The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh

Introduction

• Lecturer: Anisha
• Platform: Magnet Brains
• Book: Hornbill
• Chapter: The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh

Key Themes

• What is a Portrait?: A picture or depiction of someone.
• Author: Khushwant Singh
• Subject: Describing his relationship with his grandmother.
• Character Development: How the grandmother’s character evolved over time.
• Physical Appearance and Habits: Detailed description of the grandmother’s daily activities, physical appearance, and habits.

Descriptions and Imagery

• Grandmother’s Age: Very old, wrinkled face, unchanged for 20 years.
• Past Stories: Once young and pretty, had a husband (grandfather).
• Author's Grandfather: Portrait above the mantelpiece, big turban, loose-fitting clothes, long white beard, looked 100 years old.
• Grandmother’s disbelief in her youthful past.

Daily Routine and Activities

• Grandmother’s daily routine:
  • Short, fat, slightly bent.
  • Wrinkled face.
  • Hobbled about the house in spotless white attire.
  • Balanced stoop with one hand, told beads of her rosary with the other.
  • Pale, puckered face with silver locks untidily scattered.
  • Constantly in inaudible prayers.

Relationship with Grandmother

• Village Life:

  • Lived with grandmother while parents were in the city.
  • Grandmother woke him up, dressed him, took him to school.
  • School was attached to a temple.
  • Priest taught alphabet and morning prayers.

• Phase 1: Close friendship in the village.

• Phase 2: Moved to the city, strain in their bond.

  • Grandmother didn’t accompany to school.
  • School subjects and English made grandmother unhappy.
  • Disapproval of music lessons.

• Phase 3: At university.

  • Bond of friendship snapped.
  • Lived in a separate room from grandmother.
  • Grandmother accepted her loneliness.
  • Grandmother’s focus on feeding sparrows daily.
  • Best time of her day was feeding sparrows.

Departure and Return

• Going Abroad:

  • Author left for studies abroad, fearing it might be the last meeting.
  • Grandmother remained strong.
  • At the railway station, grandmother kissed his forehead without showing emotion.

• Return:

  • After 5 years, grandmother unchanged but weak.
  • Author welcomed warmly but grandmother’s best time was still with the sparrows.
  • Turned ill after overstraining during celebrations.
  • Foretold her death, resumed her prayers.

Grandmother's Death

• Peaceful Passing:
  • Ceased prayers, rosary fell from lifeless fingers, peaceful pallor, she passed away.
• Funeral Arrangements:
  • Traditional customs followed, red shroud covered body.
  • Sparrows' mourning observed, silent, did not eat.
  • Sparrows flew away quietly after the body was moved.

Summary

• Three Phases of Friendship:

  1. Close in village: mutual bond.
  2. Strain in city: author’s English education.
  3. Separated at university: less interaction, grandmother’s contentment with her routine.

• Grandmother's Attributes:

  • Strong, resilient character.
  • Deeply spiritual.
  • Found peace and contentment in simple routines like feeding sparrows.

• Final Moments:

  • Unprecedented celebrations before passing.
  • Acceptance of death, continued prayers.

References

• Mind Map: Visual representation of key points and relationship phases.
• Important Questions:
  • What marked the turning point in their relationship?
  • How did the three phases differ?
  • Describe the grandmother’s character and her different attributes.