the ppt have kallu story of bcu in stories for 4th sem.

1. Kullu: Ismat Chughtai
Dr. Balram Uprety
Assistant Professor in English
Department of English
St. Joseph’s College, Darjeeling

2. Does the author give us clues enabling us to
understand Mumani’s actions? Contrast the
characters of the speaker’s mother ‘Amma’ and
Mumani Jan, illustrating from the story.
• Though the author does not focus exclusively on
Mumani, we can easily understand Mumani’s
actions and her role in Kullu from the clues that
the author gives us. Mumani has very important
role to play in the story. Firstly, Mumani turns
Kullu into a servant. Kullu, as Amma makes clear
towards the end of the story, was brought to the
narrator’s family so that “he could become
somebody.”

3. Does the author give us clues enabling us to
understand Mumani’s actions? Contrast the
characters of the speaker’s mother ‘Amma’ and
Mumani Jan, illustrating from the story.
Moreover, Mumani beats and humiliates Kullu
when he innocently expresses his desire to marry
Salima bi. Later on, as Kullu returns to the town
as Kalim Saheb, the Deputy Collector, Mumani is
indignant and horrified at the changed social
equation. Her avoidance of the Deputy Collector
and her unwarranted anger and indignation
indicate her guilt and anxiety. By saying that she
would not marry her daughter to Kalimuddin in
spite of the scarcity of suitable match, …….Contd

4. Does the author give us clues enabling us to
understand Mumani’s actions? Contrast the
characters of the speaker’s mother ‘Amma’ and
Mumani Jan, illustrating from the story.
she shows her vulnerability and anxiety. Mumani
relents only when Kalimuddin restores the old
class hierarchies by addressing her as “Dulhan
bi”—the form of address used by Kullu when he
was Mumani’s servant. This symbolic giving up
of his power and privileged position assuages her
anxiety and pride. Thus Mumani is a complex
character: she is exploitative in the beginning,…..

5. Does the author give us clues enabling us to
understand Mumani’s actions? Contrast the
characters of the speaker’s mother ‘Amma’ and
Mumani Jan, illustrating from the story.
unsympathetic and unrelenting towards the
end, in spite of her diminished wealth and
pomp. The speaker’s mother, Amma, however
is a uni-dimensional character. Amma is more
resilient about class hierarchies: she easily
accepts Kullu as a potential good match for
Salima when Kullu becomes Kalimuddin or
Kalim Saheb.

6. Are we given any evidence of qualities in Kullu
himself in his background that might explain his
rise to the position of Deputy Collector?
• The narrator at the outset underlines Kullu’s
ability to work hard. Even as a midget, he can
work as much as an adult. At Mumani’s
household, Kullu is made to do the work of
“grown man.” The fact that Kullu is able to
withstand the multiple roles as servant is a
testimony of qualities that explain his rise to the
position of Deputy Collector. For example, the
first thing that he does in the morning is “to get
the stove going.” Then, he puts water on for tea,
and sets the table for breakfast. Thereafter, …..

7. Are we given any evidence of qualities in Kullu
himself in his background that might explain his
rise to the position of Deputy Collector?
he makes “a hundred rounds to the door and back
carrying butter, bread, then milk and finally the
eggs. After the cook prepares the breakfast, Kullu
has to make “innumerable” trips to the kitchen
“lugging hot toast and parathas.” After this, Kullu
is made to do “small errands around the house:”
he polishes Maliha bi’s pumps, scouts for Hamida
bi’s ribbons, locates Akhtar Bhai’s socks, recovers
Salima bi’s book bag, fetches Mumani Jan’s katha
and retrieves Abu’s cigarette case from beside his
pillow. “In short, he spun like a top until….Condt

8. Are we given any evidence of qualities in Kullu
himself in his background that might explain his
rise to the position of Deputy Collector?
everyone had left for either the office or school.”
Later on, he would wash Nanhi’s dirty diapers,
play with Safia bi, collect mail from the postman,
inquire the name of the visitor, and shell peas or
rinse spinach. Kullu becomes equally busy at
lunch time. In summary, Kullu, according to the
narrator, does the “work of a bearer and sweeper.”
Moreover, he is an expert masseur.
Through the detailed documentation of Kullu’s
work, the author highlights his resilience,
resourcefulness and capacity for hard work. ……

9. Are we given any evidence of qualities in Kullu
himself in his background that might explain his
rise to the position of Deputy Collector?
Given such qualities, Kullu’s rise to the
position of Deputy Collector does not come as
a surprise.

