Radicalism in An
Abbreviated Child by Rita Garg
Heena Kauser
Ph. D. Research scholar
I.N.M.P.G. College,
CCS University, Meerut (
U.P.), India
Abstract:
The utopian vision is the
foundation of radicalism. In the plethora of society, furthermore a radical
flux or change is intrinsic one whereas a radical pattern or conception is
extremely innovative. The paper throws a glance on various radical perspectives
and critical propositions and then applies those to An Abbreviated Child by
Rita Garg. The focal point of radical prospect directed by novelist to the
economic base, class conflict, capitalism, poverty, inequality, exploitation
and oppression of segments of society. The novel demonstrates enormous changes
in the panorama of women and fabricate a new version of motherhood through
surrogacy. The outcome of the emergent technologies is to deconstruct the
biological processes of motherhood and nullify the claim to reproduction that
is the rudiment of femininity. Feebleness of people has is so compelled to
inaugurate consumerism of human organs and presents different parameters of
slavery. additionally here 'cultural sift' radical theory notion is based
mainly perception of contemporary
society and to transforming it lie in the ways that culture Orients our
behavior and shapes what we are able to know about the world and to interrogate
concepts, methodologies and epistemologies used to grasp radical change. The utopian
impulse of novelist in this novel which is drawn towards absolute notion of
equilibrium and justice that immune to justify about the interest they serve,
and which demands their splendid implementation in society.
Keywords:
Radicalism, Capitalism, Radical Feminism, Consumer
Behavior, Crime, Surrogacy, Genderex.
Epistemology says
alteration is the rule of nature. It bridges the seemingly unbridgeable gap
between the retrogression and the progressions. Radicalism is the emergence of
Neo-Marxian perspective debates opened up by communitarians, liberals, public
choice theorists on key issues such as individual’s rights, community,
individual verses collective responsibilities and the nature of justice.
Broadly speaking is the reaction of financial crises. Andrew Sayer opines,
Radical political economy
continues to remain fascinated by the figures of total social transformation,
as reflected in the frequent appearance of the twin notions of constructivism
and collectivism. (34)
He rightly observed respectively
the ideas that we can comprehensively construct society through the exercise of
human will and that human beings are fundamentally altruistic and desirous of
collective solidarity rather than the pursuit of individual interest. (35)
The main objective of
radical theory in this novel is to infiltrate this veneer of society and its
grandiose self-proclamations, to clasp with its fundamental reality and to
pinpoint how society actually works things are not always what they appear to
be and the demystification of society and its functioning becomes a pivotal
locus of this perspective.
'The world of needs is to
increase fathomless out of some container' (96) writes the novelist.
This world of needs filled with restrictions:'
Rules and rules prevailing but with the inherent fangs and thorns, teasing to
the core as the redundant part of a very long novel to be completed
meticulously.' (96) The surplus of needs leads to either the overflow of
activity or to the excess of inertia.
The nature of activity is not
necessarily propitious. One improper action subjugates the life of many; the
proper conditions of many; or, even the social environment. Somehow the
need-filled society has to look the satiation of all-- either collectively or
individually. This novel projects the needs of all from the rich to the poor;
from the king to the servant; and, from the father to the child. The scene is
not limited to Contemporary society but the mythical and historical times as
well. Interestingly enough, so much of change has the world undergone but the
need and satisfaction balance remains away and invisible. Not only ordinary
changes but the radical ones also appear, act and disappear. As the society
changes, the needs also convert into compulsion
With globalization, multiculturalism touches
zenith and consequently utter confusion spreads all around.
Dr. Nirmala Gupta applauds
"Author lends a poignant dignity as the characters fight off a series of
put-downs and successfully confront the imperfections of the society. Overall,
a story written on a unique and yet such a realistic topic carried by
commanding style of writing and layered to cavernous depth."
The novel gives the full
picture of social reconstruction. The changing phenomenon is outburst in the
forms of conflict in every sphere. No factor is untouched by this. Theories of
conflict assume that society is made up of a diametrically fractions whose
relations are based on the patriarchal system. Albeit, women was no longer on
the secondary stage. The excess of women oppression evolved in the shape of
revolution known as radical feminism. The implication of women characters in
the novel is praiseworthy they are not only extremely adverse circumstances as
well as of society. Critics such as Andrea Dworkin and Catharine MacKinnon who
have been referred to themselves as 'radical feminist' have been outspoken on
this theme and have challenged both the conservative and liberal perspective of
society.
