandfafrcr, Modlal Nrhrs, vmr clccely allied with *re Nariona$st Congress and welr sotrr to corrrc under thc s,v*y o{'!{oh"andas GandSi. After a hdrulcnt ctdldh€od alrd a rhqrmcd cArca*o, shc marricd Feroge rndhi in 1942. [Ier sons, R4ii" Sa{ey, werc born in l3i*i1 an! lgit6. In rhese ""d struggle, spending nine nronttrs in jail at one she was alio actiw in the frcedom . Whcn Nehru r,vas chosen Prinre Minister of,ne*{y independcnt lndia in l9+7, gradually took over as ltet {irtftet's lrostess in tfu Prirne Minister's r,esidencc in Delhi, and the inwitable estrangement with her husband took place over the . Feroze Gandhi died in 1960 ofa heart attack. Indirat political role during her 's lifetime was a low-key one, though she srrved as president of the Congress in 1959, and in this capacity clashed with Feroze, whose pclitical markedly left-wing and oppositional. The question of a successcr to Nehru had exercised political observers for years his dcath. Indira was alwap perceived as a possible successor though her as a political figure was insiesificant. When Nehru died in 1964 it r,vas lal Shasui who succeeded as Prime Mnistcr, but Indira was made Minister for ion and Broadcasting in his catrinct. Out of her father's shadow she quickly her political skills and ambition and, whcn Shastri died aftcr oliy two yeai'iwas bora
in
,-tJ-'r-q4-d
122
REALAND IMAGINED WOMEN eds, ,4 pnbait of Maryiru^0: nu po,tical &haiot of U\e An'e"icu' wonan, New rgiil il't"r"r(" rni]Lffi,i'car* -y.*--r!q", Wonunpoun atd politits. N.-y9rk, d;;,'i!ft*n & Geoghegan, 1974; Cynthia Fuchs Epstein and Rose L*b c";;r,;Ji"irJrr, porru,-cro?rlioiiri,ilraio o1 Wytun.and Etihs, London, c."g" etr",i t-iirJJ, f ggf . essay points out thaimost ,"o*.rrtlJuu.s extend suppon to ,_^_9:o"!
M. Githens and.f. &utage,
GBNDER, LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION
in office, she was elected Prime Minister, due to a combination of her famlly !9r aScggtability to the Party bosses, and the mass following she was able to coi sheled her party to resounding success in the next elections in 1967. In lgli conducted a zuccess{irl war against Pakistan which led to the liberation of
Pakistan (now Bangladesh). But the yean that followed were fitled raith turmoil a;rd unresq which thc o1: parties were quick to e:rploit. Indira had followed her father's liberal, secular, and non-aligned policies in domestic and foreign affairs. But her'politici rrdl suppressing dissent from her cabinet, colleagues and party members, hir demanrntt the unchecked comrption in govemment, the increasing upper-cr*te atrociticr the lower-caste H*ii*t, widespread communalism, all, the growinj as i-et unofEcial power ofher younger son, Sanjan "ol, soon"Lorr. snowballed inio a natiorral d[mfuiment with her rule In Junc 19?S, she mol., the unpra
etnergency,
ail civil liberd;, imfmil
rgstrictigns-on-the presg and arrested all opposition pditi"ut leaders. Thir wir tir dosest tsr leader da &mocracy cou&d csne to miring &e pow€rs of a diclrtoG The Drnergency b.can€ notorious for sanjay's paugram''.s-of rnass stcrilindil and destruction of urtan slums. rndira rernoved-thJ Emergenry restrictionr uj called for fresh elections in 1977. Her party was rourcd and she herself lort. 'lta oppcition padi"s' brggght together in a loose coalirln called tbf,Janata perty, cilia Morarji Desai as &irne lrEnistcr. rr&a anil san3ay wcrepnoroorel 1. ry"l,ie 9. +.t. T*tg."q :xcrsses rhngrrgh elaborate trials and c"rtu Lf i"quiry. nur b, the tirrle thesc €sdd be concluded t$eJanata par*y $ad bro&err up th";"gti intcrnrl dissension, and elections urcre hcld again in lgs0- tndira had used her frc[ in thr political_wildemess to ingratiate herself once more wifh the masses, rnith tlre "nd slogan 'Garibi Hatao'(Remow poverry), she swept back to power. sanjay was given the official position otce'era secr"t ry ofthe congrrr lrandhi pa.ty, a"9 wT !ryreasingly perceived as a successor to Indira Gandhi. In fg80, h9-wwert he died in a plane crash. Rajiv,.the older son, gave up his job as an airllne pil,ot to beomc his mother's tnrsted aide and a Grcal secritary of dre congrn party. trndira yas facing, apa.rt frorn *re endemic p,rcblerns of poverty, *.-fr1 and surnuaalisrn, sccessionist movcrnents fu ,&r4iab, and continuing unrrst in Alr*n aad r(.emh. T€'.oriim fo Puujab under fu uasnp d Bhinlranwarc, whonr rndira Gandhi had in a sensc earlier recognized as a'sffir reader, reached r'rlr proportions that she was finally obliged to send the arrny into the Golden TcmJrlr rrr Amritsar to flush oiii ilie terrorists hidden there. This sacrilege, as it was pcrciivrrl, ard the cct in lruman lives and damage to th€ rEFFle, ea*ed h". the hostility 'l the Sikh community. co_"qgss was gtill the only significant politicat party in rhe country anct ir rr ... th.likely ttrat radira nmuld have luon dectimr in the f
women,s not to women. to functiorral feminism, not ideological f."rlri[*-h. Ziif. see, for insrance, Isaac Barbus, iv;iren' Mi.t.r Foucaurt th. :Dr$;;"rg of Feminist Discourse'. in s.yt" n.'"r,"uiB "rr]dFanhism comet, eds, as criti4ae: Essav oa tJu poiitics Balbus argues that Foucauli orrcrloola .jirp-pornonately O. male ... orientadon, towards power, .and obliterates th. rssues,
3
ri
stcp.of enaornging a statc_of
-*j
io*., "nJ'6-"*" tldad-; I'tt-bffii sr;r*r,a;;ds.,'p;,ti,',nrr. i" ;r;;;
*ry;t*
.ffiff * fnril.nrhfu, erd Radicel r*j; rii. s*,.a+ r*r TI-i&,frc [-dq ry* n-ru#6eo. gz*. 4. M.;Jrq-L;&;;i i" r.rru, "nd Mcodus,, cds, wana in w;ta, pdnicatpp@,, ;r_il; *il"irr*rn G'rfrfr,;*;A .Femintm', pp. 328-6. : y"ry, Prcsq t98l, dscussed ry Democraric potirics'- l"giran* -CU*i Politiel, Newyortand Dllen Kcnnedy eod susan
o
.tc-e
U"rm;
I'leanor t'acoclq 'rtrmrcn, por,"' ad Autr'oriv, in r.cla efrc, Ercan* a"rd Shidev Ardner, dr, Wfffilg ;Fir*, A"q, st Woaw e, fuicty e.d
Iracod
rir,Juii"*;-ffii&iT WAro',Eo.u,i, -, orru 'womcn, power and Authmity in ct
al., l4tibiliy ed porw.
8 lbid., p.
137.
Nancy HamtocJq Monet &t ad-lau,Boston, Norlheastern University k€ss, lggg, p' 255' In this conteit-Nancy Hatrs;ck *ft^;-H."".h Arendt,s praise of Rosa Luxemburg, who was 'not .trrcernd $,ith trcrselfGt * wi& a drctiviq/, in this *?hytng a'feminine'notion of politircs tp. Zlil.* il; pry{y,$. or.a seminar reponed "1 liH
m.T** f If d.;#ffi
*:*:
9*!'
;
ffi'$ilH*?IXffiXiw;*ffi .". ;ffifr;L
Giricat Inqui,)
r
2,
r,'
A;un;-
Fox-Genorcsc's
rgss, pp. tl3--lir,
l?.?t:!t"t y*t, h od poan, p. 2SS. !T"*, lndei Malhotra, Iadira G@dfu pqsonal
i
;.246.-sp#;
""g,r*i.,t ^ N^ L7'n ;r*
l3g,
M";il.1d;,
tl nd politital giqrqlg,London, t{oddei & Stoughton, 1989. p. 3i. Matho; rc;;;;;;ffi.". a frien4 upon becorning Prime Minister, that she f€tt exactry'ril;rl* T ;;;" did not wz.nt ro be kinp in Robert Frost's famous ooern, B;;'r;;;;o.##, Rajiv, she had earrier quo-ted some other lines frorri the same poem: 'To "" be king is within the situation 7 and -"6 within me' (pp. S7-8). Indira wrote that Harord l-ash had advised her not to .tag along, with her father, but that she did not mind. She.was resp";;dt";,;;; .lon.lirre*s, she feh in him. See Dorothy Norman, Indira wM ttarriu o nlzi rciuNdd rondon, weidenGld & Nicolson, 1984, p. B. Indira's Joan of Arc fantasy is described in her aunt Krishna Hutheesingh,s autobiogra'phv Dco h Behna. bn99r Mu."rixu";-i969;'p. n+, aluded to bv Nehru arso in a retter to rndira in
""a ,:ii.tT...'ffi c"#*i; ;;,.,"i;ffi;-;r;:,i,L';:h
i:wr:3[6."*andJaunhakt.N'h;;n;-;;]'ilnaon,HJa*-r=iil,ffi t24
123
ros.
T;fidonal yoruba Soclty,, in Dube
.
*
!
