Small Scale Reflections on a Great House
[alert-success] A.K. Ramanujan
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[alert-primary] Short Summary [/alert-primary]
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Introduction :
'Small-Scale Reflections on a Great House' by A.K. Ramanujan explores the concept of history by using a narrative filled with vivid imagery to depict a family house. The poem commences with the speaker asserting that any object that enters his dwelling invariably remains there. Alternatively, if it departs, it ultimately returns once more.
The Great house :
In the beginning of the poem, the speaker makes the assertion that any object that enters his residence would invariably remain there thereafter. On the other hand, once it leaves, it will invariably come back again. There is no doubt that the speaker intends to take everything into consideration.
Lame cows:
Cows, songs depicting prostitutes, husbands, and soldiers, books, photos, and textiles are some of the products that are included on his list. His list also includes a wide variety of "small-scale" commodities.
"Things that come in everyday
to lose themselves among other things
lost long ago among
other things lost long ago;"
Women and ceremonies :
Beliefs are influential and significant elements that are brought into a home and continue to make their presence known inside it. In one instance, the speaker discusses the imposition of traditional gender norms on women, and in another instance, a neighbor presents a plate of delicacies to honor a deity's wedding anniversary. Both of these instances are examples of the celebration of a deity's marriage anniversary.
"Neighbours' dishes brought up
with the greasy sweets
they made
all night the day before yesterday
for the wedding anniversary of a god,"
The examples that are offered become increasingly foreboding as the poem draws closer and closer to its end. The person who is speaking starts a conversation on war and the male members of the home who have left to fight in the conflict.
Men of the house :
A person went on an adventure into the Sahara desert, and when they returned, they found that desert foxes had caused significant damage to their physical condition over the journey.
"once in nineteen-forty-three
from as far as the Sahara,"
Despite the fact that it is discouraging, the speaker has come to the realization that the second man has just returned in a physical manner. While he was on his way back to the apartment, he was killed in combat and met a road that was difficult to navigate.
"on his shoulder was called
an incident on the border
and was brought back in plane"
He did, in fact, return to his place of abode, which serves as the primary motif of the poem, despite the fact that they were separated by a geographical distance. Each member of a family is important and has a certain purpose, and they all contribute to the family unit. The house has been meticulously preserved, ensuring that its unmistakable qualities, compelling complexities, and significant history will continue to be inseparable from subsequent generations.
Conclusion :
"Small-Scale Reflections on a Great House" may initially seem like a poem that discusses a family home on a surface level. However, it significantly represents the rich Indian culture. The house is reputed to possess an immutable characteristic of admitting anything inside its confines without permitting anything to depart.The Great House referred to in the poem can be seen as representing the Indian subcontinent. This poem highlights the utilization of Indian raw materials in the production of goods by colonized nations. However, it is a reality that these products were marketed to the Indian population at inflated costs.
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