Anuradha T

Classics

4.0  

Anuradha T

Classics

The big question

The big question

6 mins
137


  What we see in a painting, portrait, sculpture or any art may be interpreted as per our perception, personality, cultural background and so many other factors. The artist's intention and imagination may be different from what the viewer of the painting may be. So, the views of any person become subjective of the object. The seminal painting by Pestonji Bomanji that depicts a woman passively feeding a parrot that is kept in a cage, her dispassionate gaze, keeps the viewer of the painting transfixed wondering as what is going on in the woman's mind and why she still appears to be fixed viewing into the caged parrot. If asked to interpret the painting a young child may simply say that the parrot is feeling nice to get fed. It must be hungry and so feels better when got something to eat. A young man or woman may feel sorry that the woman is helpless seeing that the parrot is in the cage and she has no other option but to feed the parrot as per any request, order or something else. An elderly person may interpret it as saying it is not Dharma to keep a bird in the cage as we are snatching away it's right to freedom and an animal activist may simply go against this practice of keeping caged birds at home citing rules and legislations.           

The usual association that comes to mind when we may try to interpret the painting of a woman looking at the caged parrot with almost a very neutral look mostly brings us to mind about the position of women in the household and society at large. It seems as though the woman is feeling caged in the patriarchal society that she is forced to live. The young boy who is standing very near to his mother appears to be confused or scared as his mother does not give any expression about anything, she appears to be static and mechanically doing her household 'duties'. This in a way gives us the reflection of the society at large that always controlled and subdued women within the house and we get the bigger picture of the position of women in the society. From childhood days a girl child is made to realise that she has to lead her life as per the diktats of the male members of the family whether it is the father, brother, grandfather or other men in the family. It is not to demean anyone or saying that it is wrong to be guided by the elders, but it is about leading a life of slavery. The girl is trained to do household chores, to see the world inside the household or to limit her purview to the house only, just like a frog in the well. She dare not move or venture into the open world, very similar to the parrot in the cage. Of course, now times have changed?! The painting by Pestonji Bomanji is a stark reality of the position of women specially in India and maybe in many other parts of the world over.   Let us read a story about the realistic prompt of a woman feeding a parrot in a cage.               

 Toru was busy writing something which is a habit with her as always. Her sister Charu was eager to see what with so much intensity her sister had been writing for the past couple of days. Toru was lost in her own world of unending thoughts and writing. Charu knew it must have been some topic that was close to her heart for which she was writing with all earnestness. Finally she broached the topic to get to know that it was about the 'Woman and her position ' in her family, friends and society at large. Looking at the pictures of many women in cages and parrot in the cage that was casually fed by the lady these were the thoughts that came to her. The lady outside the cage who had a young boy wrapped around her saree pleats conveyed the meaning of what limitations the lady or woman had. She being the wife and mother and many other relationships within the family and may be outside the family appears so listless and mechanical in whatever she was doing. May be it was a momentary expression or she was the same always that is a big question. The woman seemed to be entangled within the home and all home related work. She has a young child to care to. In a patriarchal society and a family with such values? the woman seems to almost become a remote controlled robot to the level that her body, mind and soul are controlled by all the makes in the family hierarchy wise. Does she enjoy leading such a life? Well who bothers about what she feels or wants. She is caged for life with few options left to choose.               

 After a certain point the woman gets entangled within that limit and leads life under suffocation. She starts accepting that this is what she is entitled to get. Her gaze gets so still with a limited movement of her eyelids as she does get an opportunity to see world beyond that limit. This means to say that the woman cannot see beyond the limits set by her male members of the family who ever matters. She might want to flee from the bondage and lead a life of freedom and happiness. Again these words should not be misinterpreted as the terms may convey varied meanings depending upon the person and situation. But, atleast some of basic requirement of freedom is the right of every human being. And woman the most important part of this as she is responsible to conceive and carry the progeny and deliver the child, so that family as unit thrives. But, can a woman passively and in a robotic manner give birth to a child who will go on to become a sensible human being is a big question ⁉️ that needs very deep thought and analysis. The parrot in the cage is fed and kept confined but does it not need freedom of flying on tree branches whenever it feels like, does it want to mate with another parrot when it feels like, does it not want to carry and give birth to its own like , ? Yes, it definitely wants and should do so as it is its fundamental right of being a living creature. When a parrot has so many wants and feelings and rights what about a woman who plays so many roles each different a d difficult from one another throughout her life without questioning and bickering. Toru ended her script or write up with this very important question and keeps waiting for a valid answer.


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