$ fr I
i
GENDER, LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
16 Gandhi was a powerfirl influence on [ndira. See Norman, p. 19. 17 Her will, written shordy before her death, movingly opresses this:
a
No hate is dark enough to overslndow the extent of my love for my countrfl no force is strong enough to divert me irom my purpose anci my endcavour t€ take this country forward ... I canrlot understand how anyone can be an lndl$ and not be
proud'
(Iext at Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, New Dellil. quotea in uaho rfa,h&l Gandh\pp.3074,1 18 For a discussion of the implications of choice and destiny in female my'The Feminist Plot and the Nationalist Allegory: Home and World in Two Women's Novels in E,glith', forthcoming, 19 S€e, fo: iryencen Se int€rview she gave to Fredda Brilliang Wnur h Pur, Delhi,'Lanm &*croerional lS, pp. 413tr 20 See Malhotra,Irdira Gandh\p. 193, for an acmunt of her distress at the implicrdei of Sxrcqgency. Thc conmcat abort 'riding a riger' *,as rrradc ty Indin o Jr
2f
K*furanrurery, drc philuophrr, Th€ m{or irstena on her vas a yogi, Dhirendra Erahmachari, wtro from teacher became one
22
Ir
Hindu rociety a
ofher
closest confidants and adiisers. soer b con*idered axr astet and a daugh&r
yrlt
A til rmas dco cxped s producc r nuh a liability.
ffifoh$' lffiat l{cbmr'f ody *rqJa!,yrhadat heh. Itfioddb rrife crprcssd lm dsappdntrrrent at Indi$'s tirrlu "It slrould hnr been a son'. But IUodIal dedaxf& "This daughter --. n:my prure bcucr tlrrn r
&sssandm'@id.,p.
!6)-
23 Therr was widespread prejudice about Indira's bcing a widow since widowhood b considered an inauspicious state. In matters of dress, and behaviour towardr thc opposite se:q the Prime Minister was required to be circumspect. Ilrere was Pnotdlr for instance, against hcr shaking hands wi&'fo..igt men' (ibid., p- 109). 24 In her early yean of prime ministenhip she was nicknamed 'dumb doll' (ibld', p. 93). One of her opponene suggestd that &e Congress in 1966 throw out 'thlr
dit not ha$e to '$ffcr pain and unrblc beyond hrr endurance' Gbid, p. 103)- General Ya.hya Khan, President nf Pali*an" had refemd to bcr at a prbNic filrctim as thg urcaan'. Tbeec axc ouly a Snreamptres of rcrim pretty wonan' ro thar SE
inprblic
tifr:.
Indira was capable of being wryly humorous about the anomalies of being r woman in power. In responsc to PresidentJohnson's,lresitation about how shc shorrkl
be addrcssed she is reported o haw said: 'You can tell hirn thatwre of my cabinet &aft, Helntrrt nnioisters call rne "sir". I{c can do so, bo, if he liks'. .Af,t€r
br
'
Schmidt, former Chancellor of West Germany, described her as 'Zoon polititon' (politicat animal wirhout g€tder). Malhotra calls this tlrc 'most remarkable commenl on Indira, in &c contc*cf ff(rren ard powr'{p. 19t). 25 RaunaqJahan, 'lVomen in South Asian Politics', Thinl World @dtth 9'3'July 1987, pp. 848-70. All further references to this essay are indica.ted by pug. numbers Sivett
within parentheses in the text. 26 The politicd scientist, Bhikhu Parekh, ProPounds'a 'distincdy Indiant venion of tlre dynastic principle', which enabled Indians to assimilat€ dynastic succession 'into the , Hindu theory of rebirth'. Therefiore, though Nehru and Indira did not ovcrtll'
nominate tbeir offspring as their successont, Indians felt sure that they alone nrnrhl ensure'ideological continuity'of rule. See'How Indian is the Fint Family of Indinl' Tlu Tima of India,28 August 1989. For the view that the dynastic theory of succcsriott does not apply to India, see Subrata I( Mitra, 'India: Dynastic Rule or tlre Democratiza.tlon of Power?' Thitd World @nt rb !0-1, jan'-ra.ry !988, nn lto '\rr Mitra argues that in India the two requisites of this flrm of succcssion, norninatilrr 125
successor
by a nrler, and, a piori accePtance of this by the ruled, have been
Epstein and Coser, Accas ta Pouan Expess Maga
Kanti Bajpai, 'The Making of Maggie',
15.
Carolyn Heilbrun, Rtirunting Wofta,lnod, New York, W.W Norton & Co-' 1979. For an extended discussion of 'The Ideology of Motherhood' in Indian culture see the special issue (Review of Women Studies) n barcmit and Po0tical W@kb, 20 October 1990. I do not want to develqp drc similadti€s too assiduously, but the coincidence of Indira's b.i"S . widow, and halting t{r'o rons (cte 'good'7nd one 'di;fficuh')" lilce fadha, is certainly r€markaH€. During the 1977 elections, for inca.:ren rbc declard 'lffe the N.furus harrc a lwtg of smrifice, .". Wc v nt io fcnre 6c comlry cven sdrcn €ffi Pcop&e rr€ us. Ow fandly t{ill mtinuc s do cD in 6mrrc'. Aaomd ia Kt{d$ !Sa1'ar'
&af thowh,Ilrdira oaradArls insistently, therc tas nd q$&c,h of mcrifrce on hcr part. $€. &dt! Ma* lla 8wl tu w,I"osdocr erd
)rves trenchandy ,
ildapdmald &. f;o., l9?8, 1r l3-
I$difl
Wti, p. l0{. .Ilowrs, thc vicw ato gevatiled, a:rmg pdfuical qui* Sffid fu rdc. Shikhu Aan*h v/ritrn l$orcOlngof
ilysts, that Indira aever
lm odd rryni'cisat and pf,rtisandlb, as afuo ao death, prevented her amtadc of aslrtrarmata (mother of dre nation| ftlow r is &e lirst Family of tndia?)- The prress seactcd to nerys of Indirfs squabbling Saqiay's wife, Maneka, with disillusiormrenr 'the kime Minister and her are the subject of bazaar goasip; the great mother image nudged by dre mother-in-law i*ug.. ... The image of tha ordy leader we have bruiset illusion gone'. See Arun Shomic, Mrs fudhi's &wd &agn, New Delhi, \ii&as' 983, pp. 26-7. Coetus' is indudcd n 4rr tlv IfWiry Nd Otlut Jlo,riar, rranslattd frsn il{ata}alar1 the author {New Delhi, ?enguin, t989)t Thf €drcr stbri€s in drb group" T&e , 'Oil', 'The lxaminalion', arc siniLafu €ltd with irnages of disease, ahnmd arth, decay - a mix of lu{a$edz ffidK'afkanan Rushi[", L{;n&iShr\ Chilfu*, I"ondc'n, Picador, 1982, p. 420" An a:efersnces to this.edition, and page arrrmbffs hawe ben indicated widrin palcn&e*s in drc older rister and stcrn hea&ni$ftss5
Malhotra'concludes his biogr.aphy of Indira thus: 'Some say &at both India Indira would have been better of if she had l@€d it a little more and lrcr suun cially Sanjay, a littte l,essr'(p. 3SS). Ashis Nandy oipresses the viirv tbat Indira's on hir son was not i *"ok tets on hm part - we must irot forget 'the use Indira Gandhi made of her son in seeking his loyalty'. He compares wi& other third-world leaders who similarly'fall back on their relatives to cre.ate second tier of political leadership': See 'Indira Gandhi and the Culture of Indian Folitics', in At thz Edgc oJ Pychnlng, Delhi, Oxford Universiry Press, 1982, pp. 126-7For Sanjay's actual role in India's political life, and especially during rhe Emergency' see Kuldip Nayar's Tlu Jungannt. Nandy,.'Woman versus Womanliness in lndta', At tJu Hge oJ Pgclnhg' p. 42. BhagwanJosh, a historian, dercribes the wideipread protest in India at &e depiction of the Rani of Jhansi's alleged affair with a British officer in a play by a British pilywright, Phillip Cox, written in the 1930s. He concludes that'a
GENDER, LEADERSHIP AND REPRESENTATION
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
of the Rani forms an inseparable part of the cultural mlthology- of Hindu Nar (Irtters to the Editor, Tlu Tinzs oJ Indin, 18 July 1992). This 'cultural might offer another reason for the relative sanctity of the private life of tlte leader.
