đź“–

The Portrait of a Lady by Khushwant Singh

May 31, 2024

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.