Symbols in Inside the Haveli by Rama Mehta

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Symbols in Inside the Haveli by Rama Mehta

A symbol is literary device that contains several layers of meaning, often concealed at first sight, and is representative of several other aspects, concepts or traits than those that are visible in the literal translation alone. Symbol is using an object or action that means something more than its literal meaning.

‘Haveli’ is a term which has deep roots in the tradition and life of Rajasthan. The origin of the word is Persian and means “a surrounded or enclosed place”. Architecturally havelis were built according to a basic organization of residential rooms around open courtyards. More courtyards and rooms were added as a family grew in size or prospered economically. A typical haveli has separate courtyards for men, women and servants. As the domestic life was effectively concealed from public view in a haveli, architectural and social barriers screened the activities of the men’s and women’s quarters. Family members and relatives met each other according to various traditional codes of conduct and speech.

The Haveli is a symbol of oppression that represents the silence of women. The rules of the haveli are as strict as the stones of the haveli that keep women within social boundaries. The haveli is designed in a way that the outer world is denied except occasional glimpses from behind the veil. The purdah though it appears to be a sign of respect, is a dual symbol of control and exclusion. The haveli masks the inner emotions that show no dissatisfaction on the surface. The wall, that divides Udaipur into two halves, symbolises tradition and modernity as the old and new cities.

Rama Mehta presents a vivid picture of a tradition-bound haveli in Udaipur – Jeewan Niwas. The author, who herself had experienced the restricted, traditional atmosphere of Udaipur; picturesquely depicts the life in a Rajasthani haveli. The joys and sorrows and the beliefs and superstitions inside the haveli is minutely portrayed. The life inside the haveli is presented candidly with the clarity of a documentary, but the gentle flow of the story is not at all affected by this accurate presentation.

Audio Link:

https://soundcloud.com/mohammed-suleman-830478368/55527014mp3


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