40 A fcw of these are: K.A. Abbas, Indiro Gandhi, Retum of tlu fud
Rose,
Dclhi, I
Pocket Books, 1966; Uma Vasudev, Indira Gandhi' Rerylation in Rutraint. Delli, 1974 and Tuo Facu of Indira Gandhi, Delhi, Vikas, 1977; I:s'{'ary Canas, Indira ( In thz Cnuillz of lzadnship, Boston, Beacon Press, l97B; Dom Moraes, :l/rs (
Delhi, Vikas, l9B0; Pupul Jayakar and Raghu Rrai, India Gandj, Delhi, l9tl5; Parthasarathy and N.Y. Sharada Prasad, eds, Indira Gandht Statzsnm" *holars, liti aad Frimfu Rmnnbn, New Delhi, Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust and Vikas, I
4l 42
43 44 45
46
'
Malhotra's and Sahgai's biograpiries and Sonia Gandhi's and Dorothy Nontrrrll collcctioas .dletters harr bm refcrred to already. A recent account of the EmcrgcnGf pe{iod, Raj Thapart AE Tluse Tnrs: A Mnnir, Delhi, Serninar Fublications, Iil9l1 discusres Indira Gandhi's personality and politics at length. Sce Malhotra'$ trrief recounting and dismissal of these in .chapter ll of Indira (hndft "The Marriarch at ftrome'The blurb to Norman's volume of letters says: 'To all those who have judged I urllrt Gandhi on the strength of her public image this book w,ill give an added dimcruiol, &e &ry to a ru€ a$ee$n€nt orf onc cf, history'$ nrnet impoaant 6gurcs'. 'll* int*oducdon similarly prcfesses that the lettcrt l,vill "illurninae ard reveal dre privrtl individuai behind the public irnage' (p. xin). P.C, Alcxander, "My Years rd& Iadira Gandhi - 2' , Mait Tvnzs" 30 August l9l{1, For the two s€nses of representation see Vicki Kirtry, 'Corporeographies', Insctiptiunt 5, 1989, pp. 103-19, esp. p. l12. Margaret Thatcher was equally indifferent to the women's movement: 'What'r lt EveiDone for Me?' (Nar Statzsrwn, T October 1977), citLd in Do:,ina S. Sanzorrc, '\{omen in Politics: A Study of Political kadership in the United Kingdom, Frurrle and the Federal Republic of Germany', in Epstein and Coser, Acass to Powcr, p. 44, For a report on dre worlrshop on Wosrcn and 'Pc{itics in *rren eouth-east Arien countries organized by UNESC0 and UNIFEM (United Nations Fund for Wonrcn), inJune 1990, see TIu Tbnzs of lndi4'lffornen are still Folitical Outsides', l9Jurrc 1990. A r€port on the 1991 elections in Bangladesh comments on tlrc irony of them being ferarer than ten women contesting dre 300 parliamentary seats in spite ol'tlrr trvo main contending parties being led by women. Thesc womcn, Sheik H:rsirr,r llhjed (AL) and Begum Khaleda Zia (BNP), only played thc'respective r'olt's rrl dutifi.rl daughtcr and devoted wifc'. Women's issues have been givear low priority orr political agrndas. See Rajashri Das Gupta, 'lilomen without Power', Orpress tr[agagnt, 24 February 1990. Though in Pakistan and Bangladesh wornen hare a sepautr quota i.r Barlianrnt, tbeir preeence in l,ocal government bodies, in drc bareaucrar r and in the armed forces is irnignificant. See Jahan, 'Women in South Asian Politir r , pp. 857-$4. Govind Kelkarprovides figures for India: a maximum of only 6.79 ;x'r cent of members of state legislatures and 7.1 per cent of memtrers of Parliamcnt lrlrl been women, while in local decision-making bodies women may be as few as I to ',r per cent of *re total number of members. In the 1977 elections only 30 pcr ct:rrt rrl the seats were contested by women. See 'Women in Post-.Liberation Socictics: ;\ Comparative Analysis of Indian and Chinese Experiences', in Natianal l)beralion nn,l ll/omn\ Iiberatinn, p.33. The number of women elected to the lok Sabha (krn,'l house ofParliament) reached a record high of44 in 1984, but has dropped to 2ll rn the last elections, in 1991. While some parties reserve 30 per cent of all scats h,r women candidates this applies only at the panchayal (r'illage bodies) levcl, not :rl tlr nauonal level. A male candrdatc rs perccived by thc party as'less ola risk'. accorrlirrg
t27
Mamta Banerjee, a woman minister- See Kankana Das, 'Woman Po-*et', Sundq4
Fl4 March 1992'
e,,L.i^-r (II): /rr\. The 'r-he Institution Tnsti of Feminism" Cri.tba'Tl, Subject of ^r+1.the UrC uuuJLLr IllC Otat5 Statc Ul LC Rose, AoSC, 'The acqueline 29, 4, Winter 1987, pp. 9-15."At1 quotations are from this essay; I have not i page numbers because of the brevity of thc piece. . ^.*for an iliustrati on Zakia Pathak and Rajeswari Sunder Rajan, 'Shahbano', Srgnr.' of Womm in Culture and Socitq 14, 3, Spring 1989.
e are w€ll exemplified in a recent collection of essays edited by Judith Buder and New York, Joan W. Scott, eds, Faninisk Thntke tlu Politital, I-ondon :dge, 1992.
Eigi..r,, Thz Signfuancc of Tlwry,Oxford, B!ackwe|,- l!f0, pp' sl{,-*J) Ji-.ro.r, 'Inr.iview', na*irs I'Z' FaIl 1982, pP. 72-91' €sp'p'82' q):,'fetninism', p. 378ck, Mortl, &x wl Paw,p.253-
u,arn {tr dr€iilisg trt{piq fcasibly', -ory q* ,lviorrc rnust .attrad to Srooc fautt lines witfin the prcsent dlat, dero.loped or d opcn in pa{ticutaf ways, might induoc that condition to surPass itself into a r'. '5". 'tliriott*tir*t l,foiy ""d Conrnitment', in Eaglt:ton, {re$Jarr.reson^ Ed'rard W. Sai4 ",lfrdd€de',' fffilW ed Libra6x, 1,6n*€aeoli!, {.}nio"rsity of
S"glct;-h* seobr af ec
a Pr€ss, 1990, p" 25. nVomen and'slites: A Crm-nerioaal Perq:ective', in Epstein and Coseq
b Pww,p.6.
in, nV'omin and por,rrcr: The Roles of Women in Politics in the United States',
32.
na Gala interviewed $roraen s6Bdg|la, rrre{nbfrs abrt the difference rhe dection rnade in their live. On€ saiA 1ffhat differcr.ce can it rnake to our daily $ves? still do the same wort. 3wn tlre sarfanth (viltagc leader) gocs to f,ttch firewood. our is wr:itten in our fatr:. Do you rhink a rna]r-. sarpanth wordd {'ork in the Sdds? have to *or& both in &e frei'ds ard ar o,r homr'. But dre wornsr ugirnately lhat they.norv earntd mor-e r€spcct h the village (ibid., p' 3l)'
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
if we are to avoid the cultural determinism that follows from the argument construction, we must also locate the liberatory space for resistance that it
6
(from the premise that what is 'made' can be 'unmade' or
REAL AND IMAGINED WOM IiN Politics and/ of representation
T
INTRODUCTION
The construction of women in terms of recognizable roles, images, nr.tlrlr, labels occurs in discourse in response to specific social irnperatives e\.(.n w
rnay be otrerrd in trrrns of the uniwrsal ald abstrart rhetoric of .\\bn*rrr, 'women'(or the 'Indian wornan", as the cas€ may he). As Kumkum sa'gari sudesh Vaid have pointed out in the intrnducrion to a colkction of issayr explores the project of 'recasting women' in colonial India, 'womanhood is part of an asserted or desired, not an actual, cultural continuity'.I
it
Sa',rgari has.argued that female-ness is not an essential quality. It is constantly made, and rcrlis. tributed; one has to be ablc to see fhe .formation of, female-ness in c..r.lr and every form at a given moment or in later interpretations, and scr what it is cornporcd o[ what its sociatr correlates are, what its ideologir,;rl potentials are, what its freedoms may be.2
frames it.
II A NEIil BRANI'
If we ack*owledge (a) that femakness is constructed, 1b) that the ternrs .l rrrr construction are tc be sought. in the dominant rnodes of ideolog1. ipatri;rrr ! colonialism, capitalism), and (c) that therefore what is at stake is tire in,,.ert,,,,., of desire and the politics ofcontrol that representation both signifies and sr.rrr then the task of dre feminist critic becomes whatJacqueline Rose descrilx.r 'the critique of male discourse'born of 'a radical distrust of representatiorr r'lrr, allies itself with a semiotic critique of the sign'.3 what is required hcrt. i, ,rr
to the political process by which .,r.h ,"p..r..,tation becomcs rr,rr, ralized and ultimately coercive in structuring womens self-representati.rr. lr I I the th- first 6."t two hr'^ parts h^r+- of - r this essentially analwical rirsl , ^L^-.^- rI ---r^f +L:^ this chapter undcrtakc ideological critique, pointing to the emergence of a 'new Ind.ian r,r'om:rrr' media and ofiicial discourse in India today, a constrdction which scn.es ..r ,rrl to reconcile in her subjectivity the conflicts between tradition and moclcr.rr\ rr Indian sociery but works also to deny the actual conflict that worncn erisrcrrri,rll register as an aspect of their lives.
