Human Values vs.
Materialistic Desires: A Humanistic Perspective in Ruskin Bond’s The Blue Umbrella
Dr. Monika Malhotra,
Associate Professor,
GDC Akhnoor,
Jammu & Kashmir, India.
Abstract: Ruskin Bond’s The
Blue Umbrella is a novella that explores complex questions of human desire,
morality, dignity, generosity, jealousy, forgiveness, and social relationships.
Set in a Himalayan village, the story revolves around Binya, a young girl who acquires
a beautiful blue umbrella in exchange for her leopard-claw pendant. What
initially appears to be an innocent object of pleasure gradually becomes a
symbol of social distinction and material desire. Ram Bharosa, the village
shopkeeper, becomes increasingly obsessed with possessing the umbrella, and his
desire ultimately compromises his moral judgment and social relationships.
Against this materialistic impulse, Bond presents Binya’s generosity,
innocence, empathy, forgiveness, and capacity for renunciation. The novella
therefore establishes a clash between possession and generosity, desire and
contentment, material value and human value. This paper intends to examine The
Blue Umbrella through a humanistic perspective, particularly in relation to
dignity, individualism, empathy, moral responsibility, freedom of choice, and
the possibility of ethical transformation. Paul Kurtz’s Humanist Manifesto
2000, with its emphasis on human values, responsibility, dignity, reason, and
human welfare, provides an appropriate theoretical framework. The paper argues
that Bond does not simply condemn material possessions; rather, he questions
the moment when an object begins to dominate human relationships. The ultimate
transformation of the umbrella from a coveted possession into a shared object
demonstrates that human fulfilment lies less in ownership than in generosity,
reconciliation, and meaningful human relationships. The story allows young
readers to discover the ethical values through the actions of the characters rather
than explicit preaching. The story moves from the greed and jealousy towards
reconciliation.
Keywords: The Blue Umbrella, humanism, human
values, materialism, desire, generosity, dignity, empathy.
Children’s
Literature or stories had their origin in the five-minute bedtime stories told
to a much-loved child who had all the teller’s attention at that time. It has a
long origin starting from folk tales, fantasies, family stories, school
stories, adventure stories, historical novels, mythological stories, thrillers,
magical stories etc. There are various categories of writing children’s stories
for different age groups. For younger children simple story restricted to the
use of one-syllabled words is required with the minutest of the details like
-The cat sat on the mat. Writing for children does not mean writing
childishly. It is serious writing as
writing for the adults with the difference that the writer has to see with an
eye to the way people and things may appear
to a child. The writer has to choose every word with care.
Comparatively, it is easier in the picture book as the story is told through
illustrations. When writing for the children, the writer has to make sure that
every word counts, and that all the written words match as closely as possible
what is in his mind or imagination. In
children’s Literature every tale should have an enticing beginning, an
enthralling middle and a satisfying and moral oriented end.
Traditionally,
the subject matter of the picture books is based on nursery rhymes, fairy
tales, folk tales, animal fables and everyday happenings that are source of
continually exciting discoveries in a child’s world. The main focus of such
literature is innocence, simplicity, entertainment, adventure and moral
instructions with the prime focus to acquaint the children with their heritage
and mythology. This writing requires no less efforts, and skill like other
writings as young minds being inexperienced, uncritical readers are the readers
of the future and this becomes mandatory for the writer to hold his audience
right from the page first till last and to see the world from their point of
view. In this Literature, the creations
like Alice’s adventures in wonderland began as a story told to three small
girls on a river outing. The just so stories were first told to a beloved
daughter, Winnie-the -Pooh were the stories on the games played with toys in an
only child’s nursery. Rudyard Kipling, A.A. Milne, Lewis Carol all were primarily
writers and turned their skill to writing for a particular audience out of
certain circumstances.