10. “This was all artifice on her part. Only God knew what was
going on in Mumani’s heart.” Does the author give us clues
enabling us to understand Mumani’s actions?
Repetitive.

11. What is the significance of Kullu calling Mumani
Jan ‘Amma’ rather than Dulhan bi at the end of the
story?
• Kullu’s verbal/semantic journey from Dulhan bi
to ‘Amma’ is significant from the standpoint of
class. As a servant of Mumani Jan, Kullu can
address Mumani as ‘Dulhan bi’. Such a form of
address is indicative of class hierarchy in Indian
society.
• However, when Kullu becomes Deputy Collector
and realigns his social position, Mumani betrays
her class anxiety as she refuses to be humbled by
the rise of the ‘midget.’ Though she secretly
desires matrimonial alliance with Kalimuddin, ….

12. What is the significance of Kullu calling Mumani
Jan ‘Amma’ rather than Dulhan bi at the end of the
story?
• her guilt and pride stand in the way. As Kullu is in
love with Salima, he symbolically restores the old
class hierarchy by addressing Mumani as ‘Dulhan
bi.’ The restoration of old class hierarchy assuages
Mumani’s class anxiety. After addressing her as
‘Dulhan bi’ Kullu proceeds to address Mumani as
‘Amma bi.’ There can be two possible
interpretation of this shift from ‘Dulhan bi’ to
‘Amma bi’. Kullu’s journey from ‘Dulhan bi’ to
‘Amma bi’ shows his successful realignment of
his class position. When ‘Dulhan bi’ becomes
‘Amma bi’ Kullu has become a member ….

13. What is the significance of Kullu calling Mumani
Jan ‘Amma’ rather than Dulhan bi at the end of the
story?
• of the family through matrimonial alliance.
Kullu, as we can see, restores the old hierarchy
(by addressing Mumani as ‘Dulhan bi’) only to
demolish it in the next move. When ‘Dulhan
bi’ becomes ‘Amma bi’, the old rigid class
distinctions stand de-constructed and rejected.
Kullu in fact reclaims and reasserts his new
class position by finally calling his former
mistress ‘Amma bi.’

14. What is the significance of Kullu calling Mumani
Jan ‘Amma’ rather than Dulhan bi at the end of the
story?
• The significance of this address lies in the fact
that it indicates the final and unambiguous
breaking down of the old class hierarchy that
defined Kullu’s relationship with the family.

15. How far do the following factors affect the family’s
decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom?
a) their declining social and economic position
b) A sense of guilt at their earlier treatment of
Kullu
c) Kullu’s present high status
d) The special feeling between Kullu and Salima
It may be realistic to assume that the declining
social and economic position of the family may
have influenced, to some extent, its decision to
accept Kullu as a bridegroom. As Kullu’s rise….

16. How far do the following factors affect the family’s
decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom?
in power and position is proportionate to their decline,
it seems realistic to assume that the decline of the
family’s fortune may have affected the decision of the
family.
Similarly, the role of guilt of Mumani Jan at her earlier
treatment of Kullu cannot be totally ignored. Though
Mumani and the family never articulate their guilt for
having wronged Kullu when he was a child, her
avoidance of Kullu when he returns to the town as
Kalimuddin or Kalim Saheb hints at the possibility of
the fact that Mumani does feel guilty or ashamed.

17. How far do the following factors affect the family’s
decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom?
The fourth factor—the special feeling between
Kullu and Salima—does not, however, figure in
the text. Kullu wants to marry Salima because he
loves her. Salima’s family, however, would not
have married Kullu if he were not Kalim Saheb.
What actually tips the scale in Kullu’s favour is
his high social status. Ismat Chughtai in Kullu,
wants to show the powerful role of class in
Indian society. The author wants to show the role
of power and status in our society.

18. How far do the following factors affect the family’s
decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom?
We must bear in mind that Kullu’s
childlike/childish expression of love for Salima
invites humiliation and corporeal punishment.
The huge chasm of class separates Kullu from
his employers: his desire for Salima is therefore
outrageous and unacceptable. As a Deputy
Collector, Kullu successfully bridges the gap that
had rendered him undesirable. When the gap is
bridged, the undesirable becomes the desirable.
Such is the hypocrisy of class-based society. And
this is what Chughtai seeks to expose through
the story. It is therefore Kullu’s high status …..

19. How far do the following factors affect the family’s
decision to accept Kullu as a bridegroom?
that affects the family’s decision to accept
Kullu as a bridegroom.

20. The story proves that people’s attitude is
dictated by money. Discuss.