Reading Notes B- Week 17: Mahasweta Devi's Giribala

Mahasweta Devi Giribala (1147- 1164 )

Background

A fiction and prose writer, social activist in Asia, dedicated mainly to the under represented aboriginal people “whose existence has been threatened since before recorded history. “(1147)

Born into a Hindu family in 1926 they were very wealthy and considered high caste.

“... her proper name is Mahasweta, as devi is simply an honorific term attached to many Indian female names. “(1147)

Her father was a poet and novelist. Her mother was a writer and social worker. Her uncle is a filmmaker. She was related to a sculptor. And also a scholar. So she was able to openly “... cultivate her literary and political interests. “(1147)

The text

“Nobody ever imagine that she could think on her own, let alone act on her own thought. “ (1149)

Aulchand- married Giribala. Paid for Her with 80 rupees and a cow. (1149). She is also called Giri. She’s 14 years old.

Her husband is Aulchand, and even after he disappeared for almost a year her parents still gave her to him. Even after he was proven a liar, a thief, and a swindler, they gave her to him. Her mother even comment on how she knows that he is lying to them, but how smooth he is with those lies. (1151)

Mohan- Aulchand’s accomplice in his games.

Bangshi- family friend of Giri (1150)

Amy from the babu’s house hates Giris husband(1152) - she calls him a ganja addict.

“The only team they shared was a home of their own. “(1152)

They’re firstborn was a girl named Belarani (1152)

The next was also a daughter named Poribala, then a boy named Rajib, and a daughter named Maruni. All of her children were born in poverty. And so after the last she asked the doctor to sterilize her. When her husband found out he beat her for the first time. (1153)

He was always trying to sell her silver belongings. Even when treating her so badly.

Her oldest daughter started working at seven years old.

Aulchand says “Saving a daughter only means having to raise a slave for others. “ (1153)

He called his wife a whore for being sterilized and she threatened to cut her children’s heads off and then her own with a knife.