\
alertness
r
129
made
y). But neither can resistance be simply a matter ol lbminist assertion, the product of a politically desirable feminist invention. Rather the 'ideoical', as Susie Tharu suggests, must itself and inlwmt'Q be viewed as the tion of complex, sometimes contradictory and unevenly determining ices' so that 'a theory of struggle witlzin tlu inahgiial' becomes possible is in originat).n As I see it, there are two constraints that are usefully here as limits to tlrc project of reading resistarrcc: onc is to view as inescapably structured by th. terns of the dominant though not reducible to iq and the sccond, to beg the question of the extent and of resistance. In the context of fcrninist literary criticism Rosc locatcs isrn's 'counter-history'of urcnren's w "dings the hgical scaomd st€p in tlrc of male discourse which, thoug! susqdrle to this f,orm of,recupcration, nevertheless be risk€d as an aspect of any radical dis€ours-5 the last section of this chapter I therdoile offer a quick sampling of,such a ' discourse of women whose political rralue rests in the fact, sirnply, that ists - however tenuously and ambivalently - and which to ignore is to avoid larger historical and institutional enquiry into the conditiom of is possibility. further enquiry lies outside the scope of this chapter, but my description inist self-representation in the contemporary Indian discourse of women to push towards the recognition of a larger social dynamic and movement
OF WOMAN
the contemporary discourse of womcn in India a eignificant rnode of rpellation and projection can be perceived in the construction of a 'new' ' wornan. She is 'new" in thb senses troth of having evolved and arrivtd to the times, as well asofbefurg 'm*rn'and'tiberated'. ita Chanda points out that the adj.ectfu,es new/liberated/modern are taken 'metonymous - saylng one is to irnply all the others by the logic of, this m that groups itself iround the figme of wornan'.f Shr i; 'Indian' in sense of possessing a pan-Indian identity that escapes regional, communal, nguistic specificities, but does not thereby become'westernized'. The primary of this construction is commcrtial advertisements in the media, both in print on television. image of the 'new Indian woman' is of coune derived primarily from urban educated middle-class career woman. Advertisements for consumer - chiefly fiood, clothes, cleaning products, contraceptives, beauty ucts, household gadgets - are addressed to this class of women, who nrnand an inCependent income and,/or (at lcast) excrci;c cc::ircl c','cl ryending They are therefore a response to the actual reality of the existence of a small 130
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
REALAND IMAGINED WOMEN
but growing and significant female population in Indian cities. The wonrs
in these advertisements is attractive, educated, hardworking, rn{ socially aware. The last attribute is indicated by her having a family o{'tlrc rlght size and coiestitution (two children, invariably one boy and one girl), provirlir[ the right nutrition for her fami\, being excessively hygienic, and excn'irln;; conscious and deliberate choice as a consumer. In interpellating the userr t' these products as'new'women, the advertisements not only provide an attrnrllt€ and desired self-image for women in general, but also provide a nonrrally€ model of citizenship that is, significantly, now gendered female. The power arrd success of the representation derive not from fantasy but from an embellislrrnntl of reality and frsn fu 'libenal'idiora in which it is couched. Such an analysis is neither new nor particularly rewarding since it infirnru, and is overdy acknowledged q the firrrnulatiorrs of image-makers themsclwr. For instance, an article in thc advertising section of dre financial daily, Ifu honomit Timzs, enatkd 'Cashing in on Woman Power', identfies the purcharirrg power of career women, tie new roles that they play in society,s and ttreir lrigh viewership of trlwisione as &e reasons for the corrstruction aud targetting ol r 'new Indian womano in adwrtising"to It i. more prodrrctive to discenr tlre ideological rnanoeuwc$, noore subtle and coercive, that,underlie ttre explicit arxl strategic uses of the image tosell products. One purpose of such procedurcr, nl Ipshita Chanda has astutely noted, is 'to obliterate the political project ul feminisms and appropriate certain aspects of the womeri's movement's agclrrln into the construction of a new sign system which revolves round the subjer t position "woman"'.ll The liberation.of women is separated from the crur temporary women's mornelnrcniu by making liberation a matter of indivitlual women's achievement and'c,hoice, the development oI the new woman is nrarlc to appear as a 'natural' orscome 01 benevolent capitalist socio*conomic forcer,l' The'modernization'of the Indian woman can then be valorized as a painlcrr, non-conflictual, even harmonious, process, in contrast to the disconrlirr tr produced by plitical ferni$isrn.'3 The new Indian wornan"r liberation is rendered safe in a numhr of otlrrr ways that assuage social fears.r+ A longer and more nuanced analysis of' tlrr whole range of cornrnercial advertisements than I can undertake here wouhl show, for insrance, that *rcre is a sharp polarization between representations ol younger and older women. The young woman, or mone accurately, the tee pager, may enact actual rebellion, or even project sexual desire;rs whereas the ohft't woman, invariably married, exercises her autonomy - .her education, lrrr earnin$ - on behalf of the family's well-being (or, at a pinch, conjugal srx) Both rebellion/sexuality in the one case, and financial autonomy on the otlrrr, are controlled and made acceptable by a certain 'femininity' that is encodcrl ,rs phy'lical charm.r6 The polarization, in any case, subtly deconstructs itsell irrt' continuity: the young woman's freedom, because it precedes marriagc :rrrrl domesticity an,j will therefore be 'naturally'io^,,"J by thern in due corrrsr', makes her youth a sanctioned space for a last fli,rg of rebellion. Thc 'trcrl portrayed
l3l
' does not, in either case, jeopardize the notion of a tradition which is rved intact in the idealized conjugal and domestic sphere. Advertising's co-optation of precisely those areas of women's liberation that u/or-nen's mo\./ernent hls marl:cd out for itself - sexualiry work, marriagc family - for defining its images of womanhood, works as all co-optation : as simultaneously a form of sharing in the spoils and as a displacement. at one level it is not in conflict with the goals of feminism;r7 ar another, we have seen, it undercuts them by offering a similar desired image of the I woman arrived atby a different trajectory. More strikingly, advertising the most frequent sites of women's oppression - sexual harassment, c work, dowry demands, marriage rituals, the joint family - and rethem in glamorized or, alternatirrely, trivialized terns as the sites of ing female identity. Thus the wornnn who attra{ts stares from a male on a street, bus or in any other public place * a harrowing experience
elcryday sexist harassrnent f,or wom€n
- is imaged as *€ idral of the attractive sexually desirable wornan. F]atrorate scenes of decking and treauty rituals weddings as well as sentimental leave-taking scenes bet*rren.r*other and .1". idsalize marriage in soft-focus, sepia-tinted photpgraphy. Among the clichEd and successfirl ideas for cleaning products, for instance, is the
I
(as the new users and buyers of commodities) who arc recast in this ject; their social contexts are also transformed in order to proride more
accommodation to the nrw mode of social treing that is nou, offer.ed to such a major social reorganization can seemingly mke place so trrtlessly around the figurc of the new woman, what need f,or a rerorution? The construction of the new Indian wornan must attend to her national tity as well as her modernity; stre*!s--!ndia"-lj *gl!*e5.grr1w. The Indian
If
tity is iargely a function of the nation-#de -"lu.n or comrnercia.l adver-
ts. Though Indian manufacturers and advertising agencies periodically the need to have more region-specific advertising - especially in context of marketing in rural areas - they have tended to develop and ect a homogenized message acioss the country (except for dubbing or the verbal medium). It is primarily the class provenance of dre :dly mobile Indian whom the advertisements interpellate that most effecirons out regional differences; within the cultures ofthe urban professional lle class in all parts of the country a certain uniformity alreadv prevails, h then lends itself to a further homogenization. The status of Hindi and as the country's official languages has given the cultures spanned by
t32
REAL ANDJMAGINED WOMEN i
them (or an amalgam of them) the force of a (dubious) pan-Indiarr ir (lMhere the 'regional' retains its uses in identi$ing a product's 'origins', it h coded as the more fashionable 'ethnic'.)m The development of an ' free of chauvinistic regional markers among its citizenry is, of course, orre of declared aspirations of the Indian State. But-its achievcmcnt irr corrrrr advertising, ironically, can only be represented through 'westernizing' tlre I consumer. This, however, calls forth its own rationalization in ternrs ol'tlrr world order. Gurcharan Das, Chairman of Proctor and Gamble irr I explains in an article on 'The Modern Indian'why, though 'the modenr lrrr with the thought that he is not very "Indian"', he can nevcrt Justify himsetf by thinking that he h a cit'rzcn of the hew global villagc irr whk capitalism, democracy are a global inheritance just like the English la Das endorses the word'rnodern'('it is a positive word'), and endows thc nrorler Indian with cnergy, pragmatism, national competitiveness; he is a corr:r ir internationalist who 'like his western counterpart tries to cope with the nr of separation by losing himself in t}le zealous pnrsuit of coorurrer goods. 'l'l help hirlr to foryet that he is uprooted, atomised ard part of a faceless, lr mass society'.er The modern Indian joins the postrnodern clubt In tlris context it is the Indtarl usman perennially and transcendentally mother and homemaker, who saves the project of modernization-witlrr westernization. 'Good' moderniry as Tejaswini Niranjana calls it, must bc ( skin-deep.22 It is only the female subject who can be shown as succcssl achieving the balance between (deep) tradition and (surface) modemiry throrrg strategies of representation that I discuss at greater length in the follrwrr is iess confident
section-
III
A WOMAN FOR ALL SEAS{)NS
If
commercial advertising foregrounds the 'modernity' of the contenrlxlr,t! woman at the same time as it carefully respects her connections with 'rrarlitr,'r (chiefly symbolized by the family and the valu* it supports), then state rclcvisir (Doordarshan) celebrates the traditional but refurbishes its image to nr;rkc values 'up to date'. The contemporary dismurse of, wqnen rnay thus be lrr as negotiating a strategic resolution of the contradictions that women expcricrrr in their lives as a result of the contrary pulls of the ideological categoli.r , 'tradition' and 'modernity': primarily by conflating them so that therr: ir r longer any essential conflict between the values they represent.23 As the 'matter'of television programmes women are highly visible: in a
I
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
the autonomy of Doordanhan accompanies a progressive increase in
l
its
function: As a state apparatus [Indian television] is held to rePresent the universal interest in its promise of progress. Every expansion and innovation in the system is done in the name of education and development. Its development becomes a means of expanding the presence of state in society: television becomes an expression of state interests. While the infrastructural expansion for television was accomplished swiftly and successfully' the state could not generate the innovative capacity necessary to attract viewing audiences. From a completely state-dominated medium, then, television became a carrier of commercially-sponsored privately produced programs' though the state retained veto powff over them. -. - l"|/hile comm€rcid forces enter as an inflrrcnce on Doordarshan Programlmfu€, at tlre same time their influence outside television is reduced. AdvertHng gels divcrted to television, as do audiences. "Talent' from the filrn industry iocreasingly seek television as an outlet. Thus the state becomes thc r,ingrnaster of a larger portion of the public sphere. More and more rnedia culturt passes through the sieve of state inspection and supervisioru2a
(
I
television's hegemonic influtnce as an ideological aPparattrs5 as R4iagopal
on to demonstrate, may be perceived most
spectacularly
,
in its rep-
I I
I
tations of women :,.nd religrgn. The conceptual and political space occupied
by women in the television r,) . ^.,-- of -t women I is identical to that of religion, and hence representations : religion frequently coincide. The relationship between the two is not only but also metonyrnic - hence the significance of the two televisi'on of the epics, the Ramqmn, followed by the Mahabharat4 whose central' figures becarne sy'mbols of 'our' 'national' culture-25 State-rponsored with its dual obligations in its representation of women and reiigion the one hand to acknor+{edging the state's coastitutional cornrnitrnent to r , lrights (in the case of ruomen) and to secularisrn fin the case of, religion)' l,l.n" equated on the other hand to developing a new idiorn of 'nationalism', {,t,f a valorization of the tradifional (which is preserved, precisely, in and by and religion) - redefines the two terms fuxibly. The traditional is {':l;,,', as the timeless, and hence inclusive of the modern, while the modern merely as a transitional phase which disguises the permanent 'essence' Ir r lrr '..,. timeless tradition. Thus female figures from history mlth and religion rn and sirve autonomy television programmes are invested with status and r,l the mouthpiece of liberated sentiments. The Draupadi c[ the ganbling scene .r the Malabharada is, of course, the most memorable example of such a tational strategy; but see also the more recent example of the eporiymous of Mriganayini, the sixteenth-century commoner quecn of the king of mai.26 Consider also the brief rendition ol Laxmibai, the Rani ofJhansi as in one of a series of television 'shorts' celebrating the Indian nationalist ,
t34
i
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN movement which the congress government issued in 19g9, in the months lrefi the general election. Ania Loomba describes the afective elements ol'tlre
perceptively:
groups do exist as such coffictual subjects and sites of conflict if only because they quickly reveal themselves as watchdogs of their interests in the medium. r
!.
protests against negative representations (of women, or
religious/communal,/regional
within the narionalist tradition she [r,axmibai] has been vigorously r rl
,
groups) range all the way li"on the imttati-"-e of
ebrated as a model of female - as opposed to feminist - ualoir; shc i,' tlrr exceptional, mardani or masculine woman, the honorary man who is oru. of the models for Indian womanhood. The film continues this tradiri.rr .l glamorizing her. we see the Rani stripping her womanly weaknesses akrrrg with her jewelled bracelets, and donning militant masculinity by pickirrg a sword and plunging it into a sheath at trer waist. She is next , ., ,,,, her horse, riding in seductive slow motion over a roning landscape to tlrr. words of a filrn song. .. . Then a low-pitched rrrale voice recites lines ol ' popular poern celebrating the Ranik abiliq' to fight .like a man,.2?