Many other earlier Radical
feminists critics believed that reproduction was at the root cause of women's
oppression and that we would be emancipated if we could free ourselves from
"the tyranny of reproduction" (Mandel, p.33). At that point in time,
"Technology was viewed as liberating women" (Mandel, p.33). She
further says things have changed since those days, and today the more popular
consensus is that technology is not the liberation Radical feminists thought it
would be. Instead of liberating women, our bodies are simply fully controlled
by men. (Mandal, p.33)Undeniably the envisage of Logo centrism will remain in
society. Here the readers find themselves in conundrum and wonder; is it really
favorable for women or else new ways of sovereignty with changing times.
Another radical critic Tong, comments on the
patriarchal society that blocks all progress and ability of women to be fully
human beings. They crave for a world of them without restriction and long for
androgyny and hence embrace reproductive technologies as they can help women
escape from the chains of motherhood and childbirth. "As we shall see,
radical-libertarian feminists are convinced the less women are involved in the
reproductive process, the more time and energy they will have to engage in
society¹s productive processes." (Tong, p.71)
The implications of radical
feminist approaches on this novel is commendable. No doubt the novelist
splendidly manifests multifocal persona of women; here women is mother of her
children, nurse of other offspring, savior of values and philanthropist of
society and as well future vision also.
Mother is known for the
strongest feelings of cordiality and emotional bindings. Here the novelist
discusses the role of surrogate mother and natural mother. Also written about
is wet nurse and foster mother. Reference is also made to Sita, a nature born
child. Panna Dhaya the wet nurse in the history of Rajasthan is an exemplary
figure. She is a radical who saves the Prince of the State and sacrifices her
own beloved son. Her fight against the usurper proves that society has persons
glowing with extraordinary virtues. Surrogacy is a medical measure to bring joy
in a childless family. To the surmise of the readers, certain questions are
raised against this also. The novelist says that genetically a child carries a
two-fold load of diseases. With surrogacy this load shall be three-fold.
Initially medical science had denied this but now that corner is working on
this controversy.
Also the surrogate mother
is not an educated woman with enough of mental and physical nourishment. She
cannot give anything to enlighten like the mother of Abhimanyu who learnt the
martial art as an embryo only. Thus the womb of a surrogate mother is the '
never never nest.'(8)
Above all in this over
populated world it is not required that too a surrogate child with all sorts of
malnourishment. It’s better to take care of someone's childlike Chandrima who
makes self-renowned. Sita, born of mother earth, is one of the most docile
woman. Sharp and scientific changes occur but not for the good changes all the
while.
The practical and
practicable aspects are seen contradictory occasionally. Gauri,'s mother is
helpless when her son sells Gauri. Fundamentally radical feminism emerges on
the discourse of conflict Theory and it celebrates what has earlier been put
down, and helps women to empower and celebrate themselves. Indeed Gauri's pain
is unbearable; nevertheless she proclaimed "When pain convert into agony
and suffering follows, I became one with myself… Only with myself." (71)
Undoubtedly continuity,
conformity, Change, choice and conflict subsist to some degree in all
historical spans. “Radical criminology suggests that crime must be explained in
the context of the capitalist mode of production rather than as a breach of the
identifiable moral consensus on which positivism is implicitly based” (Taylor
et al. 279).
Furthermore the theory
asserts that crime is the consequence of structural discrimination that are
inherently associated with capitalist economic system. Capitalism economy
entirely centers on power and exploitation and labour forces responsible for
survival. Neary and Taylor rightly observe: under capitalism, crime is a
‘condition of no money or a refusal to accept the law of money or the legal
form of money’. (p. 83)
No doubt is increasing
tendency towards punitive correctionalism in criminal justice policy; Instead
of centralizing on why individuals broke the law, they tended to focus on why
certain acts were defined as unauthorized and how the criminal justice system
functioned to sustain imbalance in society. Class struggle produces crime,
poverty, income inequality, organ trafficking, child kidnapping and other
serious problems.
The world is suffering from
over populations. The novelist also says that the measures taken by the
government of India prove insufficient. There are two reasons for this.
Inactive men 'breeding like mosquitoes' and the drunkards perennially in need
of money. Radha's father sells her and her mother because he is in dire need of
money to buy liquor. Kalia seeks Gauri his sister, to fulfill his need of
liquor consumption.
