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| Dr. Kenny—An Incarnation of Humanity—Nectar in A Sieve |
Introduction:
Post-independence literature in India deals with the theme of East- West encounter in Hindi as well as Indo-Anglian novel and drama. The English rule ended, the rulers went back but they left behind their art, culture and trade. It is a great irony that even those who fought for free India could not keep India free from the impact of English art, culture and trade. In Nectar in a Sieve, Modern progress of the West is represented by human and mechanic forces in the form of Dr. Kenny and the Tannery. Dr. Kenny has come to the rural area with a mission that fruits of modern progress should be tasted by the whole mankind. The opposite faces of modern progress can be seen at one place in this novel. The selfish earn money and exploit the poor by establishing a tannery while the true servant of Ans, God builds a hospital for human welfare in the same rural area.
Dr. Kenny: Only a Blessing:
In the novel, Dr. Kenny appears as a great blessing. He represents the positive aspect of scientific research. He proves that barrenness among women is not a curse caused by ill fate but a physical deformity or weakness to be cured by proper treatment. As it happens in the case of Rukmani that by chance, her mother was very ill and a new doctor named Kennington was called to treat her. One day Kennington asked Rukmani why she was so sad. Rukmani told him that she was unfortunate enough to have no son. He told that it was not fate but medical science that could help her. He treated and Rukmani gave birth to a son. When Ira was seven, Nathan invited whole village on a feast. Kali, Janki and Kunthi helped Rukmani in arrangements. The day was celebrated with singing and dancing. Rukmani had not told as yet, about Kennington to Nathan. Dr. Kennington was a foreigner and on that account, she feared that perhaps Nathan would not like him. But his treatment proved so fruitful that Rukmani gave birth to four more sons. Their names were Arjun, Thambi, Murugan, Raja and Selvam. Ira, being the eldest, cared for her brothers.
Dr. Kenny: Humanity Incarnate:
Dr. Kenny is humanity incarnate in the sense that he worries for the family of poor Rukmani though she can't pay any fee to him. One day, early in the morning when Rukmani saw Kennington and told him now she had five sons. She requested him to go her home. When she reached home with Kennington, Nathan had gone to the field. There was no chair in the hut and Kennington could hardly sit on the mat. Ira brought rice-water in a bowl for him. It pleased him. He blessed Ira and appreciated her rice- water. After some time Nathan came. Rukmani introduced Nathan and Kennington with each other. Nathan welcomed him. Nathan said he had no means to welcome him properly. Kennington said Nathan that the father five healthy sons could not be poor.
His Devotion to Human Welfare:
Dr. Kennington is devoted to human welfare. He does not suffer from any sense of pride or superiority. He often visited Rukmani's home with sweets for children. One day, he came and found that Rukmani was feeding her three years old Selvam. He asked Rukmani that her son should not be given breast feeding for it would be harmful for her. She replied that she had no money to buy milk from the market. He arranged cow's milk to her youngest son. Rukmani visited Dr. Kennington to ask him to treat her daughter Ira. He promised to do what he could for the welfare of the family. But- Kenny felt pleased on knowing that Ira was pregnant. Kenny replied: "You will feel better when it is born. A baby is no worse for being conceived in an encounter."
His Devotion to Social Welfare:
Dr. Kenny has devotion to social welfare. He knows that many doctors from big town would never come to join the hospital and treat the poor villagers who had nothing to pay. There is need of arranging local doctors or assistants with a bit of medical knowledge so that at least the first aid could be provided in case of emergency. He makes his first experiment with Selvam and gets success in it. Selvam was settled with Kenny and looked after hospital's construction. Their aim was to build it and finish the project within a year. But it took seven long years that created financial crisis. Unfortunately Old Granny died in want of proper medical help. Hearing this Rukmani was very sad. She lamented that no one can feed poor people free. But Selvam contradicted her saying that Kenny had told him that in other countries the poor are fed free of charge. Regarding Kenny's hospital he told that it demanded endless money.
At last, after many hurdles, the hospital was ready. In two years, Selvam began to treat minor cases by himself. In return Kenny paid him a little wage. And this little wage too was not paid regularly. Yet Dr. Kenny's mission is complete. He has succeeded in building and running a hospital in that rural area.
A Man with a Mission:
It is true that Dr. Kenny has come to the rural area with a mission that fruits of modern progress should be tasted by the whole mankind. The poor too deserve proper medical care. A doctor is not only for big towns or rich people but the poor backward people also. He devotes his whole life in building a hospital in that rural area. The opposite faces of modern progress can be seen at one place in this novel. The selfish earn money and exploit the poor by establishing a tannery while the true servant of God builds a hospital for human welfare in the same rural area.