The seemingly 'revisionary' readings of the texts of the past undertakcrr these serials do not so much lead to real change as regitimize the texrs universal and timeless documents. More suggestively, try argr-ring that exceptional women of learning, or achicvr ment, or rrilitary prowess were by no rnrans absent in the valorized lnrliar past' they undercut &e conternporary need for an organized women's movenrcl
for achieving women's equality. The occluding of representations of .ordirrirry women from a selective reading of the past was an influential strategy of col.rri orientalists and nationalists for reclaiming a .golden Vedic age,, as ll' chakravarti has shown;28 in the present context it is a strategy -that seeks pry tl*t :fug$l-'*e.$.ggn * in response to the questions of feminisrs, arn(,r
ot
uljl:dyays.abeadv.,ssnuF.-v-g.!o Jhs "s'uq pf&nr"i_l*. _ By^ the same token" contemporary liberared fernale fgures, elite, westernizcr educated, professional - as represented, for example, in such popular serials ; R{ani or udaan* simultaneously and effortlesslr- hold on to the traditional virlr, of hustrand-wonhip, family nurturance, self-sacrifice and sexual chastity. 'l lrr.r exemplary virtue - as well as virtuosity - is a saga of an individualism rlr,r functions for the social good rather than at odds with it. The media critic ltllr,r Masood anallses tlrr 'f,eminisrn' of rldaan, a seriat about Kalyani, a w{)nr.u police officer. Kalyani does not even dream of 'collective action on behall , her sex or class' - instead she wants power for herself and her family thr.rrli the restoration of her father's lost feudal position, a form of social molrilir which is possible in the contemporary sucial context only by securing a posiri,,r in the country's elite bureaucrary.2s In the representations of both kin<|, ,, women - women in history and myth who are 'modern" as well as contemp()r;' women who are 'traditional' - women (and religion) are made to servc ; harmonious symbols of historical continuity rather than as conflictual subir.r and sites ofconflict. Neverihcless, the siatc is forced to rccognize that outsirie tire harrno.r,,, world it presents on the broadcasting medium, women's groups and religi,,rr 135
ease with which such a rnove can be rnadeo and at least partry bmuse of benwolence it can thereby dirylay rornards thrse ernbattled Sr;ry". of greater significance is *re fa"t *rat dre demand for bannir€'"i*''*""rr.r, in the films rclayed by Doordarstran, a deroand **t $arly from^women's groups, is made on behalf of prcscrving "tlgi""ri"g %-ily vJuesn.s r is a family medium by its very natur€; and the family, as Indian have argued, is an institution that the state supports ferrrcntty.s Ttre 's support is oipressed not only through the operation of strict coaes ot orship in television programmes, but also in thi ways the latter negotiate rtations of the conflict between wornen and the &rnily. women's issues cUscnmtnahon against girl children, reproduction, fieal+h. ,.,^.k --^ ed within the framework of thc 'largcr' good of fafldly and society. one information shot issued by the Dircctorate of Family planning, for rce-, shows a happy family consisting of a couple with their two .hildr.rr, girls. The couple ainounce thein decision lo harae no mone childrcn though harne not produced a son; the affection and happiness in tlrc erpressionsif tw3 children'are caught frequently in close-up, in an obvious atter4pt to ,v that their parents do not slight them on aocount of their ser But it is not righa of girl-children - to live, most fundamentally - that ir stressed in this 't, but the norm of the small family. By thus aligning*y-o-T.g!'q righe and Ieryt1t well-being as directed towards trr. r"*e go.d*the t"iai*ti a.n r.t conflicts between women and the f4mily which is=such'a crucial feature of
Indian
society.
REAL AND IMAGINED \\TOMEN
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
f determination tests is supported by right-to-lifers; their campaign agrrirrsr tl / Sovernment's family planning programmes dovetails with a libcral rrotinrr 1 individual rights; and their demand for a uniform civil code for rlrr. rurrr'rr endorsed, for communal reasons, by fundamentalist Hindu gro,tps.3' lrr srrr lr
.gl**...m1py,
-qp9*cifi".cally gg4daed rvsues can
be:dcjqcted.-ql.Iq othcr arr.;r:
official discounes and representations. The combined hegemony of global consumer capitalism and nationirl
murder), or of legal injustice (sexual harassment at work, discriminatory
inheritance and other nurtters covered by personal law), or (b) as itors against social injustice (such as Price rises, dowry deaths, communal
ir
st.rt
broadcasting is undoubtedly a powerful one in the interpellation and constr.lr( rrr rr of women in contemporary India. But even as we are alert to the ways irr rvlrrr the 'new Inciian woman' is brought into being in response to specific srx r,r
economic and political imperatives, equally we perceive how the unresolvr.r contradictions between gender and culture are foregrounded in other arcr):r\ r representa.tion. The 'public'space is not a vacuum simply filled by'prolcssior advice, marketing strategies, govemment programs, electoral choices, amd arh,,.r tisers' images of happiness', as Richard Fox and TJ.Jackson kars descrilrt. r work of intellectuals' in capitalism.3t Other sl.rntrols and images aireadl. cr which contcst those pruduced by the audiovisual rraedia.s Chief of tiese in lru is the print medium of newspapers. Newspapers' regular coverage of atrocities against women, and their repor r and features on other women's issues, is undeniably marked by a commitrn,.rr primarily to 'news value' rather than by concern for the rights of womcn. A
recent letter circulated
to women activists t,y the national newspaper '/
announcing a special weekly page for women, carries this ap1x.;rl: 'What we wish to achieve through our special page is (l) create greater awarcn(.r! of and (2) provoke public debates on tfte discrimination against women inhcrt.rri in our social attitudes, stereoty,ped concepts, customs, values, laws etc'. But cvr.rr this programmatically liberal docurnent feels bound to go on to distingui:lr tretween and privilege 'objective exposes' over 'didactic discourses', as an aslx.( r of the discourse of women in prini journalism.3i Nevcrthclcss, evcn givcrr rlrr,, emphasis, as well as the superficialiry, distotions and scnsationalism o{'rrru, l, prcss reporting,3B the visibility of women in public lifc has significant.ly incrt.:rs,.,l as a result of their representation in news stories. By bcing made visible as p;rrr of and as participating in the recognizable putrlic world * the workpiacc, tlr street, otlrer public forums - they trecome 'public' figurcs themselves, drawn orrt of the privacy and invisibility of the home. This is a measure of their'rcalir\" The controversies around women in India in the past dccade , as around rcliiir,,rr (the most famous instance being the Shahbano case), have arisen out ol tlr, conflict between communal/familial values on the one hand and the concclrr ,,1 rights as an individual, legal entitlement on the other. To a large extent it is rl,, print medium (supported by other forums like university campuses, public ralli, ,,, Stntzsman,
law courts, and parliament) that has mediated the shift lor women fi,,rrr invisibility in the private sphere to represcntation in the public spherc. But bccau;c iroi;.ii aic icpicscnted in news stories in one of broadlv trt,, ways - (a) as victims of physical violence (rapc, assault, abduction, dornt.str, t37
environmental hazards) - their rglationship to ttre socral structure is marked . external and adversarial rather than as integral and ambivalent. A; Judith tfi|r!^-fint d out, the traditional view of 'agency' s€ems to require that we < aboui persons 'as instrumental actors who confront an-external political and '.3e In the Indian context the implicit dichotomy between tradition between as a conflict women of ity once again structures the discourse .modern' legal rights, leadir.g to an insidious and)us social practice and atenlng attackupon the la;tteron beha:f of fte formcrin certain portforns of p"pd; press and the reactionary righr An artide in the weekly E"glith suldzy fwornan Por*erJ p{sroun€es definirivdy tlrat {eminism b no inntriiirUs"fcminists' a politicalll correct term in I$i1',
l.r
$_$saprorftsly of ,rotr.rtu"y oryanliih"*?rd internarional and gqrcrnment ,wornen,$ ies who work for rytift'" If th€'new umsun'in India is assertive to be - it is nm bocalrse of drc rnnmen's pcrocircd il as shc her dghts -
*.*b"r. ent 's
oJut because
mov.
