Kamala Das was five or six when she traveled to Calcutta to Malabar for the first time. It was the place she got to know some people will never have easy lives because of the caste they belong to. It was the place where she learned that some people will always have it easy, even if they do not do anything because of the caste they belong to. It was the place where she learned that some people should not be allowed to step inside her house because their caste will pollute everything. Caste, caste, and more caste.
Then came the lessons on beauty. Dark can never be beautiful, they told her. That's why a girl should do all she can to lighten her skin. And Kamla was not beautiful.
When she grew up a little she was told every woman has to get married because, without it, her life is incomplete. And later she was told a woman should die rather than marrying outside their caste. An ideal woman is someone who is beautiful and marries wherever her parents want her to.
She took it all and asked harmless innocent questions at times like ' When am I getting married', ' Is seven too young to get married'.
A childhood at Malabar is a heartwarming read that introduces you to casteist and sexist households of Kerela and how little Kamala found her place in it. At times, it reminds you of God of Small things but then Arundhati wrote that book much after Kamla came out with hers. But then the readers are bound to think of it because of Kerla backdrop, maybe.
While reading the book you would ask yourself, how many lessons on caste, beauty and ideal marriage does a girl need. But then you will have to wait until the end. The book surprises you like not many books can. Till then learn about the regressive and casteist Nair household and navigate the little girl's journey through it.
No comments:
Post a Comment