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| Rukmani—a strong character and a lady of indomitable spirit in Novel Nectar in a Sieve |
Introduction:
Kamala Markandaya deals with social themes of great importance in her novels. She calls her Nectar in a Sieve, a novel of rural India. Her purpose becomes clear with the sub-title of the novel that she intends to present a true picture of rural India in this novel. With this purpose she develops the character of Rukmani, the narrator of the story.
A Victim of Ill-planning:
Rukmani belonged to a rich family but her parents knew nothing about financial planning. They lost prosperity with the passing of time. Rukmani's eldest sister, Shanta was married to a very well-to-do family. Her marriage was remembered in the village for a long time. Padmini was Rukmani's next sister. She was also married in a good family but her family was not as rich as of Shanta. Her third sister Thangam was married in an average family of her own village. It is how prosperity disappeared from the family leaving behind ruins to be talked about of that glorious past. Rukmani, the forth and the youngest daughter of her parents, was not less dear to her parents but now they were too helpless to offer any dowry. In these circumstances, Rukmani is married to a poor farmer named Nathan. Rukmani was not beautiful and her father, now not rich. It was the best match for Rukmani, in this condition. At the time of Vida Rukmani's parents were very sad on account of their want of planning that the dearest daughter was thus, given to a poor man.
An Ideal House Wife:
Rukmani is an ideal house wife. For example when Rukmani saw her husband's hut she was shocked for here she found nothing.
"I woke: I looked. A mud hut, thatched, small, set near a paddy field, with two or three similar huts nearby. Across the doorway a garland of mango leaves, symbol of happiness and good fortune, dry now and rattling in the breeze."
"This is our home," my husband said. "Come, I will show you."
Hearing it she got out of the cart and went in. There were two rooms, one a sort of storehouse for grain and the other for everything else. A third had been begun but was unfinished; the mud walls were not more than half a foot high. But being an ideal house wife she did not give importance to poverty for what was remarkable was her husband Nathan's confidence. He was sure to write his own destiny in rainbow colours for he was a hard working determined young man. Nathan's love for Rukmani was the other treasure of this poor hut. His concern impressed Rukmani so greatly that she had to show some courage. He said: "Perhaps you are frightened at living here alone, but in a few years we can move; may be even buy a house such as your father's. You would like that?"
It was his dream but not in vain for he had full faith in his labour and land. Rukmani discovered there was something in his voice, a pleading, a look on his face. It impressed her enough to declare:
"No," I said, "I am not frightened. It suits me quite well to live here."
He did not reply at once but went into the granary and came out with a handful of paddy. With great pride he made a display of it before his wife.
"Such harvests as this," he said, sliding the grains about in his hand, "and you shall not want for anything beloved."
It is her maturity that without any complaint she adjusts with what she gets in her husband's house.
Her Social Temper:
Rukmani's social temper is remarkable. Very soon she becomes friendly with neighbours. Rukmani discovered a pool of water for washing the clothes. She met her neighbour Kali who also came there to wash clothes with two other women, Kunthi and Janki. They told Rukmani that Nathan had made this house with his own hands for her. Rukmani felt herself lucky woman. Her husband was poor but he had a heart of gold. With her friends, Rukmani liked to go to village market to buy house hold things. By now she had known many in the village. So, she used visit village market once or twice a week. Among her friends Kunthi was of quiet and reserve nature. From Kali and Janki she learnt everything about village life. Rukmani took part in every village activity. Nathan was satisfied with her and addressed her as Ruku in love. Kunti delivered a boy. Rukmani looked after Kunti. When Rukmani delivered a girl child, Kali helped her in every work very much. Rukmani grew close to Old Granny who helped in arranging Ira's marriage. On account of her social temper, Dr. Kenny always helped her family.
Her Modern Outlook:
In spite of being confined to a small village, Rukmani is a woman of modern outlook. She is able to read and write. After Ira when she does not conceive another child, she does not hesitate in getting medical treatment from an English doctor. 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. 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. Rukmani's talent of reading and writing had deep effect on her son Arjun who had interest in reading and writing. Arjun always remained busy in his books. He had no interest in fields and farming. Later on Selvam becomes a trained assistant to Dr. Kenny. When Ira too suffers from barrenness, Rukmani takes her to Dr. Kenny and Ira becomes a mother.
Her Minute Observation:
It is Rukmani's minute observation that she declares the tannery is a curse to the village.
"Never, never. They may live in our midst, but I can never accept them, for they lay their hands upon us and we are all turned from tilling to barter and hoard our silver since we cannot spent it, and see our children go without the food that their children gorge, and it is only in the hope that one day things will be as they were and we have done these things. Now that they have gone let us forget them and return to our ways."
Kunthi was happy with all this change. According to her, she was a city girl and it was good the village was going to be turned into a city. Now there would be shops, tea-stalls and bioscope. Gradually, this village would be turned into a small town. When Rukmani pleaded against it, Kunthi said: "You are a village girl. You do not understand."
Kunthi's two sons got employment in the tannery at handsome wages. She was happy for her poverty was removed. Tannery had become a boon for her. Rukmani regarded it as a curse for her village. According to Rukmani due to tannery, the village was ruined for money power was reduced and everything was costly.
