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Title: Nirmala by Premchand, Premacanda, Alok Rai ISBN: 0-19-564580-4 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: April, 1999 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (1 review)
Rating: 4
Summary: Going from Bad to Worse: A Book Review of Nirmala
Comment: Going from Bad to Worse: A Book Review of Nirmala by Premchand, Oxford University Press, 1999 (originally printed 1925).
Premachand (1880-1936) paved the way for realism in Indian literature. This is evidenced in Nirmala, the story of a young woman bethrothed. This novel captures, through the actions and words, the depth of suffering of the characters Nirmala comes in contact with, keeps the book from falling into melodrama or soap opera. This would have transpired with any lesser writer.
Our story opens with Nirmala's mother and father quarrelling during the lengthy and elaborate preparation for Nirmala wedding. Babu Udayabhanulas stages a "walk out" to show his wife he wouldn't take abuse. Enroute to the river, for a boat crossing, he is accosted and murdered by a robber he had put behind bars. This begins the series of dark events which beset Nirmala's journey.
The original marriage offer falls through due to the financial devastation resulting from Babu's death. However, in her lowered dowry-less status, Nirmala is married to an older gentleman. He is a lawyer, with three sons, and a liv- in sister. This begins the jealousy, squabbles, and mean-spiritedness that results from the introduction of the lovely young 16 year old interloper. As the characters disintegrate, first one son dies through self-poisoning, then the next son is hauled off to prison after stealing Nirmala's jewels, the third wanders off following some less than holy man.
Nirmala bears a daughter which she neglects and abuses, she becomes a mean spirited miser following her husband's inability to function over the grief of his son's death. Nimala finds some respite in the friendship of Sadha, wife of Doctor Sahib, but Sadha's son dies while visiting Nirmala, Dr. Sahib then tries to seduce Nirmala, which results in scandal. When he commits suicide, Sadha is transported to a relative's house. This leaves Nirmala with no drops of sweetness.
When her husband leaves to find the youngest son's whereabouts, not leaving word or any contact, Nirmala finally, herself, succumbs. on the fourth day, at sunset. "Her sad story came to an end. At the same time that birds and animals return to their homes, their nests and hollows, Nirmala's soul, having endured a lifetime of the darts and arrows of clever huntsmen and the clasw of predators, and having been buffeted mercilessly by gusts of wind till it could endure no more, flew off to its eternal home."
Premachand creates a truly despicable character in Munshi Totaram, the husband. His jealously, untruths and the awful change of events he sets into motion by his inability to live truthfully. He is a product of his culture and is truly awful. He drives the story, keeping the reader turning pages due to the believability of his awful and irregular nature. He is a man in conflict who creates disharmony whereever he goes. In bringing Nirmala, a beautiful young woman into his home to look after his sons and his desires , he brings her down with him.
When Nirmala has pleasant interactions with the eldest son, Munshi Totaram spirals out of control, "There was nothing very much the matter, but Vakil Sahib felt overcome by hopelessness and took to his bed, consumed with anxiety. Things had gone far beyond what he had expected. He felt angry with himself for not having taken steps to remove the lad earlier. "Now I understand the reason why her ladyship appears so happy these days. The room had never been arranged so carefully earlier, nor had she taken any great care over her appearance, but no I can see all that is changed utterly."
After turning the son out, he tries to regain his confidence telling him that Nirmala was the one that wanted him out. The eldest son who loved Nirmala as a mother, is disheartened on being told that Nirmala was in fact the one to blame. "It's only when something happens against our expectations that we are grieved by it. Mansaram had never expected that Nirmala, of all people, would accuse him behind his back. And things do just keep going from bad to worse.
This book is an introduction of history of women's rights and women's status in Indian culture. It documents a change that was occurring in the earlier part of the 1900's. Also of interest is the fact that the book is not concerned with Anglo-Indian matters, but rather resides in the very heart of India. This book would most likely not find its way into the hands of the random reader. It would be a special interest book for lovers of Indian culture and history and possibly of he history of women's rights. It is not for the faint of heart nor to be taken lightly. Of special interest and assistance to the reader is an afterword and Glossary which assist in we modern-day readers further understanding the setting, circumstances, language and culture which contributed to Nirmala's demise.
This book proves that writing about the interactions between people can be varied, emotional, heart-wrenching and avoid the pitfalls of triteness and melodrama. If only to drag the reader through extreme suffering, it can be done and Nirmala shows us how.
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