Many Mulk Raj Anand stories deal with the disadvantaged in traditional Indian society. Here a young woman from a poor rural family suffers under the custom of living with her in-laws. While her husband is temporarily living in the city, his sadistic older brother makes unwanted sexual advances. Knowing that no help will come from her mother-in-law, she runs away. When this doesn’t work, she tries to drown herself. Her thoughts when rescued: There is no way for me. I am condemned to live! Themes: women’s status in traditional Indian society, physical and sexual abuse, escape, humiliation, desperation, suicide.
What’s in a name? As indicated in the story, one meaning of Lajwanti is “sensitive plant”. This plant (Mimosa Pudica) also has two other English nicknames that describe the protagonist’s predicament: the “Touch Me Not” or “Shame” plant. Just over a year ago we featured another story with this name. That story, by Rajinder Singh Bedi, deals with the plight of women raped or abducted during the partition of British India in 1947. You can read it here: Lajwanti (Bedi).
Original Text / PDF (5,085 words)
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Bhaskar. I don’t comment on or agree/disagree with comments about the quality of our stories, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion and these will clearly vary from reader to reader. What I will say is that those who set English curricula around the world do tend to include too many sentimentally favorite but by modern standards rather mediocre stories from treasured national authors (I am thinking especially of O. Henry from an American perspective here).
One very mundane and ordinary short story, Lajwanti. It’s easy to show a woman’s plight. There is no riveting moments except that it is depressingly pessimistic. I wouldn’t spend a rupee on such a throwaway book which I have to teach my students.