In India, particularly in
hills woman labourers make the child lick opium and serve on the sites. The
child would be fast asleep and hazard free. The future becomes bleak because
opium is habit forming and enough to make man lazy. Kalia and the husband of
Gauri are two examples of this. This sin and crime filled scene is not
constrained to domestic walls. Society, roads and haats are witnesses too.
There are child kidnappings described: “My lal my babe my munna”. (34)
After the kidnapping the
suffering of the mother does not end here. Rather she must live. Suppose her
babe is back there should be the mother to feed the child. Keshava's sister is
well-decked and made to wait for a buyer in a rickshaw. She is not given to eat
for hour’s altogether. Keshav is helplessly watching all this. He is not able
to understand the inquisitiveness of the surroundings and And finds himself
around —'a habitat of criminals.’ (28)
Radha was sold in the heat
of June but in full make up and intoxicated. The consequences of a child being
sold at a young age is that there might occur 'Oedipus complex or 'Electra
complex'
Thus an extreme ironic
situation is suggested by the novelist.
Poverty is that witch which leaves no shames:
‘The hut is too small'. Many people live in a small hut and the result is that
moral values diminish In those wall-less and value-less surroundings. It's not
strange when a young boy claims frankly that 'he raped a girl at the age of
thirteen.' (78) Also that he is not the only to do so. Their world is like
that. Animals are sold and girls are sold. He brings ram and ewe close for the
purpose of reproduction and people watch and enjoy as they do the sale of a
girl. The implication is that morality is out of their imagination.
Radical researchers
extremely critiques of capitalism and identify it is the root cause of
deviance. These prospective and the Research which was undertaken mainly
focused on the structural determinants of inequality and poverty is the reason
to create crime and deviance in society. Their impetus is not only to study
deviance in society but to change society to become more equitable and fair.
Marx asserts, "the
state supports the powerful against the weak, the rich against the poor, and
the rulers against the ruled."
Marx believed that
throughout history, human societies have comprises of two classes: those who
have the power to create the rules under which everyone must live, and another
who have neither resources nor power to say anything against it.Extremism has
roots in exploitation of the self, society or both. Radha, after three times
being sold, reaches the orphanage run by Mrs Preet Rani who is sincere to her
work. There a Minister Ji often visits to make his image by showing concern for
the welfare of the miserable beings.
For image making, he
proposes Radha who is a postgraduate and attractive person. For no doubts Radha
is betrothed and reaches the house of this national figure. The nuptial bonds
don't add to her life because he indulges in ant nation activities and child
labour is also exploited for various purposes. After a disturbed life, she
along with the child labour reaches back to the pavilion. There after the death
of Mrs. Preet Rani she managed the orphanage. Chandrima the other orphanage be self-reliant
as well as accomplice to others. She
further denies martial bond for her career and remains sojourner as her
situation exigency. Her soul rested on the betterment of others. From an
orphaned girl going to abroad for higher education reflects her passion to
advance the collective consciousness of society. No doubt when she was
conversing with Bon she seems indeed sorted and miraculous and fabricate a whim
of hers: ‘Deewangi'. (99)
Here the novelist in
tempted to used the word deewangi, it has a ultimate to reach the pinnacle. She
gives the mythical comparison between Lakshman's wife Urmila and Sita and
enunciates that Urmila suffer too than Sita due to lack of deewangi.
Chandrima Roderigo Chotu and others grow
and plan for the welfare of others.
A French critic Marilyn in
her comparative analysis of patriarchy and feminism rightly saying: The only
true revolution against patriarchy is the one that removes the Idea of power
from the central position, and instead raises the Idea of pleasure and emphasizes
"for happiness to replace the power”. Thoroughly the changing Radical
phenomenon in the novel demands inner gratification rather than coercion
affiliation.
Consumer behavior is
another characteristic of radicalism that is appropriately applicable in this
novel. It is a dynamic process. It has been established on the notion that
consumedly is the outcome of the needs and wants of the consumer they trades to
assuage these longing and requirements. A critic Walters assures Consumer
behavior therefore "refers to the total process by which individuals
interact with their environment”. But it doesn't mean that all human behavior
is consumption oriented. Cleaver also explicate that work is being replaced by
consumerism as the main feature, integrating people's lives and asserting
further ample of people's lives subordinated by drudgery and that consumerism
is constrain to the reproduction of people's lives as labour Power, rather than
schematic ethos of functioning outlet.
