The Views of Indian Culture Portrayed in A Stench of Kerosene by Amrita Pritam

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The Views of Indian Culture Portrayed in A Stench of Kerosene by Amrita Pritam

'A Stench of Kerosene' written by Amrita Pritam, portrays the

consequences of the strong influence of Indian culture in a village,

which destroys a couple's marriage. Manak and Guleri have been happily

married for eight years.

The story opens to give the reader an insight into Guleri's

homesickness. "Whenever Guleri was home-sick she would take her

husband, Manak and they would go up to the top of the hill. 'She would

see the homes of Chamba (her home village) twinkling in the sunlight

and would come back, her heart glowing with pride'. This passage

illustrates a happy couple in love, turning to each other for comfort.

However the reader is given an impression of Guleri's imprisonment by

her village customs and culture. Only 'once every year, after the

harvest had been gathered in, Guleri was allowed to spend a few days

with her parents'

They would send a man to collect and bring her back to her own

village. The story begins with Guleri recognising the neighing of the

mare. She ran out of her in-law's house and put her head against her

neck as if it were a door to her father's house! Doing this would

relieve her from her homesickness. Pritam show sympathy for Guleri's

homesickness, as she is cut-off from her family and there's no one

apart from Manak to relieve her and comfort her.

Because of the village culture her freedom has been taken away from

her. Due to her homesickness one would assume that she would be

allowed to stay at her home a reasonable period of time, but this

isn't the case as she is only allowed to stay for a 'few days'. To add...

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father's lap'. It was likely that her prediction will comes true

seeing as she was able to manipulate her son and plan the destruction

of his marriage and future. Manak accepted this due to the influence

of his custom, of respect ones mother and doing what she says.

The baby boy was placed in 'Manak's lap, he stared' at his son. 'He

stared a long time uncomprehending, his face expressionless. Then

suddenly his blank eyes filled with horror, 'take him away' he

shrieked hysterically, and 'he stinks of kerosene'. The author depicts

the dreadful story of Manak and Guleri who were both imprisoned by

their village custom, which led to disbelief circumstances. The

village customs back fired on Manak's mother, having children is a

gift but not necessarily the key to happiness when love and happiness

is already evident.

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