Theme of Inside the Haveli
Theme of Inside the Haveli
The theme in a story is its underlying
message, or 'big idea.' In other words, what critical belief about life is the
author trying to convey in the writing of a novel, play, short story or poem?
Inside the Haveli depicts the life of a
woman trapped in traditions and a desire to free herself from them. Hence, the
major themes of the novel are surrender and compromise. The haveli represents
the silence of the women who strictly follow Purdah and other rules of Rajput
families. Geeta, the heroine of the novel is an educated girl born and brought
in modern Bombay. She marries Ajay, a lecturer at Udaipur University. Ajay
belongs to a traditional Rajput family of the state living in ancient haveli
with three hundred years of its past glory.
Geeta is not happy with the life inside
the haveli. She finds herself trapped in the traditional value system. The
women in the haveli are passive sufferers. They live life as per the
traditional rules and taboos of the haveli. Geeta, who is brought up at Bombay
in an atmosphere where men and women can mingle freely, cannot bear the orthodox
system and values of the haveli. She feels that the purdah system is a kind of
cruelty against women.
Geeta tells Ajay that he should leave
the haveli and get job in Delhi. When Ajay is appointed as the head of the
department at Udaipur University, he tells Geeta that he cannot leave Udaipur
and he has to take care of his parents also. Geeta knows it well that it is
impossible for Ajay to leave the haveli and its life. Slowly, Geeta accepts
Ajay’s decision and also the life inside the haveli willingly. She knows the
strong bond of Ajay with the haveli. By the time she finds that women are not humiliated
but respected. They call each other with due respect. Politeness, courtesy and
decorum are the part of the life in haveli. Geeta sacrifices her freedom for the
domestic life but she believes that people should move with the time.
Geeta desires to bring changes in the
haveli. Her first step towards it is sending Sita, the servant’s daughter, to
school. The second step is starting classes for maid servants and the servants
of the neighbouring havelies. There is protest and criticism but she succeeds
as the maid servants and other women come to her classes for learning. No one
in the haveli had thought of educating servants’ children. Servants and
relatives oppose Geeta’s decision but her father-in-law supports her. He
supports Geeta saying that people of the haveli must change with time. Geeta
feels happy in the haveli. Sita’s education helps her in getting an educated
young man, Sjhivram, as her husband. Instead of becoming a servant, Sita goes
to a farmer family with good income.
Geeta comes to know that family honour
should be preserved. She finds that her father-in-law was concerned about her.
He often inquires about her health. He advises the maid servants to provide her
comforts and space required. Her mother-in-law wants to mould Geeta as per the
haveli’s rules. But she is very kind towards Geeta. She protects Geeta when
Geeta is criticised for starting classes for servants. Geeta notices the kind
behaviour of her in-laws and she becomes interested in haveli’s culture and
reputation. She wishes to protect haveli’s dignity.
Geeta does not accept Vijay Bai Sa’s
engagement with Vir Singh. She believes it wrong to marry her daughter at an
early age. She protests very boldly saying that she would not give permission
for a child marriage. Geeta’s father-in-law convinces Geeta of the proposal of
Vir Singh. He tells her to think of the girl’s marriage at the proper time. He
tells her that Vijay can continue her studies after her engagement to Vir
Singh. Geeta understands that Vir Sing is quite handsome and educated. He comes
from a rich family and is going to London for further studies. At the end of the
novel Geeta accepts the proposal. However, it is to be noted that she is not
forced to accept the proposal. Geeta begins to understand the importance of
haveli’s culture. Geeta has to accept the traditions of the haveli. When her
father-in-law dies, her mother-in-law says to Geeta “Don’t cry, Binniji. You
are now the mistress of this haveli. You can’t forget your traditions in its
sorrow.” Geeta knows that her father-in- law was truly a great man. He believed
in traditions but he was equally tolerant. It was a tradition for him to be
kind and generous. Geeta promises her mother-in-law that she would live in the
haveli and preserve the traditions and values of the haveli. At the end of the
novel, Geeta says that she is a willing prisoner in the haveli. She realizes
that haveli has given her love. She says that her children must grow in the haveli
and learn to respect the haveli and its traditions and dignity. She comes to know
that the traditions of the haveli have cultural values.
Geeta accepts her role with dignity
assuring that she would do her best to maintain the dignity of the haveli. She
surrenders to the rules and regulations of the haveli. She is ready to adjust
and she is successful in adjusting with the traditions of the haveli. Of
course, Geeta’s step to educate the servants is a step of bringing modernity
and change in the haveli. It suggests that the new ideas will prevail in the haveli
without harming the honour and reputation of the haveli. Geeta succeeds in breaking
the silence of the haveli by transforming the orthodox customs of the haveli.
She surrenders herself to the love of the in-laws and her husband. She compromises
to bring constructive and sophisticated changes in the haveli.
Really exquisite !!
ReplyDelete