The commodification of human beings dominates
this literary tableaux. Radha, Gauri, Keshava's sister and others are sold for
various uses. Out of this, human organs support the growth of medical Tourism
in India. India also boasts of handicraft market:
Kalia, as a brother, sells
Gauri to a poor lazy man who would pay Rs.20000 for a woman because she would
face the mixing of 'genderex'( 45). This is a term coined by the novelist to
shows in power structure the differences of gender is not biologically but
social constructed. Meaning thereby that the role of women in nullified and the
relevance of gender and sex comes forth. She would work like an ox in ploughing
the field and with an ' incapacitated" husband work all the while in
extreme poverty. Gauri relates this to her sister-in-law:
“I know the taste of
hunger.”
“I know the labour of an
OX.
…
Without the loss of
virginity. I know the loss of womanhood!”(70)
The phenomenon generally
observed is the vitiating attitude of the people who indulge in dishonorable
practice of trading and taking advantage of the
poverty-stricken people through a corrupt method of money making. The
situation is such that today there is no country in the world which is free
from the criminal tendencies of such unethical problem. India also is facing
such a problem and it has assumed serious propositions. Poverty is the biggest
reason why poor people are helpless to sell their body organs and not just this
to for their survival they are ready to sell their own kids to get rid of their
poverty.
Alka Rani rightly observes,
“By depicting the necked picture of this horrible half part of any community,
Rita is able to strike a chord of fear in the heart of so called conscientious,
sensible and religious minded Indians. The subject of child atrocities is also
dealt with supreme transparency. It is very strange that Radha, Chhotu, Gauri,
etc., are made to suffer and abused mainly by their biological parents,
brothers or sisters rather than by a stranger. Even stranger fact is that
mostly all this happens just for a little amount of money”. (139)
The radical change in her condition comes with
a government job and later her entry into the orphanage run by Radha.Gauri is
misery-stricken and narrates over there how 'blue bodies' of girls are carried
by mothers to the graveyard or cemetery. The body turns blue in a condition of
poison inducing and oxygen lacking. Even then Gauri's mother calls her ‘The
Last Sufferer’. (63)
The reason is that with the
government efforts the commodification of women is checked. Sonam the niece of
Gauri is educated and employed. To top it she is married without dowry.
Radha as a child was once
purchased by a juggler and she had to walk on the road by the wayside. There
large crowds would collect and she would feel ashamed of her short dresses
Radha in her concluding
speech says: Thus all this is a change of culture and girls are sold in the
same animal market or haat as animals
are.
penury is the one of the
major emanate one should pay attention to because some people take advantage of
the condition of poverty-stricken because they know they can do anything for
their survival and they are in need so the hunters cash it. Impoverished people
have nothing in their court so they are seeing begging on the road being slave
someone who is superior than them or you can see they are doing everything for
the sake of their appetite. To be brought in exceedingly ameliorates in society
and committed to abolishing the imbalance that created crime is the main
objective here. The other major factor is education that empowers in many ways
and gives protection to many underprivileged.
Works Cited
Andrew
Sayer, Radical Political Economy, op
cit.at note 8.
Garg, Rita. An Abbreviated Child: Gloom to
Bloom, e-edition (http://www.drritagarg.com/my-literary-work/an-abbreviated-child/),
2018.
Mandell,
Nancy, Feminist issues: race, class and
sexuality, Prentice-Hall, Scarborough, Ontario, 1995.
Tong,
Rosemarie Putnam, Feminist Thought: A
More Comprehensive Introduction, Westview Press: Boulder, Colorado, 1998.
Taylor,
Ian, Walton Paul, and Young Jock, The New
Criminology: For a Social Theory of Deviance, London: Routledge,1973.
Neary,
Michael. and Taylor, Graham. Money and
the Human Condition, London:Macmillan,1998.
French,
Marylin. Beyond Power: On Women, Men and
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Walters, “Organizational Behavior Human Behavior at
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Harry.‘Work is still the central issue!
New words for new worlds’, in Dinerstein, A. and M. Neary, The Labour Debate: An Investigation into the
Theory and Reality of Capitalist Work, Hampshire: Ashgate,2002.pp. 135-148
Agarwal,
Alka Rani. “Rita Garg’s An Abbreviated
Child : Beginning of an Era of Reformation through Fiction” Satendra Kumar
and Archana D. Tyagi (ed.). Jaipur : Yking Books, 2014, Print