The Child by Prem Chand (Translated into English by Ruth Vanita)
About the Author
This story was written by Prem Chand, one of the prominent writers of the
early twentieth century, who wrote both in Hindi and Urdu. It was beautifully
translated by Ruth Vanita in English.
About the Story
The narrator of this story is an employer, who has a brahmin servant in
his house. His name is Gangu. He marries a widow woman, named Gomti. Marrying a widow was not liked in society in those days. But he defied that social
evil. Thus the whole story has certain elements that make it very interesting
and memorable for the readers.
Explanation and Analysis
of the Story:
In the first paragraph of this story,
the narrator describes some peculiar characteristics of his servant named
Gangu.
The narrator says that his servant
‘Gangu’ considers himself a Brahmin although he is illiterate. The narrator has
never seen him performing any religious ritual or going for a sacred bath in
the river.
The narrator’s other servants salute
him even from a distance, but Gangu does not do so. He never touches a glass
that the narrator has drunk. When the narrator is drenched in sweat, Gangu does
pick up a fan, but his facial expression shows that he is doing a favour to the
narrator.
Gangu is a man of extremes. He does
not like the people's chatter and he does not like to socialise with them. He
must have very few friends. He does not like to sit with other servants also.
Actually, the narrator is not in the
habit of talking too much with servants. He avoids them calling for little chores.
He feels much more comfortable by taking drinking water himself, lighting his own
lamp, wearing his own shoes and taking out books from the cupboard. He does not
call his servants like Lingun or Maiky for such petty jobs. It makes him feel
autonomous (independent, self-ruling) and self reliant.
The narrator further says that the
servants are familiar with his temperament also. So they do not approach him
unnecessarily.
Now the narrator tells the readers
about an incident that occurred when Gangu came in front of him early in
the morning. Here he makes us acquainted with a very common tendency found in
servants. He does not like servants coming to him that way. Whenever they come
to him, they either want an advance or they make complaints about another
servant.
The narrator does not like the servants
to approach him to demand advance because he pays them their wages on the first
of the month.
The narrator says: “Who has the time
to keep a detailed account of advance given? When someone is paid for the whole
month, what right does he or she have to spend all the money in fifteen days,
and then seek an advance or a loan? And I hate complaints. I consider
complaints a sign of weakness or a bare attempt at flattering the employer.”
As Gangu stood in front of the
narrator, he frowned and asked him what it was and said that he had not called
him.
Then the narrator says that he was
very surprised to see Gangu’s sharp, proud face looking mild. He wanted to say
something to the narrator but he was unable to find appropriate words for it.
Then the narrator also changed the
tone of his voice asking what the matter was with him and why he was unable to
speak. He also told Gangu that it was time for him to go for walk.
Gangu said in a dejected (sad) voice,
‘Well, then you go…I’ll come later.’
In the next paragraph, the narrator
describes Gangu’s predicament (dilemma). The author wants that Gangu should
utter quickly what he wants to say. The author adds one more particular thing
about Gangu in this passage.
Gangu thinks that the narrator is
free when the latter is sitting and not writing or reading any book. But at
that time, the narrator is in his thought process which is a most difficult aspect
of his work. But Gangu thinks that his master is free and not doing anything at
that time.
So the author speaks:
‘Have you come to
ask for an advance? I don't give advances.’ I said, rudely.
‘No, sarkar.
I have never asked for an advance.’
‘Then, have you
come to complain against someone? I don’t like to listen to complaints.’
‘No, sarkar.
I have never complained against anyone.’
To be continued…