ement
ii
of
ihc
prccepts lrer
rnodrcr-g1g[-$'"s
Thus- t]re
rendered alien and irraev.arit to tlrc Indian social and
ical context. Similarlg a Shaftbano or a Rr.pam Dolwho sccls thc aecogrse the law to establish her righs is casily rcduced in the nonrrative discourse to
puppet of her m3le relatives, of political or religious gnouPs, or of women's u"p.; ot else regarded as a viaim of inautlrcntic 'westerl'values' The feminist prcdect therefort becomes o-ne.of erybdng 991*9pg3l'fp+"-l for .epresetiting women's autonorny within viable sqpl4 !q11cqg3p- at "i :-thisfraniing, Jo.*plootio., I undertake in the next section'
rv REJ\I, WOlfiEN the handfi.rl of texts I cite in this section - picked at random frorn a suwey contemporary culture - thc rrepre*ntatian of,the rc{atilre free&rn of women
encoded neither .as an abscnce oi conflict (as in cornmercial advertisements), as the resolution of conflict {as in telwfuion imagE$), but as th9 pmduct of specific conjuncturc of social alrd historical cmcurnstances. fnus !.3oti llfitra's r.-*orrr.r, Jance-drama about Draupadr, Nattwbati-Annlubat (lit. 'Having Hus-
Tharu and K. Lalitha Iaratnamma revived and reprinted, and which Susie iSlate and present in their antholcgy Wonm Wriling in Indin; Ketan Mehta's irch fuIasaln ind Aruna Raje's Rihaltee, two films about rural women's comunities in 'wester"n Indta; W lllae Mahing M:!c7',3tree Sha!.thi Sanghatana's of the oral histories of women in the Telengana Peasant movement of l38
i
'','
t
I
lii!
t(Il/1'L ANL' TMAGINED WOMEN
REAL AND ITI.{CINED IVOMEN
,]
thelate l940sat- the common features and concerns 6f these texts are mcarrirrglrtl Ibran exploration of alternative structqres-o:l-repneig.4t4tion. A feminisr r.rrr.
sciousness
that is historically 'modern' informs the subjectivity of the \t,()1r4r in these texts; andlor an actual or incipient female solidar-iry 1t1,. eordition of collectivization) is set in motion; themaficany, issues of rr:r
' '
Saoli Mitra produced her one-rvoman prize-winning show, Nalhahutr Anilnhat, in Ncw Delhi in December, 1991. sie bases her script on rJre sr,r.1, of Draupadi in the Mahabhant4 as interpreted !y the historian Iralati Kanr.,," \anating it through song, dance and dramatic g6rrn5 that are adapted fro.r ,r {unber of traditional and folk forms. The fssmal innovativeness and strcrrrr. ou$ress of her production are rernartable. Draupadi is the princess of \ idclur \ho is obli8ed to marry all the five Pan"darza prir,cc. &ough it is Arjuna rr.h,rrr slre has chosen. Insu]ted by the Kauravas a.fter rre. husbarr.r*' delfeat at t1,,. Sanbling-table, she is saved by Krishna's intenentiodi and the great battJe .,l \urulshetra between the two clan. is fought by the pandavas atleast partly r, avenge the insult offered to her. Draupadi is read by Karve as a wornar, *1,,, s\rlflbrs, endures, rebels and asserts herserf,, a 'true daughter of the earth', unlikc 4reSita of the Ramalanz. It is this version of Draupadi"fhat Mitra presents, ,rri,,g Qer as a voice and her story as a means to indict oppression, war and tlrr.
s\ructures ol male power.
sheba chachi's photographs were part sp an sffbition of the wor.L ur ,r {lonp "r Indian and Asian photographers. chachi describes her anempr ;rr dereloping portraits of her 'friendr,".i.t"rr' in the wodrent movement in Dcllrr as incomplete, rlot representational'; they interr.gate dominant stereoq?i(,rl \resentations even as they try to sidestep th. rt.rloryp.r of militancy, 'anrr.r elei, raised fist, shouting mouth'. chachitherefore composes her ponraits irr Pladng her subjecu among senings, objects, symbols chosen by t-hemsclrts. l\rrring a 'mosaic' of 'multiple irnages'. She wishes conrr'ey io
not the single essence, but a pattern of osual nodes. Pegs to
pin a web, weave a story.
For that is what as
^ Ify I\,
I
I
hope to do; tell ys,, flrese stories have heard, fine or faulty.a3
only access to Mudupalani's poem, ,Radhika Sarrtwanam', is through tlr,. published in English't.arrslatio",in the recent anthology llinrr,rr
"*ttu.t,
in India (19911. The eJton, horvever, pror,,ide a detailed des#ption ,,1 !iling \e poem and its reception. 'Radhika Santwanam' is a sringaraprabordho*, ,
serre of erotic poetn' that is used for narrating the stoy of ihe divine lo*crs, 139
l
If I
ask her not to kiss me, stroking on my cheels she presses
my lips hard against hen. talls on, making love again and again.
fondle-s me,
,,. How
could
i
sray away
I
from her company?
addijon-to-fuudupalanit
schorarship and h€r rccbnfoar ogcrtise in versems, her 'radical' assertion ddrc certratitv of rvorncn'r scan'e srar*s her S-rea}ess and explains hcr inrporrare a pqiocr-cf dr€ .crrfo*l Lt voices from the past-4
fc
;f
Ketan Mehta's fikn
Ii*& Masala (Red Chilli Splce) (fS9), is set in rural thl story of thc op,pkon women, by the local landlords. i group "r*"tur**i"*.q;d"xy of **.".*iroffi#ffi: .,pi* their oppressorq and amdingty barricadc thcoselve ]1"*:d" the factory and hold their attackers offwith arrrmunilon *: tut" v: ir*1 r*.""r*d"g;fril; H:::-t: and more problematic as a feminis, ;#;;;ffi;;ffi " italt iasthan whose men migrate in large numbers to the city in sea'ch of work, derat, and.tells
*:il1i
;;6;;,id*dy
W
women. are susceptible to the sexual advances of a persuasive GurGreturned to the viuage ror a holiday. o""
:T, ren. i""l*:.j:l',-Ti1*,c Takkoo Bai (the fiL-n,s protago"irtl, U""o-o "f;. "il;;; ;A;;/ril;:; partly because she iias ho,pes, basci oa ::::"::1 rn, that $:lI9 it will be a son (she already h* ;h*. d.,rS;;;J;ffi; "",.*-Ls.,,; At rhe wi[age
fH:t^r::'Ij"..:hl'"n old (male) members for her imrnorality"
po*topshe
is indicted by
8".;iJfi;;;;d#;i
defence and supports her rights o.r.. ir., own body- At dris all the other omen unexpectedly take Takkoo's side and threaten to leave the vinage if she cxpelled. The husband who ret'rns is arso shovrn as som@ne who understands her decision. The flml rrely. rea''strc' but it poses the problems of rural society, the dilemmas oithe
;"il;;;;";;
::::11ff9,'f{'uppo*
who migrate and the loneliness of the women
;;;;ffiffi:;" -"r,.*.J"
ion of the double standard' the proposition thut *o-.r, ts over their own trodies, in terms both of desi.e
;;;;;;;,;; ""d "f
,rr.i.
and J,/urP4urv' sympathy, 3ir.,ljY*:il f^i* :*o"l.y u*.a ," ,r,J,.iopp..,,ion ..rq :.. i$.T that is forthright and powerful.
(**-i"r, fiife stories of women in the Telengana llSl:j.::^ ple's struggle),r.'.** by members of stree Sha-kti Sanghatana .i?r.r. ies constiture an invaluable oral history;
r40
rh.y;;
in uya.r
u.l.
the spoken reminiscences
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
oi about twenty women who had been part of the peasant
struggle feudal oppression - bonded labouq exploitation, rape - in rural Andhra Prarl*l in the 1940s. The editon and other members of the women's organizrri,rr Stree Shakti Sanghatana, who periorm tiis task ofrecording, collecting, and publishing these stories, also speak of the problems and dangers of *a
in recording life histories finds out, neither memory nor experience is exc from ideological processing. .. . hidden conventions and models shapc t "flction" through which we grasp and project our lives'.a5 Nevertheless, tl
overwhelming impression the book creatcs is one of liberation, a new oprimisrr in the stirring larger events of history that li women cannot but be emancipatory in the widest sense. Several of these texts (Wz Were Making Histnry, Mirch Masala and Rihq'a, well as Raja Rao's 1937 novel, futthapura$) dercribe th€ pcriod of rromcrr' collective struggle as a tnagic time'. These periods are not fortuitous conjunctu of 'the (wo)man and the moment' trut contingent €v€nts grounded in specifil historical and social circumstances. K. Iali*ra and Vasan*a Kanna!-.iran ollhr thc anallsis &at 'it is only in . . . periods of social dysfunction [war or re'olutiorr | , with the trrtakdown of,constant surveillance and *re mechanisms of disciplinc that normally objectify them, that women rush forth to grary tlre oppornrnities for response and growth that become possible'.a7 Though the women wlro participated in the Telengana movement talk with .nostalgia and warmth' ol
and a sense of participation
'the best period oftheir lives', the contradictions oftheir experience are sharply drawn not only in terms of its inherent strains and conflicts but of its tempor;rl limits. As in the nationalist movement, rvhen the struggle is called ofl rlrr women return to their previous traditional lir.es. Thus gains are made seemingly only to tre lost. But uiie.. .i"c wu.n.ur, .iaim that some residual progr€s$ remairur. The narratirre of wornen's 'pnogrr:ss'is read as three steps fiorward and trro sttlrs backward, a slow and imperceptible advance.
