In Bharati Mukherjee's "The Management of Grief", there is a strong sense of cultural preservation. This theme is prominent in many ways. Varying from elements such as the saris worn by the women, in an Western country such as Canada, even Ireland, the Indian notion of retaining "hope", and the concepts of remarrying...given the right circumstances...all of these components are branches of a somewhat traditional Indian society. Along with these details, there is the constant references to Indian hospitality; specifically, in the case of constantly preparing tea/chai for visitors. An example of this tradition, continued even in the western backdrop:
"I hear the most familiar sound of an Indian home, tap water hitting and filling a teapot." (pg. 105).
While Mukherjee implements these anticipated Indian themes, there is something strikingly different in her approach to Indian people as part of an Indian community. There is a strong sense of detachment, present most densely within Shaila's insistence upon not interfering with the lives of the Sikh couple:
"They are Sikh. They will not open up to a Hindu woman." (pg.104)
Despite sharing a common grief, or rather, unified through one- in terms of being impacted with the sense and reality of loss, there is still a political difference being suggested by the author. This brings forth a dimension, a multiplicity of layers, the Indians abroad, unified by the reality of diaspora, and the divided sense of political differences within this one culture (Hindu vs Sikhs).
No comments:
Post a Comment