Earlier
it was no-no to comics with weird language and the children used to read them
secretly. Now the parents have become selective about the material read by
their children, they want them to read some good literature to get inspired. It
is believed that a tree is only as strong as its roots. The deeper the tree
goes, the taller it grows. It becomes stronger and can expand its branches. The
children with open arms can imbibe good habits at the same time will walk into
the world and be themselves. The popular Indian children Literature like Amar
Chitra Katha, Tinkle Comics are written in such a manner so that the children
should get acquainted with their heritage and mythology. Amar Chitra katha
stories mainly focused on mythology, historical stories that already exist,
biographies, fables, folklores and classical Literature. Tinkle comics mainly
focus not only to read and entertain but at the same time to educate. The comics on diverse topics like
Tantri-Mantri is about popular comic
character and antihero from the Indian children’s magazine Tinkle, Shikari
Sambha is comic character famous for being a cowardly lazy hunter in Tinkle
comic book series, Kalia the crow is an animal character who saves rabbits from
Jackal and solve problems of environment. The other popular comics are namely
Chacha Choudhary, Tenali Raman, Champak, Panchatantra, Vikram Batal,
Mahabharata, Nagraj, Shakti, Akbar-Birbal, Chanda mama, Pinki,Super Commando,
Bankelal etc.
Today
with the advancement in technology, it’s not enough for the contemporary writer
to recall in detail the feelings and outlook as a child but to make it more
technology oriented. Earlier book reading was shifted to television watching
and now to the digital Apps. During covid days, the readers shifted to more
advanced tools as the readers were lost resulting into major shift from book
reading to technology-based material. Even the earlier issues addressed in the
comic books are different from the issues faced by children today. To write a
good story, a good basic idea is created, given shape and then best possible
picture is created to convey it with the best written words. The prime motive
of the writer is to convey proper message to the innocent readers. In the novel under study fundamental
questions about human behaviour are presented in much simpler way. Set in Garhwal Himalayas, Ruskin Bond’s The
Blue Umbrella published in 1980 is about a young girl Binya whose possession of
a colourful fascinating umbrella becomes the talk of the town and everyone
wants to possess changing the social dynamics of the whole community. To her
the blue umbrella was like a big blue flower that had sprung in the forest. A very simple object of daily utility
gradually acquires psychological, social and ethical aspect. The two juxtaposed aspects are dealt in a
very simpler way by the writer. The first aspect is the materialism of the
go-getter society representing desire to possess, compete, jealousy and to grab
whereas the second is innocence, affection, simplicity, generosity,
forgiveness, and the ability to relinquish all the materialistic possessions.
The central question of the novella is not very simple that who will possess
the umbrella at the end of the story. It
brings the question that what happens when material possession becomes
important than human relationships. It is subtle that initially this desire
creates excitement and admiring but when it becomes possessive and obsessive,
it results into jealousy, greed, isolation and loss of social trust. On the
other hand, when everything is treated with generosity, relationships are
restored and results into community happiness. From the humanistic perspective,
The Blue Umbrella emphasizes moral
development where material desire gradually develops into ethical development
and emphasizes on human values. Paul Kurtz’s Humanist Manifesto 2000 places
human dignity, responsibility, relationships, community wellbeing and progress
at the Centre and addresses human problems through ethical and rational
ways. Humanistic thought by Kurtz
advocates humanistic ethics concerned with human rights and responsibilities
arguing for the possibility of human progress through reason and human values.
It emphasizes the dignity of the human beings and their capacity for ethical
choice. Binya gets fascinated initially with the colour, shape and beauty of
the umbrella unaware of its relationship with social status and materialistic
value.
Binya had seen umbrellas before, and her mother had a big
black umbrella which nobody used anymore because the field-rats had eaten holes
in it, but this was the first time Binya had seen such a small, dainty,
colourful umbrella; and she fell in love with it. The umbrella was like a
flower, a great blue flower that had sprung up on the dry brown hillside. (9)
Ram Bharosa on the other hand treats it as an
object of acquisition. Binya gets the umbrella in exchange of the leopard-claw
pendant as she values beauty of the umbrella and the joy associated with it.
later she learns that though beautiful, umbrella cannot determine the value of
a human life. Her willingness to give up the umbrella represents freedom from
possessiveness. Ram Bharosa in the
novella too is portrayed by Bond as a character possessing both generosity as
well as weakness. He is fascinated by the umbrella and this fascination
gradually turns into obsession and crookedness followed by destructive
consequences of the over possessiveness and unchecked desires. The more greedy
he becomes, he becomes unethical and wants to possess that umbrella by hook or
by the crook. The villagers on learning about his dishonesty boycott him
socially. Once known as Ram Bharosa -Ram the Trustworthy now becomes associated
with betrayal.