Her Fortitude:
Even in utmost misery Rukmani shows her courage. Indian farmers are made or ruined by nature and weather. Just after Ira's marriage in June, it started raining. It was not the season of rain. This year, it was very early for rains. Poor farmers mend their huts just before rains to pass the period easily. But this year early rains did not provide this opportunity to farmers. Nathan and Rukmani too had not protected their hut against rains. It rained so heavily that there was rainy water everywhere. Nathan's paddy field was flooded with water. Nathan reported Rukmani: "The rains have destroyed much of our work; there will be little eating done this year."
It continued raining and flooding the village. When it took the form of a storm, there was dark everywhere. Lightning and thundering threatened them all over night. In the morning the atmosphere looked calm and quiet. But by now, nothing was left in Nathan's field. It reduced many families to become homeless. Kali's hut was broken in the storm. She asked Rukmani to lend some palm leaves. But Rukmani herself had not any. Nathan told that palm leaves and rice could be bought in the village. But the storm had destroyed everything and there was utter ruin in the village. The prices of everything were rising high for there was no supply from outside and the stock of everything was limited. Rukmani was shocked to get hardly two ollocks (One ollock is about one pound in weight) of rice against two rupees.
Another year the village had no rains. After some days Sivaji came to take the landlord's dues. Nathan had nothing to pay. Sivaji warned that Nathan should pay at least the half if he wanted to save his land. Nathan and Rukmani decided to sell their all to collect the money. Kunthi came to Rukmani to take some rice. Rukmani had not enough rice to give her. Kunthi threatened Rukmani to tell Nathan about her visits to the Doctor. Rukmani agreed to give rice to Kunthi. At night, she searched the rice-store but found that someone had stolen rice. Nathan told that he had taken the rice to give it to Kunthi because he was the father of her two sons. Now no more rice was left. They had to eat even grass in hunger.
An Ideal Mother:
Rukmani is an ideal mother. She does not discriminate her children on the base of gender and loves Ira. She saves money for her marriage and without taking Nathan's help. She finds out a suitable match for her. When Ira's husband gives up Ira calling her barren she tries to convince him saying that it can be cured. When Ira is cured she visits him but by the time he has got another woman. Rukmani never rebukes Ira. One day she beats Ira but that too shows her sense of responsibility. When Ira gives birth to a son, Rukmani loves him. She trains her sons so well that they hand over their earnings to her. They are always obedient to their parents. She educates her children and succeeds in making Selvam a trained assistant to Dr. Kenny. One day Rukmani's son Raja was caught stealing in tannery. He was beaten to death. Nathan, Rukmani, Ira all were very sad. After 2-3 days two officials came from the tannery to Nathan's home. They wanted to satisfy Nathan and Rukmani that the entire fault was of Raja and watch man only fulfilled his duty by stopping him (Raja). So they were not bound to pay any type of claim regarding this. Rukmani protested:
"You cannot blame my son," I said wearily. "We live from hand to mouth, as you can se. there is no wealth here, such as your goods might have brought."
Rukmani said that she was not going to claim any compensation. What she lost was invaluable.
Her Struggle:
Rukmani's whole life is a tale of endless struggle. In spite of being the youngest daughter of a well-to-do father she is married to a poor farmer. Her husband is hard working but he has no control over nature. Some time flood and some time drought force her family to starve. Ultimately, with Nathan she has to leave the village for town to live with Murugan. In town they face more problems for their money is stolen. Having walked a long distance, they reach the Collector's house for now their son works here. Here, they meet only Murugan's wife whose name is Ammu, a thin girl with untidy hair. She tells that Murugan has left her nearly two years ago. Murugan has left the city also. According to Ammu they should return to the village. Nathan and Rukmani have to bid good bye to her. Now Rukmani does the job of letter reading. Rukmani charges few annas for it. They pass one year in this way. Nathan and Rukmani break stones and come to earn eight annas. It encourages them. In this way they can save some money daily and collect sufficient enough to go back their village in two months by working there. Having worked hard even in rains, Nathan becomes ill and one day he falls down never to rise again. She has to come back empty handed as a widow to her village.
Her Emotional Depth:
Rukmani's emotional depth is exposed when she remembers her dead husband and departed sons. Rukmani who still feels her husband is not dead. She stands in complete contrast to those modern high class city women who take divorce to marry with the other man. For Rukmani her husband is still alive though he could not provide her with comforts of a prosperous life.
"Sometimes at night I think that my husband is with me again, coming gently through the mists, and we are tranquil together. Then morning comes, the wavering grey turns to gold, there is a stirring within as the sleepers awake, and he softly departs."
"One by one, they come out into the early morning sunshine, my son, my daughter. Puli, the child I clung to who was not mine, and he no longer a child. Puli is with me because I tempted him, out of my desperation I lured him away from his soil to mine. Yet I have no fears now: what is done is done, there can be no repining."
Now on the screen of her mind appear other figures. Many of them have gone far from her yet she remembers them. She is lost in the memory of her parents and her sisters. Conclusion-Thus, Rukmani is an inspiring character.
