Karol- Ghosh- 04/25

This is my late response from Monday:

Neel's need for cleanliness can be ascertained through his need and public declaration of " a well lit outhouse." Pertinent to his need for cleanliness is his desire to make that cleanliness public. The outhouse is usually reserved for officers aligning Neel's desire for purity with his desire to be acknowledged by the hegemonic state. His  adoption of Western culture is reminiscent of one who changes ideology because of the 'stronger magic' wielded by hegemon.   

"Neel had been brought up to regard his body and its functions with fastidiousness that bordered almost on the occult... (his mother had) devoted her considerable intelligence to the creation of fantastically elaborate rituals of cleanliness an purification..." (180)

It seems that Neel's obsessive cleanliness is only associated with his shame and guilt at being conquered. As lng as he can mimic the oppressor it appears that he is only oppressing himself. By showing that these habits originated in Neel's mother Ghosh reveals another image of emasculation.