Ever since it had become known that Ram Bharosa had tried
to have the umbrella stolen, the village people had turned against him. They
stopped trusting the old man, instead of buying their soap and tea and matches
from his shop, they preferred to walk an extra mile to the shops near the Tehri
bus stand. Who would have dealings with a man who had sold his soul for an
umbrella? The children taunted him, twisted his name around. From “Ram the
Trustworthy” he became “Trusty Umbrella Thief”. (17)
Bond by
focusing on this point wants to give the moral lesson that possessing the
things with unethical ways can only result into ruining of the human
relationships. He places object over the human and possession over the ethical
morality but later learns that value of person and human relations is more than
mere wealth and beautiful objects. Whatever he couldn’t get with manipulation,
theft or money gets with an act of generosity. Earlier umbrella was object of
personal possession when kept at Ram
Bharosa’s shop becomes happiness for community.
Bond suggests that material objects become socially meaningful according
to the values with which people approach them. The umbrella in the first stage
creates hatred and jealousy, in the second stage creates reconciliation and
finally becomes an object for communal sharing. Binya’s generosity in the novel
paves way for Ram Bharosa’s ethical growth. His moral recovery becomes possible
only when Binya does not reciprocate him the way he behaves. Human beings are
not reduced to their worst actions. They have a tendency to change, reflect and
rebuild. This way by choosing the path of ethical growth, he again becomes
connected with the community. The humanistic strength of the novella lies in
the belief that an individual having flaws can recover moral awareness.
Bond
emphasizes on the point that human beings are fundamentally relational. One
cannot achieve anything or be happy when isolated. Binya’s dignity doesn’t
depend on her economic status. Her qualities
like ability to give, choose, forgive and take decisions independently
establish her moral worth. Binya’s final renunciation reflects that happiness
can survive without possession. The novel also shows that desire is part of
human nature. Binya herself desires the umbrella, the villagers admire it, Ram
Bharosa desires it ardently.
Most of
the people in the village were a little envious of Binya’s blue umbrella. No
one else had ever possessed one like it. The schoolmaster’s wife thought it was
quite wrong for a poor cultivator’s daughter to have such a fine umbrella while
she, a second-class B.A., had to make do with an ordinary black one. Her
husband offered to have their old umbrella dyed blue; she gave him a scornful
look, and loved him a little less than before. The Pujari, who looked after the
temple, announced that he would buy a multicoloured umbrella the next time he
was in the town. A few days later he returned, looking annoyed and grumbling
that they weren’t available except in Delhi. Most people consoled themselves by
saying that Binya’s pretty umbrella wouldn’t keep out the rain, if it rained heavily;
that it would shrivel in the sun, if the sun was fierce; that it would collapse
in a wind, if the wind was strong; that it would attract lightning, if
lightning fell near it; and that it would prove unlucky, if there was any
ill-luck going about. Secretly, everyone admired it. The ethical problem arises
not from the desire but inability to regulate these desires. The capacity of Ram Bharosa to transform
suggests that human beings can recover from moral failure. The novel thus
emphasizes that the human beings can grow.
The contrast between Binya and Ram Bharosa provides the foundation of
this conflict. Binya values the umbrella for its colour and beauty, whereas ram
Bharosa value it as possession and status this desire paralyses his moral
judgement and finally separates him from the society. Binya’s act of generosity creates the
possibility of moral renewal. With her
act of gifting umbrella to Ram Bharosa, Binya unites the villagers and brought
harmony among them.
now that Ram Bharosa has the blue umbrella—a gift from
Binya, as he tells everyone—he is sometimes persuaded to go out into the sun or
the rain, and as a result he looks much healthier. Sometimes he uses the
umbrella to chase away pigs or goats. It is always left open outside the shop,
and anyone who wants to borrow it may do so; and so in a way it has become
everyone’s umbrella. It is faded and patchy, but it is still the best umbrella
in the village. (20)
The Blue Umbrella thus emerges as a humanistic
narrative in which human values acquire greater significance over material
possessions. Binya’s character in the
story is epitome of humanity at its peak.
According to American Humanist Association “Humanism is a progressive
philosophy of life that without theism or other supernatural beliefs affirms
our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment
that aspire to the greater good”. Through simplicity, humour, nature, and
childlike innocence, Bond demonstrates
that the richest form of possession may paradoxically be the ability to let go.
Human values, dignity, empathy, generosity, forgiveness and community are the
real values and cannot be reduced to monetary worth. Humanism is the philosophy
of life ensuring the welfare of humankind and Binya sets the true example of
humanism.
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