hr the other
texts I invoke - Mudupalani's r.csuriccied poem, Chaclri's photographs, Mitra's performance - it is individual, not collective, women wlr,r arc represented. But thc powerfully forged relations betlv-e€n the 'arrthors' arrrl the subjects of their representations produces the appropriative gesture - 3cross time and distance - that marks the establishment of solidarity. In a furthcr appropriative move the contemporary critic may claim these texts as potitically meaningful in the context of our own times. Thus for Tharu and Lalitha, Nagaratnamma, the poem's original publisll'r (1887), is a figure who 'anticipates'lheir own 'criticJ initiative',and the stor.y of Mudupalani's life, her writing and the misadventures of 'Radhika Santrranarrr' serve as an 'allegory of the enterprise of women's writing and the scope ol feminist criticism in India'. For these critics the poem raises the critical questiorrt of contexts, politics and resistances that frame women's n'riting and thereforc engage them most deeply in their or^'- ..,, ...k-.n8 Responding to Sheba Chachi's photogrrphs, the poet \rishwapri)'a lvenpJ:rr
l4l
lr
REAL AND IMAGINED WOMEN
closely with the artist's vision which allows her 'an emotional cntry her frame-of-reference': '[t is a quest for identities for me as much as it is the photographer'. In the newspaper feature that she writes, her respotrses the form of brief idiosyncratic poetic inte{ections that accompany thc
The critic Shuddhabrata Sengupta is similarly led into a politically fraught for 'what makes for the modern' through a critical engagement with his Saoli Mitra's retnactrnent of the Draupadi story. His validation of her in these terms is particularly significant at a time when 'a resurgent Hindu ' puts tradition to politically dubious use. 'The kind of theatre Nathabati-Ar,alhfrat represents', ia. contrast to this use in dre tclevision serial, instance, is centned tneither -. " round an invitati'on, notr an evasion or a for tradition. It is cenued radrcr qr a eelfoasciors rdation to it'. He oa to analy$€ lvfitra's script and Pcrfoffitan& irr *na'= &at uscfu[y begin
formulate the project of 'modernity' in lrd[a today
Hers is an assault fu drc profanc on th€ sacred' ad sw cannot but be delighted with thc easc end thc anarchic $it ltilh *'fiich &f dfisrcn$em sacrility. Several canonsare violated in this promc btr€€s beCI@rc hurnan, gods disappear or are prsbd to the margirL desire not d"ty it clebrated as an ethical imperative - and drat is rcfteshing, and being a wornan she takes upon hcrself the frcedom not to be willowy and gracelll, but to be grotesque and comic and serious by turns. Of this, perhaps unconscious, rrjection of femininity is born a heakhy and skeptical andrcgynous elegance tlrat is in itsdf perhaps an unconscious political statement about pnder i identity. Modernity ismade of this uncomforta.ble, uneasy
stufl$
kind of alliance between subjecg author and criric *r* is geoemted by texts is, as I see it, ,a constitutiw aryect cf their relevancc to the rary project of women's selfrcprcsentation. speak of cannot, howtr,er, trc read sirnply as stirriirg They are not 'models' conducive to nrylicability eifrcr as actual social or within repr€sentational stnrcturqs. Ttrey are morc usefirlly instcad as specific historical examples- Such representations ar€'sgraces' rt are 'really temporalities, rnomcnts in tirne wlren certain pgqibilities cqalesct , Lauren Barlant explains. The 'success' and achievements ttre:y celebrate must be 'framed as failure'sr because of the rigid and contingent conditions which alone they operate. (It is for this reason that an account like V':ena of the lives of Lucknow courtesans, becomes susPect when it conflates the professional traditions of the women of this town with the lifesryle and attitudes of the present-day New York hooker; differences between the community consciousness of the one and the ism of the other are made negligible, as are periods and places and
The narratives I
f'
As is to be expected, my chosen texts are not
r42
-
as perhaps they cannot be
-
'
REAL AND IMAGINED WOT{EN
sharply disjunct from the contemporary Indian discourse of women, but rctirin elements of the latter's ideological stmctures. As Susie Tharu points out, 'rlrc discourses of our time will constitute our world as much as they do orrt subjectivities', but it is necessary all the same, that a 'historically inlonrrctl analysis' be sensitive to the 'subversions, elaborations, hybridizations, trrrrrs formations, realignments or reappropriations that do talie place within oppositional discourses'.53 Therefore the discriminations that these feminist rexrr perfiorm are worth noting. Even as lve grant that they operate with a utopi:rrr bias, we must recognize that they do not create utopian contexts that ignore the tensions of reality (as commercial advertisements do); while they mark rvhat may be descxibed as the brief rruces that v,crnen seemingly wrest out of history,
in
the form of a resolution of the conflict bensecrr tradition and modernity (as teledsion progra$mes do); they do reproduce drc dialectic of struggle, but not by representing women as unrelcntingly external to the social process (as contemporary journalism does). The discriminations that they perform in these respects must be viewed as signfficant political advances in the self-represcntation of *prnen. If tr designate these representatiotrs as 'real' it is in the sense of this political utility *lat I use the term.* But feminism, as Mary John reminds uso is a lpolitics before it is arr epistomology', and therefore is not simply a question of 'what is being said' but also of 'who speals f.r _*.h9*:: My chosen texts derive from a varien' ol' contexts and occupy a range ofgenres, but I offer them primarily as consciously and radically feminist worts that ress-tgl -thc voices of women, thus marking the contemporary moment of feminism in India.s It is in the process of thc creation of sel{hood that self-cognition occurs) identity is ta-ken on, and a politics
they do not offer them
is initiated.
NOTES 1 Kurnkurn Sangari and Sudesh Vaid, eds, Recasting l|/omat Essals in Colonial Histnn. New Delhi, Kali ficr Womtn, 1986, p. 17. 2 Kurnkum Sangari, rcspons€ to Susie Tharu, 'Women Writing in lndta' , Jounal oJ- -{rt.t and Idzas
20-1, March 1991, p.57.
3 Jacqueline Rose, 'The $tate of the Subject (I): The Institution of Feminism', Cnlial Q*rt-b 29, 4, Winter 1987, pp. 9-15, esp. p. 11. 4 Susie Tharu,'Response toJulie Stephens', in Ranajit Guha, ed., Subaltcrn Studizs l'l;
5 6
'
Wrilings on Soutlt Asian Histnr! and &c;z\, Delhi, Oxficrd Univcrsity Press, i989, p. 127. Rose, 'The State of the Subject', p. Ipshita Chanda, 'Birthing Terrible Beauties: Feminisms and "Women's Magazines"', Fxonomt and Poktiral Weekfi, 26 October 1991, Review of Women Studies p\tS;, pp.
ll.
67-70, esp. p. 67.
7 Womcn constitute 49 per cent of the adult Indian population, and ol
these 42 pcI cent belong to the 25-44 ycars age group, the prime target audience for mosi advertisers. The percentage of working women has also been growing. See Aditr' Chatterjcc and Nandini Lakshman, 'Cashing in on Women Power', Tfu Best of Bran,t E4zi12 lsupphment issued by Tlu &onornic Tnrus, n. d.), pp. 24-6, csp. p. 24.
9
and the changing status of women' as thc significant caurer (ibid', p' 25)' . Television haia-reach of 4l per cent among womcn vicwerr, er compertd ccnt among men (ibid., p. 25).
l0 lbid.,
I
per
pp. 24-6.
Chanda, WS p. 67. 12 Similarly the government of India in its last annual budget (1992) raiscd tlte intrrtnctax exemption level for women as a benevolent gesture of encouragcment towaflls working women. l3 See Chanda, WS p. 67. 14 Chanda also calls attention to the {irnction of inoculation'which women's magazincs I
also perform (ibid., p. 67).
'the examples in the article 'Winning over the Trcndy Teens' I-akshman n &@d Eqlig {Ecownic Tincr), I April 1992.
15 See 16
In one popular
texdle-advertisernent an
elegant
fuirs
a_
by Nandini
rnen's.billiard
stuns all present with a brilliant performance drat outshines theirs. The idvcrtisement ends rrith her shy, sileat, srrriling, irrefu! Srddty tcrnininc' refusal of their aalain Thus it is rry to the rhe 'achieving'unxltan ber:df to nraintain her traditional status and behaviour. 17 In 'Cashing in on Wornan Power', the authors citc ttre.o<arnple tf an_advertisement f.td*. back the for a comp-utcr course in u&ich dre girl dfdal€s her wish to pay money he has ry€nt on h€I. (p. 26). anottrc. adverti!€mcnt for e hrsirm rr|ag,zin€ profilis a woman vicegresident of a large hotcl chain *&o has'drqpn errvironrnental concern way beyond the pale of her profession'. l8 The advertisers of the toilit-deancr Harpic ryeciFcally labcl its user the new srornan'' The Duncan tea campaign celebrated a4i ki nui {'tey's'woman)' lg SeeJug Suraiya, "I'h;chip,s are down for Post-modem llindi', 7rr Tittus oflfldio, 19 Krishnair Suni tbSO. The point is also discussed in the context of tclevision by Prabha *."a e"it" Digh;,.ryfuadnn atd Datial: Construtin of fuAig h Innim Tcbision,Delli, Sage, 1990, pp. li2-3. 20 Inlhe .otri.*i of regional cinema, Tejaswini Niranjalra discusses the invaation of Rajasthani ctothes aid settings to signifr the 'Indian'. See 'Cinema, Femininity and thJ Economy of ConsumPtion', Ecotwmix atd Polirbal W&tL 26 October lP1' Ws pp. 85-6, esp. p. 85. SiinAady sevcral advertisemerrts for doths" soft drinkq a of whicir is narnedJaisalrner) - erploit tlae ro,rnantic aura of cigarettes-(a Rajasthan in their visual images. Gurcharan Das,.Tl,c Modern Indian" Tlu sunda\ Tiws tlndia.6 september 1992. 22 Niranjan4 WS p. 86. 23 For citended discussions of t}e tsrrns and concepts'trad.ition'and tnoderniq/ in the context of wonien and social change in India see Sangari and Vaid Becasthg Womm; gE The Dcbate on S.dTI in Colonial lfld;a',,Qilhlral rt4uurD. rvEu, vuliLclruuul Traditir.ru: Lata lttlani, 'Contentious
g"*e uni
!*
-
-
".* t.t
2l '
Gitiqo 7, Fall 1987, pp. 119-56; and Geetha Kapur, 'Co1te11orary C$g^rat
49-59. pp.49-59. March 1990, pp. 18. 3, 3. March Pmctice: Some Polemical PolemiJ Categories', Catesories'. Soci4l Social Scintitt Scitniitt 18, PraCtice:
24 Arvind Rajagopal, 'Uscs of the Past The Televisual Broadcast of an Ancient Epic and its Reception.in Indian Society', Ph.D. dissertation, University of Calificrnia, Berkeley, 1992.
25 For a lingthy discussion of the representation of women in the television serials of .In the Idiom of Loss: Ideology of Motherhood in the epics iee prabha Krishnan, Telwision Serials', horumit and Political Wak!,20 October 1990, WS, pp' 103-15' 26 Draupadi appears in the court when the Pandavas lose her in a game of dice to the Kauravas. SLe demands to know whether her husband Yudhishter was alrcady a slave when he lost her, 'a complicated legal point', as havati Karve describes it. In tite television version drc iamous
B Chatterjce and l,akshman identify 'growing literacy, changing consumption pattcnrs r+3
kr'ltl
t+4
REAL AND IMAGINI'D WOM}:N
REAL AND IIV{AGINED WON{EN
to save Draupadi eventually, but the scene retains its titillating clli., r Mriganayini is a tribal woman whose beauty and musical prowess greatly charnr rlrr. king; but she uses her influence with him to effect reforms in the kingdom for rlr, benefit ol the people rather than for penonal power or gain. Her individua.lisrrr r= framed as feminist self-assertion. 27 Ania Loombq'Overworlding the third world', Oxford Literary Rzairu 13, l-2. lS),)1. intervenes
pp. 164-93,
esp-
p.
167.
39
and New York, Roudedge, 1992, p. 13.
40 Kankana Das, 'Woman Power',
J'i
4l
.
July-August l9BB, pp.43-44, esp. p. 44.
30 For examples ofDoordarshan's censorship ofscenes from fiLns telecast by it
see Arrrrr Thz Tinzs of In4ia, 15 April 1990. Doordarshan edits out scenes of "cabarets, "mujras", rapes,,and strong abuse words'. It also avoitl, showing 'anlthing.against any particular caste, creed, religion or country, or again'r the govtrnment of dre day'. Prabha Krishnan cites the example of a group u-hiclr
ASu.*4 Cut it ouq
Doordarshan!'
n
protested to the high court, in February 1989, that 'the religious feelings of Hindrn would bc upset if the epic carried insinuations against Sita, showed scenes of hcr banishment, or showed a washerman cast aspersions on Sita's character', in rhr' Ranayan serial.'Ttrc tdecast of the epic was allowed rvhen lawyers for the producen gav€ die{r asrurancs o{r therc points' (Krishnan, triVS, p. I 15, n. I l). More recendr. therc h.ave been doubts expressed about ttre historical accurary of, the serial. 7rr Sword of Ttpu Su,tran, atd protests against dre 'revivalist'overtones in another serial. ChanalEa.
3l
Madhu Kishwar, 'Axed', Tlu lll,ustroud
Weckl2 of
India, T-13 August l9BB.
32 Amit Agarwal quotes Doordarshan officials who explain that it is pressure fronr women's groups, and from politicians representing religious and regional constituencies, that makcs them cautious about what they telecast. News repons abour women's protest ag"ainst late-night 'adult' films on TV are included in Ramal:r Baxamusa, ed., M.din Rdectiorls on ll/omzn\ Mouawnt in India $lonagraph publishcd by Research Centre for 'Women's Studies, SNDT \Vomcn's Univeniry Bombar.
lesl). 33 See Maithreyi Krishaa4i, 'Intro'duction', in Krishnaraj, ed." Fanini.sm: lndian Debat' ,1990 (l\donograph published by Rescarch Ccntre for \{omcn's Studies, SND'I' Women's Universiry Bombay,
l99l), p.
12.
34 Nandita Gandhi and Nandita Shah, Irtr
Issues
al Stak:
Tluory arul Practice
h
tlu
New Delhi, Kali for Women, 1992. 35 fuchard Fox and TJ. Jackson frars, eds, Tlu Culture aJ Conswnptinru* Citial F-ssa-t's in Amniran Histury, 1BB0-1980, New York, Pantheon, 1983, p. xii; quoted in Bruc,' Robbins's introduction, 'Grounding intellecturls', in Robbins, e d.,Intzllzetuak: Aesttuttt.t. Politits, Aeadtrnirs, Minneapolis, Univcrsity of Minnesota Press, 1990, p. xx. Conlanporary Woman's Mooenunt in Indin,
36 lbid. 37 Other newspapers and magazincs iravc also, recendy, begun to recognizc and addrcst womcq as subjects and rcadcrs. Tlu Times of India, 17 September 1992, advenised :r special feature on 'Woman: 'l ire New Spirit'. The copy headline read: 'Reach out t. the woman olthe times. Through "The Times".'A popular English woman's journal. Fmtina, has becn running a series ol advertisements through 1992, addressed to tlrr' 'woman of substancc'.
38 Sce thc'Mcdia Rcports'on journals and newspapers in regional languges and Englislr in Maithrryi Krishnaraj, ed., ll/omm and l4nl.erce: A Coun@ fuport $t[.onograplr publishcd by Rcscarch Centrc for Women's Studies. SNDT Women's Universitr.
Sunday
8-14 March 1992. Lcss modernte urtick:s
attacking feministr ha,r,e appe3.red in prominent dailies like the Tima ol lndia
28 Uma Chakravarti, 'Whatever Happened to the Vedic Dasf Oricntalism, Nationalirrrr and a Script for the Past', in Sangari and Vaid, Ro^f"g Womm, pp. 27--86. 29 lqbal Masood, 'The Shemi, the Superindentent and the Other Woman', Llanushi
Judith Buder, 'Contingent Foundations: Fcminism and the Q;rertiolr ol' ,,!tutmodemism"', in Butler andJoan W Scott, eds, Fcmrnut Tlunizc tlu ltJr'Arol, l,9rul6n
Women" 1989.
42 Iravati
[K'awe,
figna: Tlu &d
{a
i?td!, H}'der$a4 Dishc t99t.
'*3 Sheba Chachi, in'Lookiag bcyond fiaalities', Thz
funic
Tsrr*s,
lO Norrmber
1991.
tK Mudupalani, and lalitha,
8"VL Narayarrarow in Tbanr l2O; see a*o dito{s" headnotes, pp.
'Radhika Santnranan'n lrandated bt/ eds,
l{w.a W;tinS A ladia p.
I 16-18.
45 Introduction by editors, We Wae MeiagH;ilry, 46 Raja Rao, Kattlulwo, Ddhi fford Univcnnty Prtss, 1974. 47 Vasantha Kannabiran and trL lalitha,,'Tlrat lvfagic Time: Women in the People's Strugglen, in Sangari
Telengana
ard Vaid, Ratsthg
Womzt,p. 183. . ,{8 Tharu and r.^lifiq'Introducrion', Wonat Wtitingin ladiapp. l-12. 49 Vrshwapriya lyengar, in'Iooking beyond linalities'(see n. 43). 50 Shuddhabrada Sengupta, J{adubati Anduba. An Act of Female Resistance' (review),
5l 52
Tlu fuononit Tin6, 13 Decernber 1991. Lauren Bedant, 'Natiooal Srands/National *cd,y:. Initation of trife', in Honense 1.. lpill9ts, ed,., CanSuAitx Aawiean l&stilits: Rec, e ntd Ndliinalig iil ,tu Modrat T;, Iondon and Nen,Yorlq Raxt@p, 1991, p. 123.
Vela Oldenberg,'Ufestfle as Resistancr: The Case of the Courtesans of tucknow', T D9I4^ Haynes and Cyan Prakash, eAs, Contzstitg Poucr: fusistance aui Eaeryda1 Smial fulntiorLt in Swth Asi4, D€ltri,
(}dord
Univcrsiq, Prcss, 1992, pp. 23-Sl.
53 Tham, 'Response toJdie Stepherx', p" 128.
54 My formulation.ofthe 'real' and thc fi:nctionalisrn with *hich I endow
represcntation
in'Poetry'. Mooe sap of poetry'c afecs: .thes€ thing; are impcrtant ... / becausc they arel useful'. My sense of dlc .real' as that which mediates betrveen the lit€ral and the imagrnary is expresscd'by her in the famous phrase 'imaginary gardens with real toads in them'. 'Genuine, poetry is.raw material ... in/ all its rawness and/ that which is on the other hand/ genuine,. See Collcctzd Poanrs, New York, Macmillan, 1951, pp. 4.0-1. 55 Mary E.John, 'Postcolonial Feminists in the Westem Intellectual Yreld',Ircai1,tions 5, 1989, pp. 4F73, esp. p. 63. 56 The 'voices and actions' of women in such a context, as Stephen Heath notes, turn them into the 'subjects of feminism, its initiators. ff]he move and join from being a echoes Marianne Moore's manifesto
yor-nan to-being a leminist is the grasp of that subjecthood'. See his 'Male Feminism', Dallorlt;e P,a)izu) 64,2 (1986), p.270, cited inJohn, 'Postcolonial Feminists', p. 64.
Bombay, i99i1. 145
a*l
news magazines\ke Indin Today. Nathabati AnatAabat, wrinen, €nacted and directed by Saoli Mitra, pcrfonncd in Bombay and Delhi in December l99l; Sheba Chachi's photographs entitled Fenrnut P:rtrails, part of an exhibition of works by Indian and other Asian photognphen, llln &onony o;f,Srgru, commissioned by The Photographen Gallery [.ondon, which toured the UK in November 1991, and q725 displayed in Bombay in September 1992; Mudupalani, 'Radhika Santwanam', e-xtracts translatcd and published in Sush Tharu and K. Lalitha, eds, Wonun Wititg in India vol. I, D€lhi, Odord Uniwrsig press, l99l; Mir& MaMl4 dtte*ed by K€tan Mchta, 1989, arld, Rihqw, directed by Arur13 Raje, l99l; Wc Wc* Maliilg l{ittary,life of wnnen in the Telengana people's _sorice struggle, by members of Sfiler Shalci Sangiratara in lly&raba4 Dclhi Kali- br
146
